'02 2500 5speed, 137,000 miles
Things have been working fine. This morning when I left to go the donut shop before heading home from Christmas, it was quite hard to get the truck in gear while at a stop. Truck turned off, in and out of gears without problem; truck running, difficult to get into any gear, including reverse.
Once I got moving, she shifted just fine as normal.
Kicker is this, me, wife, and dad all heard, what sounded like the belt squealling slightly, but seemed to be coming from under the truck when attempting to put the truck in gear. Did not make the squeak when depressing the clutch, but rather when pulling the shifter gently back into 2nd. Something misaligned?

Now, fast forward 450 miles to home. Truck seems to be shifting normally again. Knock on wood.

Got me puzzled.
Clutch? syncro? slave cyl?

 

pilot bushing is seizing up. That is your squeak and while it is doing this the input shaft is still turning. That is why it will not go into gear at a stop. When you are moving it is kinda like speed shifting.

 

Not knowing a lot about trannies and do not want to attempt to fix one, will the pilot bushing require a complete rebuild/reman tranny? Is this common with my mileage?

 

no,all you have to do is pull the tranny out pull the fly wheel remove the pilot bering replace with new one assembel everithing and go on your way.

 

Thanks for the replies. Now I have to find a good/reputable shop here in southern Indiana.

 

If I was going to pull the tranny and take off the clutch to change the pilot bearing, I would put in a new clutch while I was there.