Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Hard to get in gear

[CumminsFarmer]

Hey all. Ive been silent lately as running my farm has taken priority. Anyways I have an interesting little problem with my NV-5600. Once in awhile its hard to get into reverse, or sometimes any gear, from a start position. So when I start my rig in the driveway, every few days it seems its very hard to get into gear. Once driving it shifts like a dream. And when it acts up, there is no grinding of any kind. Clutch engages and disengages fine, no noise from the throwout, and no slipping. Im suspecting that it might be beginning to wear though. Perhaps just enough to make it hard to start out? Any input would be appreciated.



P. S. - 108,000 on the rig and clutch

 

[Silver_Ram]

Has the trans fluid been changed? When 6 speed gets hard to shift, it's usually time to change the oil. Synchro's have also been a problem with some.

 

[litespeed]

Has the trans fluid been changed? When 6 speed gets hard to shift, it's usually time to change the oil. Synchro's have also been a problem with some.

Yep... ... . There is a real LONG thread about people adding limited slip additive to the thing to alleviate this problem. I have never had the problem myself. Occasionally I will have the "Reverse" problem. But, if I put it in any other gear and then "Reverse"... ..... Goes right in... .



Kind of like... . Well... ... . You know... ... :-laf

 

[DAWG-1]

Fluid

If you are going to change the fluid. I use to have the same problem as you, it would not want to go into gear. I use the factory fluid with Lube Gard (yellow bottle) gear fluid supplement. You will need to read he back of the additive for the correct amount. Napa carries the additive in the same area as the gear oil and grease. After I changed the fluid to this combination, I have had no shifting problems. It is best to fill your transmission thru the gear shift tower inside the truck. Add one extra quart above the required amount. Sam

 

[Joe Mc]

Add one extra quart above the required amount. Sam

I don't see an advantage to adding an additional quart unless you have a cooler or some other means for additional capacity. Adding over and above the recommended amount could damage the trans. This is a case where more is not good and just the right amount is best. With more oil and no room for it, the gears would be churning oil versus supplying lubrication to areas needed. If it was my truck I'd keep to the capacities in the manual. - MHO

 

[BigEasy]

I don't see an advantage to adding an additional quart unless you have a cooler or some other means for additional capacity. Adding over and above the recommended amount could damage the trans. This is a case where more is not good and just the right amount is best. With more oil and no room for it, the gears would be churning oil versus supplying lubrication to areas needed. If it was my truck I'd keep to the capacities in the manual. - MHO

I'll second that! Talk about a great way to create leaks...

 

[GCroyle]

Incomplete Release?

Just a couple of often ignored causes for "hard to engage any gear issues". If the clutch is working correctly, and still intact, anything that causes the input shaft to continue to turn will often increase the effort required to select any gear from a stop. Possibles include pilot bearing failure, but one that a lot of clutch replacement jobs don't include is a serious cleaning of the input shaft splines. They tend to get a rust coating on them after years of service and it inhibits the disc from sliding on the input shaft. CLEAN THE SPLINES ON EVERY CLUTCH JOB, lube sparingly with high temp wheel bearing grease, just enough to coat the splines.

 

[steved]

Mine's bullheaded every now and again... I simply leave it in nuetral, release the clutch, then reapply the clutch and usually it drops right into gear...



steved

 

[Silver_Ram]

I started a thread a while ago, when the dealer added limited slip additive to my trans. There are many different mixtures that have benn good for one truck or another.



It's been great, no problems shifting since. My trans has always had the reverse bind up, or don't want to get it gear, since it was new. I have always moved it to neutral & moved it back & forth a couple of times, then it slips into gear.