tight shifter....??

[guitarguru]

Hey guys,
I just recently got my explorer on the road. It is a 93 5speed explorer sport. I have owned 2 other manual cars in my life and it seems that the shifter on my explorer is tougher. it doesn't slide right into gear. it needs a little push behind it. Especially 1st gear. about half of the time I have to try twice to get it in first gear but there is never any grinding or anything. I was just curious if this is just a normal thing for the explorers?? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[92exp4x4]

I have three explorers that are manuals, They all do the exact thing you describe. A new clutch in my 92 didn't help at all and the previous owner had the trans completly overhauled before I got it. My other 92 has 62,000 original miles and it shifts the same way. As long as it doesn't grind, I wouldn't worry about it.