I've got a 1995 F-150, 5 speed manual and it's always been a little hard to shift. Sometimes it's fine, but sometimes it's a little hard to get it into gear. Especially first after it's been sitting idling for a while, like at a red light and I've had it out of gear or shift to 1st when it's time to go instead of right when I stop.

Is this something I should worry about or is this just how these are? I think it actually has a mazda transmission.

Thanks

 

[B]Hey 95XL... about your 5sp. being hard to shift, especially into and out of 1st gear.

First off, when you are driving in 1st and/or 2nd gear and shifting up through the gears as you increase speed, can you hear a faint noise coming from under the floor @ the shifters location. It might sound like two pieces of metal sliding along one another. Not really a hard grinding noise, but rather something like two pieces of metal with slight friction between them? If so, and you shifting problems have gotten worse just recently, then It sounds like your shifting fork for 1st and 2nd gear is going out. If this sounds like it could be your problem, then i can tell ya to expect it to only get worse and quite rapidly, to where you cant shift at all!

I've had to replace mine 3 times already in my 94', everytime having to take it to a mechanics shop. Last time, needing to put a completely new clutch and pressure plate in as well. Therefore, if this sounds like it could be your problem, I would recommend that you get the shifting fork (and bushing) << important, replaced before it leads to bigger more expensive problems!

Hope this helps ya, if not then good luck!

 

Where can you find the shifting forks? Dealer only? Thanks

 

The clutch cylinder may just need bleeding. my 90 f150 gets a lil hard to shift at times, and a bleeding is just what the doctor ordered

 

If it has a concentric clutch, they tend to go bad often and give some issues shifting into gear, esp when shifting into 1st after being stopped. Unfortunately you hae to pull the transmission to replace it. Also change the oil often. On my 5spd it takes Dexron III, which is an ATF fluid and it is happy when changed every 25k miles or so.

 

Mine did this alot when the synchros and 1st/2nd gear shift fork went out.

 

Holy old post batman!