I have aquired a 94 f150 with a 4.9L inline six engine and 5-speed manual trans. It has been sitting for 6 years.

With the engine off the trans will shift easily into every gear. Running, it will not shift into any gear.

It has the internal slave cylinder/release bearing set up. No leaks are present and fluid is in the reservoir. The clutch pedal feel is normal.

Anyone think bleeding the system will do anything or is it new slave cylinder and clutch replacement time.

 

Make sure the clutch master cylinder is working properly and bleed the system of any trapped air. If all that is OK look further into the slave cylinder. Usually if the clutch itself is gone you can get it into gear, but the vehicle doesn't move that good because if worn it slips.

 

if there was air in the hydralic lines would the clutch pedal have a different feel?

 

Sometimes, you can feel a difference.

 

Does pumping the peddle rapidly 'first' then trying a running shift make any difference? There should'nt be any freeplay at the peddle, and engagement or stack pressure on your foot shouldn't be too far down the peddle stroke.. ?

 

the pedal tension doesn't change anywhere through the pedal travel. There is no disengagment at all.

I'll try to pump it up and see what happens. I'm gonna remove the bellhousing inspection cover to see if there is any movement at all.

I will bleed the system. I'm assuming if I get no fluid during bleeding the master cyllinder is no good. Is there a better way to check the m/c?

 

Aside from blocking the hydraulic line at the M/C and see if you get a hard pedal.

 

started the truck in gear, clutch depressed...so the clutch must be dis-engaging to some degree. When I released the pedal, the engagement was very low (near the floor). It engaged after 1-2 inches of pedal movement. I could shift out of first but not into another gear or back to first.

diagnostically I'd like to try to get it up to speed and do the "trucker gear shift" to see if it will engage when the countershaft speed is matched to the input shaft speed.

Had no one to help bleed so with try that next week. If no better I will be removing the trans for a clutch inspection.

any comments are appreciated.

 

had time to inspect the clutch today. Started it in 3rd and drove it all the way to work in 3rd.

remove the inspection plug. The bell housing was full of mouse nest material. After removing that, the slave is moving the release bearing. The release bearing appears to be in constant contact with the pressure plate diapharm spring. Is that normal for this type of slave?

tried to bleed the system and ended up completely loosing the pedal. Its right to the floor. Vacuum bled 500ml of fluid through the system but its no better.
Looked up the ford bleeding procedure; wants me to disconnect the plastic line at the slave. Do I need to do this as I never had the system apart?

Any tricks to help bleed this system?

 

I wish someone would have kept this thread going. My peddle is sticking down and I have done everything except jack the drivers side up and bleed it that way.