My manual trans in my '94 F-150 4x4 is not allowing me to put it in 1 gear. Could this be a shift fork problem? If it might be, how hard would this be to correct or would I better off just to get a reman. trans and not worry about it?

 

The shift fork for 1st gear selects second gear as well, so it might not be the problem. The easiest way to check is to remove the carpet, pull the tranny tunnel cover, and remove the shift tower for a visual inspection. Put the shifter in 1st gear before removing the tower. You can inspect the shift forks, and slide the shifter hubs back and forth to verify they're not stuck or broken. Make sure the brass colored teeth are nice and pointy, not rounded. 1st gear is the big one at the back of the tower opening, then they go 2-3-4 toward the front of the truck. Reverse and fifth are hidden in the tailhousing, and not readily visible. You may need to unload the pressure from the drivetrain to be able to manipulate the shift hubs - in fact, I'd do this anyway. Remember, it's tough to shift when the truck is off and sitting still. Might want to chock the front wheels and jack up the rear so that the back tires don't touch the ground. Also, may need to depress the clutch to eliminate the binding from the engine side. When the trans is out of the vehicle, you can slide the shift hubs back and forth because they're not bound up by the engine or driveshaft. Just remember, engage first gear and leave 3/4 in the neutral position before you set the tower back on the trans. Enjoy.

If just the fork is damaged, it's serviceable when you remove the shift tower. If you find damaged synchronizers or lots of metal filings, the trans has to come out for a proper fix. If you buy a reman, it'll minimize downtime.