5 speed (NV4500) durability check

[Sean Flanagan]

OK Guys, has New Venture gear fixed the 5th gear nut failure? Who has a 5 speed? What year is your truck, how many miles are on it, and have you had any problems with it?

Just curious... .

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98. 5 2500 QC LB 4x4 5spd, white. BFG 285x75x16
Cummins 24v w/ TST PowerMAX w/EGT and Boost gauges on A-Pillar. VanAaken CPC. K&N In the factory air box. Stock Injectors, Stock Exhaust (Geno's Muffler Eliminator). Re-routed breather stink tube, 2WD-low kit, SnugTop, JJ Stainless Running boards, Tow Hooks, Bushwacker Street Flares, and a Cup Smoothie.
83,000 miles (1/10/01)

 

[Ross]

Sean:

My fifth gear crapped out two weeks ago. My truck (see sig. ) had 80,000 miles on it. Most of these miles have been towing heavy and hard, the non-towing miles haven't been too easy either #ad


Ever since my brother's went out (97 3500 w/62K miles), I have been very judicious about not running in fifth below 1700 rpm. Perhaps this helped mine live a little longer than his. He had the dealer fix his at 62K, and 22K later, it failed again. Both of the dealer's fixes were with the split nut. Based on this, I fixed my own last week. It's not a walk in the park, but do-able. I actually kind of enjoyed tearing into it #ad
.

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98 QC 3500 4X2 ISB 5-speed; 10-level Competition PowerMax; DD Stage II's; 4" exhaust turbo to tip; Luk ProGold; K&N; Amsoiled; Pillar Mounted Boost & Pyro; etc. , etc. ,

 

[Spyke]

My 99 2500 broke 3rd with 40K, I never towed in fifth only because CA limits you to 55MPH. I did some research and depending where I looked the 4500HD was only rated for 450/460 ftpds of torque.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

My 1995 is a five speed and it is on the 3rd transmission #ad
. Ihe first one went at 66000 miles the second on at 118000 miles. The engine is BOMBED and I pull heavy so I do cut the transmission SOME slack. However when you look at the lack of proper engeneering in the main shaft and 5th gear splining you cant help but get pi--ed off #ad
. I think the new transmissions have this area cured as you can buy an updated shaft and gear to fix the old trans. The 5th gear teeth failed on the first transmission. The nut backed off on the second one. The third trans is in and I installed a Gear Vendors splitter (overdrive) behind it. I have been running in 4th over it seems to work well. The heavy hauling is now done with my new ETH 6 speed I hope that the 6 speed continues to work as well as it has so far.

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1995 2500 5 spd US Gear 2 speed,PackBrake, bombed,big turbo, injectors CUMMINS POWER!!. 2001 ETH 3500 PackBrake, gagues,otherwise stock. 1972 "1066" International Harvester 414 ci diesel pulling tractor, big pump,turbo and injectors. Alcohol injection,BINDER POWER!! .
GONZO

 

[Briar Hopper]

I was told by a reliable source that the problem has been fixed on 2001's. I don't know about 2000.
Would be nice to have some kind of official confirmation from DC or New Venture.

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Tom M.
Secretary of the Great Lakes Turbo Diesel Registry GLTDR B. A. D. Boys www.lubedealers.com/meers.html

 

[willyslover]

I think that Standard Trans. has the only sure cure with the fully splined shaft and gear set up . . little more $$ but a one time fix... Joe D. [I think] was the one who turned most of us on to this one. . Thanks Desert Scourge. . #ad
#ad

I don't need it now as my 6 sp. seams to do well so far

[This message has been edited by willyslover (edited 01-19-2001). ]

 

[David_VT]

Bombed early 99, 34K and no problems (yet).
I never drive 5th under 50mph and hope that is enought to prevent the problem.

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99' SB 4x4 : DDI's, HOT PE, SPA dual gauge, ESPAR, Line-X OTR, Ladder bars, AMSOIL, etc (GPS,Cell,CB,... . )
Green Monster

 

[KeithW75]

I have 55,000 on mine and have TSTs reflashed ECM, PMax2 and DD IIIs. I have 4. 10 rear and 285/75s. So far no problem with the transmission. I don't usually tow more than 10,000 lbs though. I also try to keep the rpms above 1500 in 5th. I have run it hard though unloaded. Mine was made in June of '99.

 

[Jeff Clark]

70,000 miles on my 95 and 92,000 miles on my 98 without a fifth gear problem.

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4, Driftwood/Mist Grey, 5 spd, 3. 54, 19. 5 Alcoa's, Ranchhand bumpers, DeeZee toolbox, "Scotty Air", TST PowerMax2, VA, 275's, Autometer Gauges, Centerforce clutch, Upgraded fuel lines (JRE and Aeroquip), MagHytec Diff Cover, PacBrake, Cowl Induction Hood

 

[drawson]

I have 95K on my 97 and my 5th gear is still stock. It has been bombed since 23K (230/605) This spring when I replace the clutch I'm going to upgrade the nut being proactive. I tow ruffly 45% of the time 1/2 of it being a back hoe/trailer. I have avoided lugging in 5th as well as deccelerating.

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EAT'M UP
97 2500 Club 4X4 3. 54, Forrest Green/Driftwood, LSD 5 speed, & Psychotty Air System, TST #11, 370 HP injectors, timing at 16 deg. , 16CM2 housing, AFC spring kit, Geno's Exhaust Blanket, TST EGT gauge & 0-60 boost gauge in A Pillar, Cat-be-gone, 4" Dynomax Bullet muffler, Crome 4" turn down, Rad fan removed, AmsOil Through out, Geno's trans filter kit, AmsOil Bypass system, Lund Winter front, Leer Cab Level Shell Driftwood , 255/85R16, Dyno'd 342 HP pre injectors & turbo housing *NRA/USPSA member and proud of it*

 

[Bob V]

77,000 miles on my '97 and a friend has a '94 with 105000 with no problems. I believe that the 4. 10 geared rigs have fewer problems but haven't proved it. Also I believe once the gear comes off the splines you need to relace the shaft and gear to repair properly,the fit is gone. Like others I plan to replace the nut before it's a problem. You can get the TSB for the repair off of Dave Fritz's web page, it calls for replacing the gear and the nut, I have not found anyone that can tell me if the replacment gear is different than the originial. I feel DC relaces it in the TSB to help the fit. Just my opinion.
Bob V

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'97 CC 5spd 4. 10 5spd 315/75 16,Bushwacker,TST 280hp.

 

[C Schomer]

Sean, I only have 32k and it's doing fine. A tech at Christopher Dodge assured me that I will hear it if it loosens up. The ring I made for my turbo give me unprecedented bottom end and it pulls hard down to 1500 now so I have to make sure I don't dope off and downshift! I have the new nut in the garage but when it's time, I'll get the Standard Transmission fix! Craig

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97 3/4Ton, 2WD, 5SP, #11 Plate, AFC kit, 14 Housing, AF942M Air filter, Gutted Cat, 4"From Turbo, Airlift, Shortened Frame, Custom Bed, HEY FORDBOY POWERSTROKE THIS!

 

[Ron Duncan]

Hey!
If any of you guys want to unload a NV4500 5 speed, look in a Jeep Forum, they are a HOT item... ... ...
That useless first gear is just what Jeepers need!
Happy Trails
Ron

 

[DavidD]

You guys have me worried now, I have 70K on a 98. 5 5sp I have changed the oil twice using the catrol syn. that is called for both times it was clean the trnny works fine, it is a little hard to shift into 2nd or reverse from a stop but other than that its been good. I tow a 8000lb trailer about 3 to4 times a month but other than that it doesnthaul anything. Should I be concerned enough to replace the fifth gear nut or what?
you commnts would be appreciated.
Dave

98. 24V, BD-Exhaust, Brake, power modual, gauges,rancho9's, ultra alloys 315's 354'gears

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Davedd, the hard shifting is probably a clutch problem--incomplete release. This may be due to pressure plate or hub problems. Folks I have talked to who lost 5th heard nothing beforehand. 5th was cocked on the shaft of my NV4500 and the only symptom I got was a loss of 20 hp on the dyno, from 408 to 388 hp with the setup I was running then. From what I have seen, replacing just the gear & nut is not worth much. The shaft wears on the splines and flat surface too much to get much value from changing the gear, if you are getting the problem. If the shaft is still like new, the gear will be fine. I wrote more details in Issue 30 of TDR if you need more on the topic. Also there were threads on the topic around last Feb-March; 12 valve forum if I recall correctly.

 

[DCL]

My father's truck lost it pilot bearing right around 82k miles. The failure of the pilot bearing destoyed the clutch and the input shaft. The clutch was replaced with a South Bend w/Kevlar pilot bushing and trans with a rebuilt Standard Trans w/fifth gear upgrade. My father's truck is a 97 3500CC 4x4 w/3. 54 gears, it is his daily driver and farm workhorse(frequent heavy loads). The truck has been trouble free until the trans problem and is worked hard, not abused.

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Chad Lemmel

2001 ETH,3500QC,4x4,SLT,6spd,4. 10,White/Agate,Straight Exhaust.

2001. 5 ETC,3500RC,4x4,SLT,5spd,3. 54,Red/Agate,Straight Exhaust.

 

[DHatfield]

My brothers company truck that he drives is a 99 1-ton with the 5-speed and it had lost 5th gear 3 times in 66,000 miles, but he also tows construction trailers every day with it in overdrive.

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2001 2500HD Quad Cab SLT SB 4x4, HO Cummins, 6-speed, 3. 55 gears, LSD, brightwhite/driftwood, 4w ABS, camper and trailer tow packages, HD transfer case, snow plow prep, group, cab lights, Isspro Boost and Pyrometer gauges mounted on A-pillar, 4" JRE exhaust, BD exhaust brake. 27100 miles and counting as of 1/16/01.

1980 CJ-5, Modified for off-road use, bobbed fenders, 350 TBI, NP435 trans, 4. 56 gears, Dana 300, Dana 44 front, Dana 60 reverse-cut rear axle, ARB air lockers front and rear, 15/35/15 Super Swamper TSL on 10X15 steel rims, Cobra CB, Warn 9000I winch, nerf bars, 1/4" steel rock crawler bumper front and rear, jerri can/spare tire rack, custom roll cage.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

'94 103,000 miles. No problems