Lost Fifth Gear!

[Big John]

About fifteen minutes ago, on my way into work, I became a member of that not so exclusive "club" of Dodge truck owners that have lost their fifth gear. I have 105,000 miles on Big Red, but was hoping to avoid this distinction all-together.



I will be calling Standard Teansmission this morning but wanted to see if anyone out there has a deal going on a fixed transmission or new clutch? Let me know ASAP.



Also, anything special I need to consider while doing this fix?



Thanks,

Big John

 

[kchristopher]

How expensive is this to fix if you do the removal/install of the transmission yourself, but not the internal fix?



I'm curious if anybody has just taken this opportunity to install a US gear or GV overdrive and left 5th broken.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Don't leave 5th "broken" as the metal from the nut getting its threads stripped off is going through the transmission.



What clutch is right for you depends on what power level you want. At least now there is a choice--when I overpowered the stocker several years ago, there was nothing out there.



Locally I can get the trans mainshaft done and clutch replaced for about $400. The Std Trans 5 speed is a good deal when you figure in the work they do and the warranty. If you are sure about your transmission and if you have a good technician lined up, you may save some $ fixing yours instead.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

I did the work myself with the costs as such:



1650 (reman fm std trans)

150 (shipping... you only pay 1 way)... they get core back

200 (clutch)

54 (gallon of syntorq)



----



approx 2100

 

[SOOT]

fifth gear

One good thing is you do not have to drop the trans. just pull the tail section off. the replacement kit from the dealer cost me about $40, the fluid cost $35, and four hours later i had her back together.

 

[Bill Lins]

Re: fifth gear

Originally posted by MMclain

One good thing is you do not have to drop the trans. just pull the tail section off.

Sorry, but to fix it RIGHT, you have to replace the mainshaft with a fully-splined one (you know, like it SHOULD have been from the factory)!

 

[Big John]

Now Bill, you are sounding a little bitter. You know full well that Dodge saved probably $2. 38 a unit by not splining that gear fully from the get-go. They used that money to fully engineer our fuel sensors!



I plan on installing the Standard Trans. shaft and gear, along with new bearings, seals, and assorted other parts that may show some wear in 105,000 miles. I am debating over the clutch to use. Don M said that he really liked his clutch and Kevlar bushing from South Bend. He has a stronger truck that mine and pulls a bigger trailer and had no problem with slipage. I am leaning in that direction.



My truck being a 4x4 makes the easy fix of tail shaft removal and re-nutting the gear a little harder to do. I am going to bite the bullet and go with a full fix. I plan on towing a lot in the mountains in coming months and like the idea of a strong fifth gear and clutch.



This down-time will also be used to install my new e-brake.



Big John

 

[Sled Puller]

At 80 some thousand, I had a bad third gear and put the new shaft in since it was down.

The old shaft and 5th was perfect, as were the bearings. I had all the synchros, and third gear changed, and put it back in.





Be intereseting to see what you guys have worn.



Gene

 

[Turbo Thom]

Christopher:

I installed a US Gear overdrive for just this reason. I lost 5th gear 2 times and cannot pull in fourth gear at 50 mph. Thursday I replaced a ST transmission when I lost 5th gear again. I talked to Charlie and he shipped me another transmission , which is in now but the labor here in Georgia is more than JoeD's n Nevada. At ST they seem to think I lost a gear on fifth gear itself. There was 10,000 on the broken transmission. The Cummins has to much torque.



I'll see how this one last.

. . Preston. .

 

[Timinator]

Originally posted by Turbo Thom

The Cummins has too much torque.

I don't believe it.

 

[rhoads]

This is going to burn--BUT the addiation of a gear vender/or/other unit "will-not" insulate you from the loss of 5'th gear. . JUST get you down the farther before the failure and out of the pocket cost will be at least 2k..... then you will still have to do the repair.....

If you have a failure do you need to replace the main shaft--not in most cases,,,,,clean off the shaft threads,if they don't appear flatten-or -striped, by all means re-use it. .

Do you have to remove the transmission to repair?? NO... ... ..... But the the input shaft bearing (flywhell-input shaft) is a accident waiting to happen . Would i install the factory repair kit??? NO.

Did a field test in the real world, it was better than the 96 (2nd ) gen,You want to get the superceedednut(pre-split).

The factory D-- neer had it right, They staked it into a key way cut into the shaft ONCE. didnt hold. You dont need the key way,BUT stake it at min 8 times. Why didnt the factory stake more ,Most likely , didnt think the tec's could remove it for other repaires if needed ,later in the main case.

You have to split the nut but it takes care ,hammer & chisel.

 

[C Schomer]

I did a post in the middle of last summer about doing the ST fix on mine. Try doing a search. I gave a lot of details that no one else has. My nephew did the internal on mine. He 'owed' me and he has extensive gearbox experience - a must! Make sure you have shimstock around to reshim the endplay - . 002"-. 006". That slowed us down a day while I found the right thickness and cut a new shim. Craig

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by MGM

Be intereseting to see what you guys have worn. Gene

Dang, Gene! If you must know, right now I'm wearing a.....

 

[Sled Puller]

Man, with you Texans around you have to be specific,eh?



THE TRANSMISSION!







Gene

 

[boathead]

Big John,

what kinda weight are you towing? I have 75k on my '95 NV 4500, and am pulling around 14,000 lbs.

Getting concerned about the 5th gear and clutch!

 

[Big John]

Boathead, I tow around 9,000 pounds at the most. I tow several trailers, including my 5th wheel, two different goosenecks and a bumper pull.



My clutch was still strong after 105,000 miles. I have always made my hard pulls in 4th gear and thought that I had been easy on fifth, overall. I was running empty at 55 mph and started to accelerate when it let go. Smooth as silk, no clunking or grinding. It just when away!



I guess tha nut had had enough! This will not happen to me again. I was lucky that I was not 900 miles from home pulling my fiver!



Big John

 

[boathead]

Big John,

I'm just assuming mine will go pretty soon, hopefully I won't be too far from home! I pull quite a bit in 5th, but I don't push it too hard because of the weight. Let me know how you come out, I've been looking at Standard Transmission's website to see what's involved.

Good Luck,

Paul

 

[Turbo Thom]

Boathead:

The folks at ST are nice to deal with. I tow a 12,500 lb fiver and a 14,000lb work trailer. I was towing the work trailer when the fifth gear let go on a ST transmission. There was a loud grinding noise and a vibration. I down shifted to 4th and into overdrive. I was 120 miles from the house going to work. That is why I bought the US Gear overdrive unit. I could continue on to work at around 65 mph in fourth over. Charlie at ST sent me another transmission , it is in and I'm back on the road. The broken one on it's way to Texas.



As far as the fifth gear goes Jesus couldn't fix it. He can save us but not fifth gear. That's the devil's territory. The only real problem I've had with the Dodge is the transmission. I lost fifth gear 3 times with the stock one then it lost an input shaft and cooked itself. Now the second ST transmission and counting. I had been using Amsoil in the stock tanny but in the ST ones is Castrol. I'm not sure what to do but I am getting punchy. Every noise I hear I'm waiting for an explosion. But what can I do? Just keep on driving.



Good luck.



. . Preston. .

 

[boathead]

Thanks for the info, Preston. I'm gonna hang in there till it breaks, I'm also running Amsoil GL-4 in the trans, only have a couple thousand miles on it so far so good, but time will tell.

Hope the new trans. holds up for you,

Paul

 

[BCriste]

Welding the 5th gear nut?

Before becomming a member, and after loosing 5th gear the second time I installed the latest (?) nut with the set screws and decided to tack weld the nut to the shaft. This didn't seem to be a bad idea because the nut is long enough that if you did need to remove it you could grind off the tacks, and still have no problem getting it off. It has been that way for the last ... ?..... well ,,,, at least 70k or 80k and still no problems. Any one else try this? It seems to holding fine. The truck has 172k on it with no problems except that darn 5th gear.