Hello all, I've primarily been a chevy owner all my 31 years. But now I bought a 96 f-150 with a 300 six and 5 speed manual tranny which I am very happy with so far. My only experience with manual trannys has come from chevys and rice burners. My question is, is it normal for it to be hard to get into first and/or reverse when your not rolling? Most of the time it takes some pretty fancy side to side jiggling of the shifter to get it into gear. When you are rolling the other gears are not really that smooth to get into either...but they do go. Problem or typical "truck" ?
Thanks.

 

My Dodge does the same thing, doesn't like to go into reverse when, especially when its cold. I don't know if its the synchros in the tranny or the shift forks or what. I don't think its normal, but probably just caused by wear and tear and age.

-Jon

 

Our Explorer has the same tranny, and does the same thing. Not sure if its just characteristic of that tranny, or if there is a problem. The ZF in my truck is smoooooove as silk.

 

Mine shifts perfectly in all forward gears, 99% of the time. Every once in a while, I meet with resistance when going into first at a stop light, but it's never left me hanging.

Reverse, on the other hand, is difficult about 1 out of every 10 times. I have found that once I start letting the clutch out, it goes right in, but I still expect to hear a grind when I do that (although it never has).

Take care,
~Chris

 

Mine is hard to get into second, but only when cold, after it warms up, smooth as glass. I do know that the "forks" can cause this problem, but I would wait until it needs serious attention before dropping it off at the local hack. More than likely they will hit you for a new clutch, slave cyl, master cyl, fork work, etc. Drive it until you need to get out of the truck and push it backwards for your reverser...LOL

Jg

 

mine is exatly the same way.

 

I've had no problems with mine since I replaced the clutch and slave at 80k and I'm at 113k now.

I have absolutely no resistance going into any gears and I replace the ATF tranny fluid atleast every 20k...I'm a nut

I'm supposed to be getting the Hurst shifter but Summit keeps moving back the back-order date!

First it was dec 5th...now 20th!

 

Mine started to get hard in first then it started to get hard in every gear, replaced the clutch and slave cyl now it is smooth as silk in every gear. Made me remember what it felt like when it was new.

 

I dont think that 1st and reverse are syncronized, because you are suppossed to be stopped when you shift into them. Therefore- there will be sometimes when it is a little difficult to get them into gear.

 

1st is synched. Reverse is not.