Hello guys, I have a 1988 F250. Truck is powered by a 460 and has the ZF S5-42 5 speed transmission. The shifter is simply worn out, has a lot of play and is at times hard to find the right gear. Anyways, I have been searching the net and E-Bay for a replacement shifter assembly with no luck. I would also be happy with a rebuild kit again with no luck. I am sure they are out there, but I have no idea where to look. Anyone got any suggestions or links I would greatly appreciate it. Also needing to replace the boot that bolts to the floor of the cab. Thanks again everyone.

Steve

 

could be the shift tower too...the shift ball seats/pins get worn out and cause that play...but the shifter can be the cause to...

id say rip the shifter off and take a look at the ball and seats before you throw money at shifter assy.

 

You are right, could be any of the above. I am wanting to find a source for the parts first before I tear this thing apart. I could also use a exploded view of the shifter while tearing it apart to determine what goes where or what may be missing.

 

should be able to find an exploded view on google

agreed its best to findeverything you may need before hand...this stuff is all pretty basic stuff any driveline specialty shop should have it...pretty common parts...the shifter on the other hand id go to a junkyard for.

 

Appreciate the help. I did search and find a couple of good exploded views along with parts description. I will pull it apart tomorrow and see what the problem is. Thanks again.

Steve

 

Exploded diagrams and parts lists: http://www.zf.com/na/content/media/i...SpareParts.pdf
Cross reference chart to find the Ford number from the ZF number, so you can order parts from your local dealer (or online at something like y2kfordparts.com): http://www.zf.com/na/content/media/i...d_CrossRef.pdf

 

EPNCSU2006, thank you so much for the links. Much better exploded views than I found online and the cross reference should be very helpful. Thanks again.

Steve Ford

 

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/zfGS.jpg

Don't know if you are still messing with it or if others are interested. :)
Snugged mine up to at least like new, without buying any new parts!
Got some ideas and cautions. :)

The main caution would be to be sure you support the shift lever while
driving out the large pins, so you don't break the bronze cage. Worked
out good for me. :)

As you are finding out, ZF parts list are around with conversions etc, but
when it comes time to actually buy it, nobody seems to know what you're
talking about, unless it's a very common-to-replace part.

Alvin in AZ (born to tinker! ;)

 

So true! Believe it or not, as you wrote this I was in the transmission forum asking where to buy parts. I have the part numbers and have made a few calls to shops claiming to have ZF parts, but when given part numbers these so called dealers have to call me back when they locate the parts and it is very frustrating . I just want to buy some parts and move on.

 

Parts for your shifter?
Which parts?
Are they broken or just worn bad?
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/zfGS.jpg

Alvin in AZ

 

Actually, I have parts missing. In the top half of the shifter stub, attached with 4 allen head bolts both guides are missing. Not sure where they went, that is how I bought the truck. I crossed the ZF part numbers over to Ford and am currently on partsguyed.com getting them ordered.
If I could figure out how to post an image I would show you what I am talking about, but I will have to wait for my 7 year old daughter to wake up in the morning I guess. Not a big deal though, the parts are less than $10.

 

So you need your 7 year old to show you how to post pictures? LOL :)
BTDT! LOL :) My son programs for IBM now and is using Linux BTW. :)

Be sure and post here in this thread the part numbers and descriptions
for us. There will be a record of them that way and I'll keep a record of
them too.

Anxious to learn what parts for a ZF are only $10, if nothing else. ;)

The little rubber boot F4TZ-7277-A was $22 and it had no metal parts,
just the boot. My new one ain't gonna go bad like the original did. I'm
going to protect it with a foam rubber collar like Ford used on my 75's
T18. :)

Bought the upper shifter boot F5TZ-7277-BA too $43 which turns out to
be a big and real fancy looking, piece of crap IMO. I'm going to have to
redesign it before I'll use it. It's just my tinkering nature prob'ly, others
might think it's the best designed shifter-boot ever? ;)

Alvin in AZ

 

Alvin,
The part that is missing on my trans is part #E7TZ-7C371-A and are listed as a "guide piece". I need 2 and I have found prices for them at 2 different places for $2.76 ea. Of course I am not going to get by that cheap because since I am ordering parts I am going to oder some other stuff also.
The upper shifter boot you mentioned part #F5TZ-7277-BA, I can not find it on the online parts catalog but do need one. Is that the boot that the shift handle goes through and does it include the plastic ring with the 4 screws that attach to the floor? My truck is a 1988. That is the only part I am trying to get a part number on so I can place my order.

 

That's the "gasoline" number for the floor-boot.
Seems like it's a ~AA for diesels?
It comes with another part too, an internal sub-boot, which ripped on me.
And yes, the upper boot comes with the (cheezy ;) plastic base and four
screws.

Alvin in AZ

 

On my '90 ZF-542 with -188k miles on it in a company truck- there was
quite a bit of play/slop in the removable gear shift portion, here's what
I did...

The nylon blocks on either side of the bronze box/cage had eaten into the
bronze like crazy! The nylon blocks are hollow with sharp edges and I've
never seen anything like that wear before!

Didn't have a spot-facer tool that would remove the deep grooves around
the 10?mm steel pins, so I removed the pins and filed the bronze cage flat
and then heated the bronze cage and pushed the pins back into place.
I just hammered the pins out being careful not to allow the bronze cage
any chance to break.

To take up the space from the wear and filing -and- prevent future wear,
I carefully fitted thin-hard-steel washers (I collect stuff!;) that were
Dremeled (new verb;) to just fit over the pins. So all the slop was taken
up and future wear was prevented, all at the same time.

A tinkerer's proud moment if there ever was one. LOL :)

That's what was needed to take up the play in one direction the other
direction was simply a couple thin hard steel washers, seems like.

Alvin in AZ
ps- Thought about taking pictures while I had it all apart, but figured at
the time no one would prob'ly be interested in my silly tinkering.
pps- Besides, I did it without pictures and so can you. ;)