Difficulty Lifting Reverse Lock Ring on ZF-6 Speed
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 4
Difficulty Lifting Reverse Lock Ring on ZF-6 Speed
All:
I have a 1989 with 6-speed manual that is difficult to lift the lock ring to place it in reverse. It usually takes two hands to do it. I replaced the lock ring today and it made no difference. The vertical pin just doesn't move freely enough. The car has approximately 30,000 miles and shifts fine otherwise. Any ideas?
Thanks,
ddb1
I have a 1989 with 6-speed manual that is difficult to lift the lock ring to place it in reverse. It usually takes two hands to do it. I replaced the lock ring today and it made no difference. The vertical pin just doesn't move freely enough. The car has approximately 30,000 miles and shifts fine otherwise. Any ideas?
Thanks,
ddb1
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 438
Likes: 124
From: Lancaster S.C.
All:
I have a 1989 with 6-speed manual that is difficult to lift the lock ring to place it in reverse. It usually takes two hands to do it. I replaced the lock ring today and it made no difference. The vertical pin just doesn't move freely enough. The car has approximately 30,000 miles and shifts fine otherwise. Any ideas?
Thanks,
ddb1
I have a 1989 with 6-speed manual that is difficult to lift the lock ring to place it in reverse. It usually takes two hands to do it. I replaced the lock ring today and it made no difference. The vertical pin just doesn't move freely enough. The car has approximately 30,000 miles and shifts fine otherwise. Any ideas?
Thanks,
ddb1
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
On my '90 transmission, the lift ring was pretty tough to operate too. The lift ring lifts a shaft that goes down to a locking mechanism. When you lift the ring it lifts a mechanical block out of the way so the shifter can move into reverse. On mine the mechanical lock was gummed up pretty bad. After cleaning and a little oil to lube it it worked much better.
The problem is that it is difficult to get to that area. The lower shift boot was very very difficult to get seated properly on the drive tunnel opening. I don't remember if you can get to it from underneath. A very crude attempt might be to spray some cleaner and/or lube down the center of the shifter and then work the lock ring to try to free it up. I don't know if this will get the right areas or not, but it is very cheap and easy to try. On mine I had the transmission out of the car, so it was easy to do.
A '95 or '96 shifter does not have the lift ring. The transmission is different and it takes a little added pressure to move into reverse. On the '94 and earlier transmissions they do not have this added pressure, so if you go to a later shifter or aftermarket like a Hurst, etc there is nothing to prevent going into reverse accidentally if you move the shifter there. So if you make a change to the shifter, be careful.
Good luck.
The problem is that it is difficult to get to that area. The lower shift boot was very very difficult to get seated properly on the drive tunnel opening. I don't remember if you can get to it from underneath. A very crude attempt might be to spray some cleaner and/or lube down the center of the shifter and then work the lock ring to try to free it up. I don't know if this will get the right areas or not, but it is very cheap and easy to try. On mine I had the transmission out of the car, so it was easy to do.
A '95 or '96 shifter does not have the lift ring. The transmission is different and it takes a little added pressure to move into reverse. On the '94 and earlier transmissions they do not have this added pressure, so if you go to a later shifter or aftermarket like a Hurst, etc there is nothing to prevent going into reverse accidentally if you move the shifter there. So if you make a change to the shifter, be careful.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 4
Thanks for the ideas, glenx122 & QCVette!
Today I ordered a longer, flexible, replacement straw so I can easier direct penetrant down the tube. Like you said QCVette, who knows if the spray will reach the problem area. I will spray it conservatively at first, and work the ring to see if it helps. I will update the thread once I give it a try.
Thanks,
ddb1
Today I ordered a longer, flexible, replacement straw so I can easier direct penetrant down the tube. Like you said QCVette, who knows if the spray will reach the problem area. I will spray it conservatively at first, and work the ring to see if it helps. I will update the thread once I give it a try.
Thanks,
ddb1
Last edited by ddb1; Oct 11, 2019 at 06:47 PM.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 4
Problem Fixed!
Today I loosened and raised the reverse lock ring and conservatively sprayed WD-40 inside the small opening. Then I decided to totally remove the reverse lock ring to enable me to spray more WD-40 down the shaft. The longer, flexible replacement straw wasn't needed or used because it wouldn't fit down the shaft any further than the OE straw. After I felt I sprayed enough to help I reinstalled the ring and cycled it a couple of times and it immediately felt better. I reinstalled the shifter **** and continued to cycle it and now it feel great! Easily operable with one hand.
Thanks again to glenx122 & QCVette! I hope this helps someone in the future with this problem.
ddb1
Thanks again to glenx122 & QCVette! I hope this helps someone in the future with this problem.
ddb1
