I have an '86 F150 4x4 4speed. When first starting out, everything shifts fine. The warmer the truck gets, the harder it is to shift. (This has accually been doing this for years.) Sometimes when I'm in first, and have the clutch in, it feels like it hasn't quite disengaged yet. Had a new clutch put in when I rebuilt the engine, but this still continues (150k) A couple of times it has even locked up and won't shift at all. Don't know why, but if I pull the shifter out and put it back in (just a pain) everything works again. Did notice when shifter was out and looking into the tranny, it seemed like there should be a cup or something for the shifter to sit in.

Any ideas?

Truck still looks great for it's age and have finally decided to fix this problem.

Thanks for any help,

Steve

 

If the clutch isn't fully disengaged, then it will be hard to shift. Verify that everything is adjusted / working properly.

A worn pilot bushing / bearing can also cause hard shifting, but typically the shifting effort increases with engine speed. For example, you can shift at 3000 rpm, but not at 5000.

Could also be a bind inside the trans, but my guess is that it is a clutch adjustment issue.

As for the shifter, if it's like the T5 in my mustang, there is a ball on the end of the shifter (the end that goes into the trans), and there is a metal block inside the trans that the ball fits into. In between there is a plastic (nylon, teflon?) bushing that usually wears away. If it's missing it will cause the shifter to be less precise, but it souldn't cause it to shift harder.

 

Is it more when the trucks gets warmed up or more after the clutch pedal is worked? Is the a headpipe close to the slave cyl? heating it up or maybe the plastic line running to it? Fluid is full in the res ?
When I got my 86 it would not shift at all, thought the clutch was toast but checked the fluid and it was low, filled it up pumped the pedal and all has been fine for a little over a 1000 miles, couldn't find any leaks, and the clutch works great( will turn over my 33's with no problem)
Just a few things to check if you haven't already.

 

f100beatertruck: No, Clutch pedal is all the way to the floor. It is a hydraulic Clutch. Can't find anywhere to adjust. Sorry, don't know what a pilot bearing is.

Aerodude: It's more when the truck warms up. Res. is full.

Steve

Steve

 

Just because the clutch pedal is to the floor doesn't mean that the clutch is fully disengaged.

One thing that you could try is to let the truck warm up without going anywhere. Disengage the clutch and keep the trans in gear to keep the gears from rotating and warming the trans up. This may help to isolate if the clutch / flywheel are expanding due to heat and dragging. If it's hard to shift that's what I'd look for, a dragging clutch. If it's easy to shift untill the trans warms up then I'd look at the trans.

You may also be able to find an inspection pannel that will let you see if the clutch is fully disengaging.

Also a pilot bushing / bearing goes in the end of the crankshaft and the input shaft on the trans has a necked down area that goes into the bushing. If it is worn it can cause the mainshaft to flex and make it hard (or impossable) to shift, but it depends on load and rpm. The more load / rpm the harder it is to shift.


I just reread you first message, what exactly do you mean by "pull the shifter out"? Pull it out of gear, or remove the shifter from the transmission? Also this is an internal rail shifter? The way to tell is if there is any rods (typically 2 -3) on the side of the trans connecting the shifter to levers then it's not an internal rail trans.

If you in fact remove the shifter, do you move of adjust anything on the shifter or trans before you put it back in?

 

f100beatertruck:
I accually pull the shifter from the trans.
No, I don't dare mess with anything down there. I don't know why, but when I do it, it just works.

Steve