I have a 97 f450 that I just bought. It is at my deer lease. I bought it from the guy we lease from. 209,000 miles on the truck. I only gave $2G for it. But, when I was shifting the gears while sitting still, with the motor started, it jammed into 3rd gear. he did, by the way, tell me it did that from time to time. Before, I bought it. Shifter seemed a little sloppy before it jammed. What could cause this. I want to get it home, hopefully driving it. Could the little nylon doo dads in the top by the shifter cause such a thing? Anybody got an exploded view or cutaway of a ZF5? That would help.

 

More than likely a bad synchronizer.

 

Is there a way to possibly unstick it? Or is it gonna be change the tranny right there? I would rather get it home. Towing would be too expensive, because of distance. And, I don't have a trailer it would fit on.

 

Have you checked the bolts that hold the tower down? Maybe they have worked loose. You could pull the shift lever/tower and use a large screw driver to pop the tranny into nutral, then reinstall the tower. When the tower is removed you will be able to see the "linkage" that the shifter shaft rides in. There will be 3, you want all 3 to be in the center position. This would allow you to get it home.

 

I really appreciate the input. I am going down there this weekend, i'll give it a try. Thanks Again.