Shifting does nothing...?

[tddavis]

I have a 71 3 Speed Manual bronco that seems to have lost transmission last night. When i shift into any gear, including reverse, nothing happens. I cannot move the car. Even when i dont use the clutch, i can easily shift into any gear. I've tried both standard 2H and 4H/L.... Any suggestions as to my problem?

thanks,

tim

(new bronco owner)

 

[S_bolt19]

Clutch went out, that is my first thought. Did it have a funny, almost rancid smell and you had to slip the clutch when you were driving it last? If it did, then there is your problem, the clutch went out. But give us a detail of what you were doing and what happened when the trouble started.

 

[89Bronco58]

shifter linkage come off?

 

[tddavis]

shifter linkage come off?

I was simply driving down the highway. It did have a terrible smell when it happened, but it wasnt overwhelming like an engine overheating. I popped under the rig today and all of the Duff floor linkage seems fine, both shifter and transfer case...???

tim

 

[89Bronco58]

horrible smell huh.....sounds like the clutch may have took a dump on you

 

[tddavis]

horrible smell huh.....sounds like the clutch may have took a dump on you

But if the clutch went bad, shouldnt i have problems shifting into gear, like grinding?... I dont get that here. Also, the clutch feels fine, the pressure is identical to what it was before.

 

[89Bronco58]

well if the clutch is working fien then yes you would gring putting it into gear, my first thought was that where the shifter goes into the transmission itself, it came loose somehow, so chekc that id say, and if the clutch is working fine and shifter, then you may have broke soemthing internally, but that whole weird smell thing make me think clutch, have it visually inspected and make sure it isnt stuck open or soemthing

 

[S_bolt19]

It's been about 10 years since I burned a clutch, but I have killed 3 in my time (2 in a Mitsubishi Montero & 1 in my EB) and they all acted the same, bad smell and the shifting was easy as pie. When a clutch is going out, it typically goes out real fast, almost like one minute it is there and the next it isn't. I had 1 go out in about 2 minutes in my Bronco. The pressure was very close to the same as when it was good. What you are describing makes me lean towards the clutch. They aren't hard to replace, just more of a P.I.T.A. How old is the truck and have you ever replaced the clutch? That would be a good starting point. If it hasn't been replaced in the last 10-15 years, now would be an excellent time to do it. It doesn't sound like the pressure plate went out, so I would take it to a reputable shop and have them install one.