Caught 5th gear on time!

[C Schomer]

It looks like it's never too soon to check 5th gear! I had a jerking trailer brake problem last year and it slipped out of 5th at 65mph - once. DC mech drove it and said it was fine but I've been supicious ever since. I only have 32k on mine and am planning a 4k mile trip in June and couldn't stand it any longer. I bought the new nut when it slipped out of gear last year so I was ready! I looked at the nut and it hadn't moved but then I noticed some roughness around the edge of the washer where it contacts the gear. I put the wrench on to see how tight it was and I'd guess it broke loose at well under 200 ft. lbs. The nut, shaft and even the washer were still all tightly bonded together with the locktite but wear between the gear and washer was letting the gear wobble. The gear slid easily off the shaft and had worn into the smooth part of the shaft just enough to catch a fingernail in. The pattern of the gear spline was worn into the washer almost as bad. I don't lug in 5th - I drop to 4th by 1900 rpm. I figured with my usual luck - I better check it out! Time to call Standard Transmission!

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97 3/4Ton, 2WD, 5SP, #11 Plate, AFC kit, 14 Housing, AF942M Air filter, Straight Thru Cat, 4"From Turbo, Airlift, Shortened Frame, Custom Bed, 24CKFS Sunnybrook, HEY FORDBOY POWERSTROKE THIS!

 

[mikepvg]

Good catch!
How many miles did you get out of that transmission before you first noticed the 5th gear problems?
Mike
#ad


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94 2500HD 5sp 4. 10LSD 4X4 RWAL w/GearVendor OD, K&N Oval w/ Pre-Filter, Straight Exhaust, Geno's Fumotovalve, AW-Direct Idle Controller, DiPricol Boost/Pyro/Fuel, Mag-Hytec Rear, 124K miles. Halon Protected, NRA Member. V1.

 

[redram]

Prudence is always better than I told you so! You were right. When we talked, I would have not believed that this would have been a problem from one instance.
Like the phrase before - 'good catch'. Have fun on your trip.

DC

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[C Schomer]

The one time it popped out of 5th was at 27k. The trailer brakes were only slightly jerking the truck - it felt like gusty wind. I just got a new 5th wh and the trailer cord was way too long, so I tied it up with a tywrap. The tywrap broke, the cord drug on the road and several strands of wire were hitting each other, jerking the brakes. I remember the shift lever was not bouncing at all. All at once - it went into nuetral. I went back to TDR #30 and read Joes' article about 5th gear and would have sworn he was talking about MY truck! Low miles, high tq. and towing. The nut was tight, mostly due to locktite and the gear cocked on the shaft. The gear splines wore badly into one side of the smooth part of the shaft indicating it actually cocked. The other side of the shaft is still smooth! Wierd! At first glance, it looked good and nothing was loose enough to moved by hand. Then I noticed the rough edge on the washer(the side against the gear), from the metal squashing out and decided to see how tight it really was. I'm just glad I found it NOW and not on the road and before it could cause any other damage! BTW, I got a case of RP Maxgear 75w90 and was very happy to see what it says on the bottle! "Meets performance requirement of GL4 AND GL5, NON CORROSIVE, and Great for manual transmissions calling for GL4 OR GL5 fluids". "Meets requirements of MIL-L-2105E", whatever that is! Also says "Non-corrosive nature, provides excellent results in applications for both GL4 and GL5 fluids". I'm glad to see it is recommended to replace GL4 and not just have to assume it's OK! I just hope my judgement on this oil is as good as deciding to check 5th gear!! Craig



[This message has been edited by C Schomer (edited 04-23-2001). ]

 

[Bob V]

C Schomer, you beat me to the post. I just did mine last week and the nut is almost exactly like yours. Only about 100ftlbs holding it. The gear also slid right off and also had hammered into the smoothe part of the shaft. A little deeper than yours. I have 90,000 miles on mine with only about 15,000 of towing. I wish I would have done it a little earlier. Oh well. I too have called standard transmission and will be ordering the rebuild kit and 5th gear nut and output shaft as soon as I can afford it. Bob V.

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