So I Have a never owned a ZF transmission before this one and I'm not sure if this normal of there is something wrong. Ever since I bought it ( approx. 6 mths. ago) it has been the most finicky manual transmission that I have ever driven. 1st gear at a stop light is never easy , it never goes right in and always take a couple pushes ( mostly 2 attempts) and this is only if you release the clutch, if you keep the clutch engaged (pressed down) it goes in much easier, shifting between gears 1-5 is okay , it never grinds but I wouldn't call it perfectly smooth either. low and reverse are kind of like 1st but slightly worse (sometimes a couple of attempts or maybe try another gear and them go back). I was told by a transmission guy that's just how they are "lots of big parts in there to line up". but I just cant believe that ford would spec a transmission that functioned like this off the assembly line. The truck is a XL 2009 f-250 CCLB, v10,4x4,zf6,4.30's w/ 90,xxx miles supposedly got a new clutch before i bought it about 6,xxx miles ago. What do you guys think am I crazy or is there is some issue.

 

May want to change transmission fluid..
are you accustomed to a manual transmission,
Zf's don't shift like car or t18.

 

It's a heavy duty truck, not a passenger car. What are you comparing it to? I've owned/driven everything from a Subaru STi, Porsche 996, Toyota Corolla, about a dozen Toyota pickups. They all shifted like butter compared to the Ford.

My transmission/driveline is basically all new, due to several reasons, mostly because it was all shot. Rebuilt trans, new clutch, hydraulics, driveshafts, rear end rebuild, etc. I even have traction bars now (which smoothed out shifting and take-offs considerably, no more axle wrap) .. after all this, it still feels like shifting a dump truck.. because it basically is the same thing as a dump truck.

My transmission builder recommended running synthetic 5w30 motor oil instead of ATF, so I have been doing that since it was rebuilt. I can't compare the feeling to ATF though because before I had it done, the trans had coolant in it and the synchronizers were shot (grinds everywhere).

One other thing, it takes FOREVER to warm up the fluid in these transmissions. My trans temp gauge barely gets over 100 unless I am driving for about an hour. Hot vs cold shifting is also night and day.

It wouldnt hurt to check your tranny fluid for coolant infiltration, but otherwise... I hate to say it but if you want something that shifts like a sportscar, buy a sportscar!

 

I have driven manuals most of my life up till my last truck (98 f150), granted I always drove compact pickups before that, mostly Toyotas

 

The thing that bothers me the most is trying to get into gear a stop light, if you take your foot off the clutch while waiting and then press the clutch back in and try to go into first it never goes into gear on the fist attempt, let off and kind of come back to netural and then try again and it normally goes. Or don't take your foot off the clutch while siting at the light and it seams to go in with little resistance. Would you say that this is normal? I will say that it seem to shift the best when its somewhat cold though, 20-30 degree mornings tend to yield the crispest shifts. Also how did you get a temp gauge on your tranny? is it factory or did you add it ?

 

 

On your first concern, I have a V10 with a zf5, I believe they shift similarly, I rarely use 1st gear unless in a parking lot or cramped quarters.
secondly, these transmissions shift great when you help synchronize gears by feeling your way into gears ie rolling up to a stop,
As said before, these are big trucks with big parts .
When I brought my truck home my wife was excited to drive it , she had several vehicles with manual transmissions. She mashed the throttle and shifted like it was a Toyota supra.
And to my amazement she said "this thing shifts and drives like a truck". Well... Yep.
I have been learning to shift with out using the clutch like I used to with a t18 , it's actually easier.
Drive it like a Kenworth and you'll be a lot happier.

 

I'm in the middle of dealing with a family emergency and on my phone. I don't have much of an ability to search and link threads.

If you search posts by me with ZF6 in the title in the 7.3 Super Duty section, you can see that I did in fact have a sharp learning curve.

The ZF6 is a very capable and robust transmission once you figure it out.

 

Totally normal, except it should shifts better once it warm vs. cold.

For clarity: While the ZF-6 has 6 forward gears, only 5 of them are actually useful under normal driving conditions, I consider it a 5 speed plus Granny. In other words, the one labeled "1" is 1st gear. If you are starting out in "L" all the time, this is a different discussion.

When I am shifting into 1st gear, it does take two pushes to get the lever in, at least until the transmission is super warm and the gears loosen up a bit. My 240k mile 4Runner, on the original W52 transmission (never rebuilt) shifts 100X smoother than the Ford.

If I drive 50+ miles, and the transmission is nice and warm, it shifts into 1st gear like butter. On a cold day below freezing, mine barely shifts into 2nd until I drive a few blocks. It just won't go into gear.

 

You are waiting at a light in neutral with the clutch pedal up and you suddenly decide to push the clutch pedal down and put it in gear. When you do this remember that you have a giant heavy clutch spinning its way down from engine-idle speed (~650RPM) to zero RPM, and left to its own devices it would take forever to get there. So, while you're waiting and pulling on the shift lever, the synchro is trying its best to stop a heavy disc spinning completely, while it is more designed to match differences in RPM while everything is spinning. On smaller cars and small trucks there is less mass, less rotational inertia, and synchros designed for Joe Anybody to slam it into any gear with little fuss all the time while driving it like a London delivery person.

My advice would be to find first gear as you are coming to a stop for short signals, and give it more time to spin down at long signals.

 

This is good to hear, as I said I just had never driven one of these before and thought there was maybe a bad/worn syncro in there.

 

I paid a little more attention yesterday while driving, mine doesn't so much take 2 pushes to get it in, but you do have to hold it in place for a sec before it goes into gear... like the synchro needs to slow down the clutch like was previously mentioned.

It's been single digit-in the teens weather here, cold shifting is still ****ty at least until I get a mile or two of driving in.

 

This is a helpful explanation on whats going on in there. I was already sort of doing this just thought there might be some sort of issue.

Thanks

 

Op , when weather allows you might want to check/change the fluid would be beneficial, unless you know of last service.

 

Most vehicles I've owned have been manuals. The ZF6 definitely has personality like others have mentioned. Mine doesn't shift well when cold and shifts really well when warm. No trans temp gauge here just yet.
One of the things that I have noticed is that once warm it will drop into the lower gears much easier when you are still moving a bit. Especially Reverse and Low.
I don't like holding my clutch in at a light so I just try to time the light and get into 1st a little before it goes green.

I am new to this transmission and don't know what the consensus is on the best fluid.