Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 1998 NP 5 speed 5th gear SNAP RING falls off?

[paulsmith]

Long story. Bought a 98 12 valve with a NEW 5 speed in SC. Trans totally fails in 600 miles. Got a replacement (spent 4 days in a motel in VA) and now

5th gear is GONE in 2300 miles on that 3rd trans.



We send the Trans back to KY (to "Whatever It Takes" ... WIT) for warranty repair.



The Tech tells me the SNAP RING fell off the (I think he said) jack shaft (not the main shaft). The old 5th gear problem was that the nut comes of the MAIN shaft. They upgraded that problem. My problem was the gear on the other shaft, which is held on with a snap ring.



He says THAT gear snap ring will fall off if the trans is overloaded.



so, he basically tells me I overloaded the transmission, which caused the snap ring to fall off, and fifth gear fall off.



This transmission had 2300 miles on it. The truck is dead stock. and it pulled ONE trailer, 250 miles, weighing 6500 pounds.....



2 day labors, $130 shipping, 6 quarts of Mopar Oil at $20 per quart...

 

[GAmes]

He says THAT gear snap ring will fall off if the trans is overloaded.



so, he basically tells me I overloaded the transmission, which caused the snap ring to fall off, and fifth gear fall off.

Apparantly he thinks you have moron stamped on your forehead.

Other than 4th gear all the gears are driven by the countershaft (not jack shaft). 5th gear is held onto it's shaft with a nut, not a snap ring. I doubt if any gears are held on with a snap ring, but if they are pulling heavy would not make it fail. I can tell you how to make a NV4500 fail, and it isn't with a 6500 pound trailer.

 

[paulsmith]

OK, I think he said "counter shaft" not jack shaft.

What he implied was the gear on the counter shat that turns the 5th gear on the main shaft.

I agree, sounds like a load of bull, but I though I would see if any trans experts could clue me in on this snap ring.

 

[SRadke]

There is a snap ring on the back of the countershaft, and it can fail. I've seen them come off as well as break. I would guess that either your trans does not have the original snap ring, thae snap ring is damaged, or the groove is damaged. This should not be a reoccurring short term problem.



Snap ring sits behind the 5th gear syncro left of photo.



-Scott

 

[SRadke]

Here is a picture of it with the gears, syncro, and shift fork removed. Looking from the other side this time, the snap ring in question would be in the upper groove of the shaft on the right.



-Scott

 

[paulsmith]

So obviously when I pushed that 195 HP all the way up to the Governor limit (2500 rpm) in 3rd gear, pulling that 6500# truck on a trailer it blew up.....

Or maybe it was running empty on the interstate in 5th gear at that same 2500 rpm (82 MPH) for 1 mile that did it in... ... .

 

[HCannon]

Had this very thing to happen to a 94. Got luckey and the loose snap ring didnt get into any of the gears while it was floating around in the trans. I replaced the snap ring and that was 30k miles age. The groove was ok and the snap ring was in two parts.

 

[ata]

6 quarts of Mopar Oil at $20 per quart...

I want to know why he charged you for 6 QUARTS of oil. The NV 4500 only holds 4 Quarts.

 

[paulsmith]

The tag on the trans (from the rebuilder) said 10 pints of Castrol Syntorq. I bought a extra to be sure. I juts got the trans back in last night... I have not put the oil in it yet. I was going to pour it in down the shifter hole...

Paul