I have had my shifter on the 5-speed tranny argue about what gear it wants to stay in - go in! It will allow me to still find each of the gears and they all still work but the shifter will move all around outside of the area it is supposed to be restricted to. I have replaced the allignment pins on the side of the tower but not a lot of difference. I can shift into all gears using a large screwdriver with the assembly removed and things work fine. Any common issues that I am just learning about that anyone can shed light on? Is there a recipe to fix it?

Thanks -Derrick

 

It sounds like the upper stick has come loose from the stub.

 

I have changed the shaft that the shifter handle bolts to with no difference in performance. All the gears are there and I can find them but by feel - not like it normally was. When I shift into second the stub shaft leaves the "H pattern" the forks make and it will travel all around the forks and I need to "feel" for where it needs to go to get back in place to take it out of second.
Is it possible for the pins in the forks to wear to the point of allowing too much space between them?

Thanks for taking the time to reply - I appreciate it as the old girl is my main means for a lot of chores and I am afraid I am going to be stranded someday really soon!

 

Can one of you guys who's torn the top cover apart help this guy out?

 

our f250s do this at work. the shifter handle/stick itself had broke into two pieces, but was still kinda attached. the truck would shift, but the stick would slop all over the place, even though it was physically in gear

 

I don't know about 92's but my 93 has a slide on shifter handle. Mine never gets bolted to the stub shaft, it just is pressed on. After I rolled the truck and put it all back together it would do what you are discribing. All I did was pull the stick off and crushed it down a little and pressed it back on the stub shaft.
Now I have read about how the 93 was the odd ball with shifters and shifter handles so I don't know if this applies to you, But like said mine did the same thing you are talking about.
Good luck
Justin

 

Hi and thanks to those that are offering help. I think I have identified the problem. The drift pin (s) on reverse/5th shifting fork appear to be broken. When I move the portion of the assembly that the actual gear shift lever sits in - that portiion rotates sideways allowing the shift lever to slip up and out of the "H-pattern" that these parts form. I think I need to pull the tranny and remove the top cover and replace these pins. I think only one half of the pin is broke as I can still shift in and out of gear using a screw driver with the lever out of the tower - but it moves to the left where the one for 1st and
3rd is tight without any slack at all. I am actually thinking of cutting the top out of the tunnnel and going that route. I had an older dodge that had a removable cover to allow access but this old girl does not have that option ...yet! I guess with 1.2 million kms the pins do not owe me much!

Thanks again for those that take the time to respond to this forum as I truely appreciate your time.

Cheers-Derrick