Hi there I own a 85 f250 4x4 with 460backed up by a 4 speed manual. Sometimes when I shift from reverse it grinds and doesn't go in, fully depressed clutch . There are times were it grinds a little but goes in gear but not smooth. But a buddy told me to shift to 1St gear then reverse,it seems to work, goes in smooth. There has to be a reason for this or is it normal

 

If your idle speed is high, you will have to wait a little bit after you first push in on the clutch for the tranny to slow down. If waiting doesn't help, you may have a clutch problem and it's not disengaging all the way. Also look at your firewall when someone is inside pushing on the clutch pedal. If it moves a lot it may be cracked, a common problem. This cuts the travel of the clutch system and makes it not disengage fully.

 

All good answers but reverse is a non-synchronized gear. Waiting let's the gears stop so it will not grind but as you found does not got in all the way because the gears are not lined up fully.

Going into first, that is synchronized, stops the gears and lines them up better to get it in reverse. Edit:may not be synchronized but helps get into reverse.

So first check that the clutch is working as it should, if waiting does not work first to reverse it is.
Dave - - - -

 

I have a non-synchro trans on my tractor so I am used to waiting, but on your truck first is synchronized so try this.....

Clutch pedal pressed, move to 1st, count to 2, keep clutch pedal down as you pass through N to R. If you let up on clutch in N then go back to 1st gear.

You shouldn't get grinding doing this, if you do then you have an issue with your clutch not disengaging.

Grinding is normal if you press the clutch pedal down while in N then try and move the shift cane to reverse a second later.

 

watch when you say "first gear is synchronized" as it may not be as we do not know what 4sp he has.

My T18 is not but can still get it into first with vary little grinding but still best to fo first then reverse.
Dave - - - -

 

My fault, you are correct. I assumed he had a T19.

 

I know this post is old. An I'm new here so hopefully I'm not doing anything out of place lol... ( how to reply to a message). I have a 1989 f250 4.9l manual 300 inline 6. 5 speed. I've had the same problem. I found it goes into reverse pretty easy if you take an press and hold break pedal give it a second then pull over and into reverse. I always assumed that it was like a safety feature. My friend had a 1991 f250 4.9l xlt 5 speed manual and that's where I first learned that. His always almost every single time fought you like your not gonna win lol...Know it's long sorry hopefully this can help someone some day...🤔