Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Shift Forks help......

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 4, 2017 | 12:07 AM
  #1  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
Shift Forks help......

Hey guys so my transmission won't go into gear at all. I pulled the top cover and the shift fork for 1 and 2 is worn all the way. However 3,4,O and R don't work either. Would one bad shift fork cause this or is the tranny busted? It had a grinding sound before it went out the day of. Also the tranny would be in gear but act like it wasn't when I let off the gas (rpms would go down) it makes a grinding noise when in neutral as well. I was able to rotate the gear by hand in the tranny, all gear spin with the clutch in and with the clutch pedal out only the things that the forks ride on and the small gear that I believe is overdrive spin. Any ideas?
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 05:00 AM
  #2  
'89F2urd's Avatar
'89F2urd
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 449
Did you check to make sure the 1st-2nd gear collar wasn't engaged or partially engaged in these respective gears?

Check for fork material down in there also.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 08:10 AM
  #3  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
I don't know how to check. Both gear collars where the forks sit rotate when I turn a shaft
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 08:44 AM
  #4  
'89F2urd's Avatar
'89F2urd
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 449
The collars spin freely, which is why the forks get worn.

It should be obvious where the neutral position is even visually, you can even move the collar with your hand or screwdriver/pry bar as long as the gears are lined up.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 08:50 AM
  #5  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
So it might be slightly engaged in 1st or second and that's why I've lost all gears? Should I try to get it out of first or second by hand?
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 09:06 AM
  #6  
'89F2urd's Avatar
'89F2urd
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 449
When you say you lost all gears, it won't go into any gears, or it will go in and nothing happens? If it won't go into any gears, then it sounds like it's in gear or partially in, yes.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 09:09 AM
  #7  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
I can put the shifter into all gears but nothing happens. Also it grinds a little even in neutral. I haven't drained the fluid or checked the magnet
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 09:11 AM
  #8  
'89F2urd's Avatar
'89F2urd
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 449
And you replaced the forks?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old May 4, 2017 | 09:11 AM
  #9  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
The shift fork for 3 and 4 looks new still. And I can freely move the fork (it's not a fork) for reverse and overdrive by hand in the top cover
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 09:12 AM
  #10  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
I did 2 years ago but not yet as of now.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 09:17 AM
  #11  
'89F2urd's Avatar
'89F2urd
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 449
If nothing happens in any gear, the forks are not riding in the collar or you have a broken shaft. I highly doubt it's a broken shaft, so I'd start with the forks. Engage a gear by hand (fork cover off) and see if the truck will move. If it doesn't, there's a broken shaft.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 09:22 AM
  #12  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
A broken shaft in the top cover? Or in the trans itself? I will try to engage it by hand when I get home. Just to clarify 3and 4 are to the front, 1 and 2 in the middle and R and O are in the little area with the single gear right?
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 10:30 AM
  #13  
'89F2urd's Avatar
'89F2urd
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,790
Likes: 449
If you engage the gears by hand, and you can see that they are engaged and truck doesn't move, you have a broken shaft inside the Trans. It's possible the clutch hub is sheared in this scenario, but unlikely.

Correct, 4th is up front, 1st is in the rear of the main case.
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 11:12 AM
  #14  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
Okay I will let you know what I find out later today. I won't be able to check till after work. I'm praying this is the issue
 
Reply
Old May 4, 2017 | 09:14 PM
  #15  
anthonym92's Avatar
anthonym92
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 510
Likes: 1
89, I did what you said. 1 and 2 shift fork is gone. However I found something. I would still lose all gears until I put it in neutral and put the transfer case in 4H them back to 2H and it would work. But after I shift to 4th it starts acting up again so I pulled over and did the transfer case thing again and it worked. So I purposely made it mess up again and this time I put it in 4H and let off the clutch and it grinded for a millisecond and I shifted back to 2H and so far no problems. Any ideas?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:03 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE