92 F-250, 351, 5 speed manual OD.
For the last few months I hear a noise like pinging from the engine but a little different. I asked a mechanic at work to listen to it and he says it's the transmission. I have 287K on the truck.
So, if the trans is wearing, with this sound, it goes away after a short bit, how long will it last this way, and will it go out at some point and leave me stranded?
I haven't crawled underneath yet to see which transmission it is.
Thanks for your replies.
Larry

 

service the transmission and run the old oil through a coffee filter . let us know what you find.

 

Hi Bruce. I just recently had it serviced and what I seen on the magnetic plug was to me, minimal. What I saw was, one piece of metal, flat like a small shaving, very small, then the little, lost for a word here, lol, frizzy specs. I wish I could of had it drained into something so I could look further. I have a shop drain all the fluids once a year, trans, differential, and tuneup etc. at the same time. To me, the fluid didn't look that bad. So, what I am thinking is that the gears are getting so worn that their is some slop and it makes that sound until it gets rolling. A very short distance. I don't claim to be a mechanic but I have been around equipment long enough to have some degree of knowledge. Also, it basically all started with 2nd gear from a stop, 1st being granny, but now it will do it in 3rd if lugged a little. Which now doesn't make sense to me, because if your lugging it, pressure would be on the gears and no slop. Am I right or wrong on this? Like I say, the ping does not sound like the engine ping that we all know, but close.
I really like this truck and enjoy driving it, and I know that I am very close to having to replace the motor and possibly the transmission, but I'd rather do the one that needs replacing the most first.
So any thoughts and help I can get is most appreciated.
Thanks.
Larry

 

it sounds like you have done a good job of keeping it up. if it is still shifting OK and not popping out of gear then you are in prety good shape.

if you get a chance to have some one else drive it so you can put your ear to the shift lever while it is making the noise you will find out for sure that it is coming frome the trainsmition or not.

 

Thanks Bruce. I will do that. Good idea.

Larry

 

do you know if that is a ZF or a Mazda 5 speed box?

 

I am going to check that right now. I've been wanting to anyway.

 

In and F250 behind a 351 it's a ZF. That was the only option for a manual in a truck other than a 1/2 ton. It sounds like your clutch might be going out, or the pilot bearing is on it's way out.

 

Yes. I just crawled under there and looked. ZF, S 5-42.
The clutch seems to be working fine. Pilot bearing huh. Hmmm. That's a possibility I suppose and does make some sense to me in the way it seems to get progressively worse but still functional, so far.
Looking at the work records from previous owner, the pressure plate, disc, bearing and slave cylinder were replaced at 160K. The truck now has 287K.
Do you guys think I should just have the clutch and pressure plate and bearing replaced?
Open for suggestions. I would like to get rid of that sound though. It's irritating some, lol.
Thanks again. You guys and this site a GREAT!!!!!

 

The actual friction surface of the clutch may be fine, but the pilot bearing could be going out. Have your mechanic check it out.

 

I thought about the pilot bearing before but ruled it out becalus if going bad they will usually make noise when stoped withe the clutch pushed in or when making a shift.

but with that many miles on it and not being chainged when they did a clutch job it dose raise some suspicions. there again you should be able to pick up a hint on this buy listening to the gear shift **** at idle in gear clutch depressed.

That ZF is a good one and will last forever with proper care like you have given it. there are only 3 things that make them go bad and that is neglect, abuse, or a bad pilot bearing

 

Ok. Thanks to the two of you. I will take it too the shop.
Larry