Bonehead Engineering

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Apr 25, 2004 | 10:17 PM

BeatenUp

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From: Cental California

Bonehead Engineering

Bought a 91 Ranger a few months back. Now I'm an old fart. First Ford truck was a '53 F-150 almost 44 years ago and I've had a ton of Ford trucks since then, almost always older models.

I like Rangers. I've had 5 of them, always used ones. Remind me of the trucks I had back in the old days... you know, everything right up front and easy to work on? Anyway, it's developed some rather severe leakage from the clutch slave cylinder lately so just like in days of old I slithered underneath to remove it so I could take it to the parts store and get me a new one.

My first question is of course, when did they start putting this particular part, which over the life of a truck will need service several times... INSIDE the bell housing??? Second question is, have we located the idjit at Ford (or was it at Mazda) that designed the system that way and put him in a room by hisself and blowed him the hell up?

Final question, since I can't remove the blankety blank transmission to do this simple service myself, can anyone give me a ballpark figure on what this is gonna cost me? Thanks.

Apr 25, 2004 | 10:24 PM

rangerkiller

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It cost me 276.00 on my 93 a couple years ago. I have no idea why they did this. Maybe so they can order the same parts chevy does from korea or wherever.

Apr 26, 2004 | 08:18 AM

Rockledge

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From: Connecticut

Welcome to FTE!

All of us here have asked that same question ("what the heck were they thinking...") at some point with regard to something on our Fords.

Most of us more than once, actually.

Apr 26, 2004 | 09:42 PM

BeatenUp

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From: Cental California

Well, it's gonna take a while to accept the fact that someone getting good money for design engineering could come up with a total brainfart like that and still be employed. Of course it does make more money for Ford service and other repair shops so he might have gotten a medal for it. I hope there aren't too many more surprises in store in this little restoration.

Apr 26, 2004 | 09:51 PM

hreed

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From: Homer, Alaska

Engineers are the guys who work (or at least look) at these things when they are on the stand; not in the truck. It is an age old problem, and not going away soon. I saw an interesting show on Discovery not long ago where Boeing has a computer simulation that will put a "virtual hand" in every place where a human needs to get to a bolt, nut, rivet, etc., to see if it is possible. They are trying to design an aircraft that can be maintained. A step in the right direction.

Apr 26, 2004 | 11:51 PM

maticuno

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From: California Desert

I'm wondering if it would be possible to cut a large enough hole in the side of the bell housing to allow access to the slave without causing any damage or structural failures elsewhere? If it is...that seems like a good way to go, although you'd have to pull the tranny out to do so. I agree though, I could probably do my entire clutch myself if it wasn't for that bell housing.

Apr 27, 2004 | 12:05 AM

Dealford

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Joined: Aug 2003

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From: Belleville, Ontario

Not everyone can accept "planned obsolesance" as the reasoning behind the manufacturers methods.
It's more like the "maintenance free" battery. Translated = OWNER maintenance free!