Replacing the 1-2 shift fork in my 1988 Ford F150 with a 5.0. The trans is a M5R2 and I noticed there is no good videos on changing the shift forks in it online anywhere.
Hey I honestly just want to say thank you for you hard work and dedication you put in to this video you were particular about what parts you were going to use I did make some short cuts but there was a point I at first went to take out the fork that was wore out because I figured that's the one I ordered nope so now I got a brand new fork for the one that was still looking fairly decent but the one that has almost no life left on it and I guess that one is my 3&4 th but really i dont think i would of been so confident about doing the job if you didn't make it look so dam easy lol but I have replaced it and it works so i guess i will be doing this again soon 😅
Thank you for your kind words! I am glad I was able to be of help giving you the confidence to do the job! I had to make this because there was no detailed information on this procedure online so I am very glad this helped you as well!
Thanks for sharing man. Its hard to find detailed videos on this stuff. Just ordered mine from the same company. Dude on Here somewhere bought his forks off Amazon and they were too big and had to grind them down.
You're welcome! I couldn't find any good videos so once I found the datasheets and read through them it was a no Brainerd to make this as detailed as possible to help others. Yea the Amazon ones have a bad casting and you have to grind the cast back to make it fit which is sketchy to me. If I had a milling machine it wouldn't have been hard to properly fix that, but angle grinder + shift fork just seems like a bad idea to me 🤣 glad this video was of assistance! Hopefully in the near future I'll make a video on rebuilding this thing, however since I changed that fork it's a lot better than it was. Also note to use a dab of blue locktite on those retainer pins that hold the shifter in that I peened in this, the peening didn't work causing another ziptie fix in the lowes parking lot and some locktite to be added once I got it home.
@@lonewolftech hey I was having an issue with my trans where the clutch would not disengage in 1-2 so I thought my shift fork was the issue so I replaced it and it’s still the same issue. Would you know what to check next? Thanks.
Great video, putting together a M5R2 for my ranger swap, replaced the top gasket and noticed the shift fork was not in the best shape. Suggestion on those detent balls/springs that I'm going to try. Take a nail, cut the top off and grind flat, then use one of those sliding wood clamps with the screw tighteners. You can use that to push the spring/ball down until it's held down by the shift bar as you install it, and it should make it a bit easier IMHO. I'll let you know how it goes when my shift fork comes in and I take a whack at it. :)
On my 2nd m5r2 in my 78 f100. Ordered what will be the 4th change of my cast iron 1-2 forks between them(1996). Never again, gotta save up for a Tremec TKX.
I have sort of a grinding-type feedback shifting between any gears. Clutch and transmission operate just fine, but it feels crunchy when I shift, if that makes sense? Does this sound like an issue with the forks to you? Sometimes it doesn't happen at all, but it's more often than not.
Sounds more like worn out synchros, though it could be worn forks also but generally grinding or any of that type feeling is due to worn out synchronizer rings. However it’s easy enough to pull the top cover on the m5r2 and check your shift forks as I show in this video. You can also inspect your synchros while you’re in there, have you done a fluid change on your trans? If not I’d do it when you inspect the forks and stuff it’s easy to just pour it in with the housing off.
I made certain it was in neutral before I ever removed the top cover and never shifted it just removed the rods after their pins were removed allowing them to freely move. Take a photo before and after also and ensure everything lines back up.
How did you know it was the shift fork that was bad? I think my 3/4 is bad, but I’m not sure that’s what it is. I can get it in to 3rd and 4th when the truck isn’t running. Then when I’m driving it and I try to shift to those gears, the shifter moves like it should, but it’s not going on to gear. Just staying in neutral. Is that the problem you had?
Mine was more of a preventative maintenance I found it after I did an inspection of the shift forks and ordered the worm one. But it didn't feel like it was engaging properly, and would occasionally pop out of gear, my truck has 278k miles on it with original Trans and engine I knew it was probably worn out. That sounds for sure to be your problem though. It's easy enough to open the top cover and check it out I'd go ahead and order it though because it sounds like it's worn through. I try to keep the maintenance up on this old truck as much as possible. It needs an engine/trans rebuild soon.
You're welcome! I am glad I could be off assistance! These aren't as complex as everyone makes them out to be, just take your time and things will go smoothly.
Hey I honestly just want to say thank you for you hard work and dedication you put in to this video you were particular about what parts you were going to use I did make some short cuts but there was a point I at first went to take out the fork that was wore out because I figured that's the one I ordered nope so now I got a brand new fork for the one that was still looking fairly decent but the one that has almost no life left on it and I guess that one is my 3&4 th but really i dont think i would of been so confident about doing the job if you didn't make it look so dam easy lol but I have replaced it and it works so i guess i will be doing this again soon 😅
Thank you for your kind words! I am glad I was able to be of help giving you the confidence to do the job! I had to make this because there was no detailed information on this procedure online so I am very glad this helped you as well!
Thanks, I am doing that project right now. Your video was a great help.
You're welcome! Not much information on here about this process glad my video was able to be of some use to someone! I appreciate the feedback!
Thanks for sharing man. Its hard to find detailed videos on this stuff. Just ordered mine from the same company. Dude on Here somewhere bought his forks off Amazon and they were too big and had to grind them down.
You're welcome! I couldn't find any good videos so once I found the datasheets and read through them it was a no Brainerd to make this as detailed as possible to help others. Yea the Amazon ones have a bad casting and you have to grind the cast back to make it fit which is sketchy to me. If I had a milling machine it wouldn't have been hard to properly fix that, but angle grinder + shift fork just seems like a bad idea to me 🤣 glad this video was of assistance! Hopefully in the near future I'll make a video on rebuilding this thing, however since I changed that fork it's a lot better than it was. Also note to use a dab of blue locktite on those retainer pins that hold the shifter in that I peened in this, the peening didn't work causing another ziptie fix in the lowes parking lot and some locktite to be added once I got it home.
@@lonewolftech hey I was having an issue with my trans where the clutch would not disengage in 1-2 so I thought my shift fork was the issue so I replaced it and it’s still the same issue. Would you know what to check next? Thanks.
Great video, putting together a M5R2 for my ranger swap, replaced the top gasket and noticed the shift fork was not in the best shape. Suggestion on those detent balls/springs that I'm going to try. Take a nail, cut the top off and grind flat, then use one of those sliding wood clamps with the screw tighteners. You can use that to push the spring/ball down until it's held down by the shift bar as you install it, and it should make it a bit easier IMHO.
I'll let you know how it goes when my shift fork comes in and I take a whack at it. :)
On my 2nd m5r2 in my 78 f100. Ordered what will be the 4th change of my cast iron 1-2 forks between them(1996). Never again, gotta save up for a Tremec TKX.
Sounds like you’ve got more issues than just your shift forks or you’re unreasonably harsh on the thing.
I have sort of a grinding-type feedback shifting between any gears. Clutch and transmission operate just fine, but it feels crunchy when I shift, if that makes sense? Does this sound like an issue with the forks to you? Sometimes it doesn't happen at all, but it's more often than not.
Sounds more like worn out synchros, though it could be worn forks also but generally grinding or any of that type feeling is due to worn out synchronizer rings. However it’s easy enough to pull the top cover on the m5r2 and check your shift forks as I show in this video. You can also inspect your synchros while you’re in there, have you done a fluid change on your trans? If not I’d do it when you inspect the forks and stuff it’s easy to just pour it in with the housing off.
@@lonewolftech I have not changed the ATF yet, I will get on it. Appreciate it sir
how do you make sure its in neutral after everything is done?
i left the shifter bushing thing all together so i just put the shifter back on and played with it till it went into neutral
I made certain it was in neutral before I ever removed the top cover and never shifted it just removed the rods after their pins were removed allowing them to freely move. Take a photo before and after also and ensure everything lines back up.
How did you know it was the shift fork that was bad? I think my 3/4 is bad, but I’m not sure that’s what it is. I can get it in to 3rd and 4th when the truck isn’t running. Then when I’m driving it and I try to shift to those gears, the shifter moves like it should, but it’s not going on to gear. Just staying in neutral. Is that the problem you had?
Mine was more of a preventative maintenance I found it after I did an inspection of the shift forks and ordered the worm one. But it didn't feel like it was engaging properly, and would occasionally pop out of gear, my truck has 278k miles on it with original Trans and engine I knew it was probably worn out. That sounds for sure to be your problem though. It's easy enough to open the top cover and check it out I'd go ahead and order it though because it sounds like it's worn through. I try to keep the maintenance up on this old truck as much as possible. It needs an engine/trans rebuild soon.
@@lonewolftech thanks so much! I wouldn’t even consider trying this without your video.
You're welcome! I am glad I could be off assistance! These aren't as complex as everyone makes them out to be, just take your time and things will go smoothly.
What if it’s stuck in 3rd gear and won’t come out
Did you reuse the tophat gasket or buy new?
Reused that one because it wasn’t damaged. Probably is a good idea to change it out though.
@@lonewolftech Thanks for the reply.
Any idea what part number or what it's called "technically"
which kit did you buy?