Archived 3rd Gear Sounds like a Huey Under the Truck

[CrewCabDiesel]

On the way home, I got an early Christmas present :{ , Third gear started sounding like a Heuy was under the truck. The truck still pulls in all five gears but third is making a loud chopping noise when in use. Also when the truck stopped and at an idle if you push on the shifter lightly without pushing the clutch I hear can just barely hear the same sound in 1st, 2nd and 4th, nothing in 5th or reverse. Trans noise going down the road has not changed at all except for third.

Truck has 217000 miles and the trans has never been touched except for oil changes, Fast Coolers and a short shift kit. I have been running about 475 rwhp for the last 120,000 and use it occasionally .



4 questions

1st Has anyone run into this before and is there an easy fix on the truck

2nd How long can I run the truck like this

3rd Any recommendations for a good trans rebuilder in western South Carolina

lastly, recommendations for a good Trans rebuilder in the USA.

Thanks

Kyle

 

[Missouri Mule]

CrewCabDiesel, I can only answer your last part of third question but they can answer the rest of your questions.



Standard Transmission and Gear Co.

1-800-783-8726, Fax 817-625-0580

Standard Transmission & Gear



Blumenthal Heavy Duty, INC.

888-236-4800

Welcome to Blumenthal Manufacturing

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Gee guys only one reply? oh well.

I have had to move forward so if anyone is interested here is what I am doing.

1st I have ordered a rebuilt 4500 from Blumenthal Heavy Duty with all the fixes and the updated 1 3/8 input shaft and cast iron tail shaft.

2nd from South Bend Clutch a new 13" OFE clutch kit and new flywheel bolts( Yes Peter knows about the larger input shaft).

3rd once flywheel is out it will be resurfaced and balanced.

4th fill the trans with AMSOIL Severe Gear 75W90



New questions

1st

How much oil does the NV4500 without fast coolers and with?

2nd

Should I change out the rear seal even though it is not leaking at 217,000 miles?



Also my current SBC 13" OFE has almost 140,000 miles on it, would anyone be interested on how its held up and how much material is left after normal use ? :-laf (basiclly I have beat the tar out of it and the clutch still holds tight and works as good as the day it went in!

Kyle

 

[tolmsted]

Yea, I want to know how much is remaining, and how much is gone? I have 133,k on my stock clutch and I'm thinking about when will I need to replace and with what. Thanks, Tom

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Tolmsted, South Bend Clutch is the only way to go. This will be my 3rd clutch from them and the Quality and Service can not be beat by ANYONE!!!

 

[Missouri Mule]

CrewCabDiesel, I take it your trans was toast since you ordered a new one.



NV4500 8. 0 pts. (3. 8L) without fast coolers (with, I don't know).



Seal, if ain't broke don't fix it. But thats up to you.

 

[GAmes]

1st I have ordered a rebuilt 4500 from Blumenthal Heavy Duty with all the fixes and the updated 1 3/8 input shaft and cast iron tail shaft.

2nd from South Bend Clutch a new 13" OFE clutch kit and new flywheel bolts( Yes Peter knows about the larger input shaft).

3rd once flywheel is out it will be resurfaced and balanced.

4th fill the trans with AMSOIL Severe Gear 75W90



New questions

1st

How much oil does the NV4500 without fast coolers and with?

2nd

Should I change out the rear seal even though it is not leaking at 217,000 miles?

With the coolers you will need 6 qts. The Amsoil equilevant to Syntorque is SAE 75W-90 API GL-4, product code MTG-01. My OFE clutch kit came with a flywheel. I would change the seal and check the yoke for a groove. You may need to change it too.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

This will be my 2nd 13" OFE so I already have the correct flywheel, You lost me on the groove in the yoke. Can you explain? The trans in loaded with metal in the oil when I sticked it with a magnet so I just going to do it right with a good rebuild. Bonus is I am no longer held to 500hp because of the imput shaft. I have fast coolers but I am going to put them on after the brake in oil change (that and I only have 5 qts of AMSOIL gear lube right now). I have a OEM Cummins rear seal setting on the shelf so depending closer inspection I will just replace it while I am there. Anyone ever short cut the seal removal by drilling the seal and pulling it out with body hooks? I use to do the samething in the Army on trail rotor seals.

 

[GAmes]

Silly me, I was thinking rear transmission seal, not rear main. No, I would not change that. Mine lasted to around 490k.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Well its out and here is the basics,

Third gear is chewed up with corners of its teeth broken off, opposing gear still looks ok which I don't understand with that much damage to third.



Rear seal is starting to leak so I will put a new rear main seal in, Does anyone have any short cuts in replacing the seal? need advice on this asap.



Clutch is the big supprise, there is more wear on the throwout bearing and pressure plate fingers than on the friction material. Material difference from the old and new OFE disks is about . 046 ! Clutch disk amd pressure plate could still be used with a new throw out bearing! If the trans hadn't come apart I bet I could have gone 180,000 to 200,000 miles on this clutch! Now keep in mind I do take off in 1st ( except when racing, and sled pulls ) . I also shift to neutral at lights and release the clutch ( if traffic has stopped behind me) So all I can say is GREAT CLUTCH Peter at SBC!!!!

Kyle