How to keep an NV5600 together???

[TX Gooseneck]

My 05 Dodge 3500 has 175k on it as of now, the truck has seen very little usage this year due to down time. I had the factory trans replaced at 93k, then 96k (bad from the get go), 156k, 170k, 171,500, and now again at 175k.



The past two were down by Standard, and die pretty quick. The last one made a horrific grinding/squealing death. What does it take to keep one of these transmissions together? The past 3 failures were without hauling anything.



The truck is completely stock. Between this one and my 04. 5 I've experienced 9 NV5600's and am fed up

 

[BFoughty]

I'm sorry to hear this. I'm still on the same NV5600 in my 'O5 3500. It has 213,000 miles on without a single problem. It was used for towing a 42 foot enclosed car trailer from new up until around 205,000 miles. Now i use it to pull a 33' 5er. Brian

 

[TX Gooseneck]

What's odd Brian, is the current transmission in my 04. 5 has held up amazingly well to the power and abuse. Maybe I need to BOMB the truck several

 

[Money Maker]

My experience is just the opposite. Mine lasted to 208,000 but after adding a few mods I am now on my 5th NV5600 and only have 240,000 on the odo

 

[steveinaz]

Are you sure that the trans is centered on the crank. Sounds like the trans to block adapter may be machined wrong from the factory. SteveinAZ

 

[TX Gooseneck]

Steve,



Good question. I am honestly not sure, I'll talk to the mechanic this afternoon and find out.

 

[Money Maker]

Are you sure that the trans is centered on the crank. Sounds like the trans to block adapter may be machined wrong from the factory. SteveinAZ

Would especially be true if the failures were the same each time.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

The failures have been different issues, but could all be related. The factory trans began popping out of gear very early on. We took it to a dealer and they told us to ride it out until the transmission ended up ultimately dying all together.



The one at 156k I am relating to driver error (We had a driver, who was apparently very angry at the shifter, clutch and accelerator pedal) but it was a chipped 6th and 3rd gear. It was actually still drivable, just making noise, so we did some PM and pulled the transmission.



The next 3 were all full rebuilds. The last one (not the current DOA unit) was rebuilt by Standard Transmission. Truck was driven locally and went out at ~1500 miles. S T said the input shaft was out of spec, so they rebuilt it under warranty. They really are outstanding to work with, it's just frustrating.

The last one is being pulled today. My dad was driving the truck, I was on the phone and this horrific metal shearing/grinding/screeching noise started. My dad put the truck in neutral and the transmission ground the truck to a hault.



Not sure if it is all related or if it is all individual problems.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Not sure if it is all related or if it is all individual problems.

It could easily all be related - an out-of-alignment transmission to flywheel will put stresses on the transmission internals that make shifting poor, and wear FAST! I had a similar failure some years back with a GM overdrive transmission, when the transmission mounting bolts loosened, allowing the transmission to "droop" out of position - cost me a new transmission!



One thing is obvious - you have a central, serious contributing issue that's behind your unusual failures - and will CONTINUE to have problems unless it's located and eliminated!

 

[JWilkinson]

check pilot bushing

What shape was the pilot bushing? Was it changed with each transmission? The factory pilot bushing leaves a lot to be desired. When worn it will allow the input shaft to run off center causing damage to the rest. If the bushing is trash, I would take a look at the bushings at Quad 4X4. Good luck.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

Yep, replaced each time. I pulled the transmission that went at 156k. The needle bearing was in decent shape, and had all pins still in place, but it has been replaced each time.



That was the initial problem on my 04. 5, the needle bearing shattered and the input shaft walked, augered out the front of the cash and I had 100% fluid loss. I blame the 2nd transmission on the dealer, they did a sub-par rebuild when I begged for a new transmission. I told them I would gladly pay for a new unit and they rebuilt it in house, despite my willingness to buy a new one. The counter gear seized to the main shaft. Apparently during the rebuild they replaced the front cover, and input shaft, top end bearings and left everything else alone. I suppose I jumped off on a rabbit trail there, but the needle bearing was fine.

 

[J&LRam]

there is a article in our TDR mag issue #55 page #58 on the NV5600 and hi milage input shaft and bearing going bad. Blumenthals out of OK city has had several of these with input bearing problems. They say the fix is to overfill the transmission with 6 qts instead of 4 qts. The theory is the those bearings are oil starved on long uphill pulls and over filling doesn't let that to happen. I would give them a call and get their input on any NV5600 problems.

JIM