I've got an 85 ranger with the manual 5-speed. The shifter is whacked. It seems to completly lose and I can only find 1st and neutral.

Is there a way to rebuild these things? I've taken it apart once and I'm about to again. There a small ball on the bottom shift lever and I don't know if that's the part that wears out, any help would be appreciated.

 

i had the same problem with my 87 ranger. the reddish colored ball at the end of mine was all torn up and i could see the metal of the shifter. i tried taking it off and putting it back on a few times, which did nothing. you will have to find a new shifter. i got one for 20$ at a junkyard. you will definately tell the difference if the junkyard one is good because the end will be less ball shaped and more cylindrical and flat on the bottom.

 

I've had to replace the shift lever on my 87 twice after that ball disentigrated. The second time it happened I felt a jolt & heard a loud bang when a piece of the ball got caught between 2 gears.

 

I can't find a junk yard shifter anywhere, I'm in Southern CA. Where did you get yours?

 

If all else fails you might still be able to get it from the dealer for -OUCH- 70 bucks, but check with Napa/Autozone etc. first.