I bought a 1980 F-150 3 speed manual. It won't go into reverse unless I drive it for 15 minutes. How can I fix this? Thanks

 

Sounds like you could have a worn clutch & pressure plate. Until you can get it taken care of, you should be able to just turn the engine off, stick it in reverse, press the clutch down, and restart the engine.

I could also be dead wrong, I'm just offering my 2 cents here.

Good luck,

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

I had another truck that started getting harder and harder to get into first and reverse. Needed a new cluch. You've most likly got a manual linkage, you could try and adjust the linkage. When you push in the clutch, how much free play do you have??? Try adjusting the linkage between the clutch pedel & yoke coming from bell housing. Try this before getting new clutch.

 

My 99 F150 4X2 Does the same thing. hard to get into 2nd and grinds going into 3rd when I downshift. It's been at the dealership now for 11 days and I am still not sure when I am getting it back. They dropped the transmission and said there was nothing wrong with the tranny, but decided to put a new one in just to be sure. A little peculiar I think for a truck with only 3700 miles.

 

To "It's no Chevy"- I am interested to know what solution did you find to your tranny problem? I only have 700 miles on my truck and have a problem with 2nd gear. When i shift into 2nd, it "jumps" rather than make a smooth shift. Other gears so far are o.k. Bob.

 

Itsnochevy and Bob1-- After reading what you guys have worte i am worrying about my new truck. I got it a week ago and i have almost 300 miles on it. I dont want any tranny problems. Right now every thing seems okay on it. I hope it stays that way.

 

It's no chevy: I personally don't have a very high opinion of Ford mechanics. I think of them more as parts changers than true mechancis. (No offence intended towards true Ford mechanics)

Bob: are you driving a manual or automatic?

CoolTrucks: Don't worry about a problem unless you actually get it

I've over 44k on my beast and it runs better & better every day But I still remember when I first started driving it, I guess I had to break in that clutch!! Or it broke me in!! I guess it was around 1500 miles that me and the beast became comfortable with each other.

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

Hi all, my 1 month old 99 with 1200 miles on it is hard to get into 1st gear and reverse. For the past 10 years I have been driving a manual 5 spd Ranger and that transmission (Mazda) shifted as smooth as silk. I share Tina's sentiments about some of these mechanics so I am a little reluctant to take it back to the dealer until I am confident I really have a problem. The clutch feels good and there is no grinding just more pressure than I feel is necessary to engage the gears.

Is this normal? Linkage adjustment? Clutch?
I welcome your feedback!

Regards:

Peter

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99 F150 SC Short Box, 4.2, 5 speed, dark toredor red, light graphite interior, Westin side tubes, A.R.E. hard top tonneau, bug shield, more to add.

 

Tina- My truck is a stick. All gears now are a little hard to shift into. Not smooth.

 

Bob & Peter: you both have new trucks with new clutches. I don't think these have the same type of manual adjustments as the older clutches did. I don't even know if there is any way to make an adjustment??? You could always have ford add the "friction modifyer". I never had to add it to mine but other's who did say it worked but took some time (many miles) for their clutch to smooth out. It can't hurt.

 

Tina, sounds like Bob and I have similar tranny characteristics. I think I will wait 'til about 5K miles to see if the 'newness' wears off before I do anything. Thanks for your comments.

Regards:

Peter