Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Making the NV5600 shift smoother/faster

[sparks57]

I've never tried the "no clutch" method, but hopefully I'll be able to learn how to do it someday. I used to own a first gen with a 5 speed, and I always used the clutch, and I never thought of driving it any different.



Oh, and I had the floormat issue in that truck a few times...

 

[JFinke]

Mine shifted great for 270,000K right up untill the wife was towing her horse trailer and blew sixth gear. Haven't tore it apart yet but I figure the way it sounds and shakes, wont move in 6th that i'll be spending 3300$ on a new one. Jake

 

[JFitzgerald]

Mine shifts nice. BIG, HUGE, MAJOR improvement over the Getrags I had been used to. No growling at low RPM. No babying to make it last. The only problem I have is if I'm not paying attention, I'll get 6th when I wanted 4th. I usually shift without the clutch, but do use it with the overdrive. It's time for a fluid change, so maybe I'll try the Redline MTL.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

To each his own - but personally, I supect the "no clutch shifting" is sort of a mix of laziness and being macho, otherwise, what's the point...



Sure, you might get away with it for a while, but there is most definitely added stress on the syncros using that method over the long haul - and a single careless moment MIGHT end up being pretty costly and inconvenient!



No offense intended to those preferring that method - but I guess I'll stick with the wimpout method, and get the value outta that fancy clutch I recently installed...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

The 6-speed in my '03 shifted great. Liked it better than the previous 6-speed I had and the current NV4500. I could row the gears faster on my '03 than any of the 5-speeds I've driven.



Vaughn



PS: Vaughn is curious why CB posted this

 

[Bugracing]

my 05 has about 1100 miles on it now and all gears except 3rd shift fine.

It appears that the 3rd gear synchro is not ideal. The shifting improves once the transmission warms up, but the transmission is not too happy going into 3rd.

 

[Hohn]

To each his own - but personally, I supect the "no clutch shifting" is sort of a mix of laziness and being macho, otherwise, what's the point...

Sure, you might get away with it for a while, but there is most definitely added stress on the syncros using that method over the long haul - and a single careless moment MIGHT end up being pretty costly and inconvenient!

No offense intended to those preferring that method - but I guess I'll stick with the wimpout method, and get the value outta that fancy clutch I recently installed...

I agree with Gary on this. I don't see the "reward" part of the risk/reward clutchless shifting equation.

I'll stick with my stock clutch-- still holding strong at 350++ rwhp for two years of mostly city driving. It owes me nothing.

Justin

 

[Alphacowboy]

haha, guys get this... so now that I posted this about "clutch less" shifting... . I paid more attention to my shifting habits today... and I was WAAAAAY off, i guess I have gotten so use to shifting that I do actually us the clutch, lightly, but I do use it WAY more than I previously thought. Now, I do still clutchless shift 5th, almost all the time, as its pretty much only used when I hit the freeway, and honestly... . a baby could shift it into 5th with out the clutch... mine slides in so smooth to 5th. Maybe its not good, but some others have said it aint going to hurt anything. others have said other wise. Anyway, just a little update... It does shift into 4th and 5th with out the clutch with quite abit of easy, if you let off the throttle lightly... I ALWAYS use the the clutch though shifting into 4th and 5th if I am on the stupid pedal though... pretty much when i am "grandpa" driving do I do the slideing in with out the clutch.



I guess if I was you I would just try it... you will see what I mean, I have yet to grind the gears doing this... it DOESNT clunk, it doesnt jar, it just flows... seriously.

 

[THartfield]

My 02 HO has always shifted poorly. I made a post about a year ago calles "stiff shifting 6 speed" and the discussion went off into clutches and the bushing that is used on the HO set-up. Apparently there was a part number change and the newer bushings were a little tight - therby not letting the input shaft stop rotating all the way.



My has occasional problems shifting into reverse - no matter what method I try. And it has always had big problems down shifting into 3rd. I have had lube changes, driven when it was very warm and nothing changes. The tells me that there is something to this bushing deal.



This morning, I was driving in a traffic line using 1st and just letting it idle and walk along. Traffic picked up, I shifted to 2nd and when it went into 2nd (with the clutch in) I could feel it try and pull.



When I change clutches and am going to yard that bushing out and find the "looser" part number to put in.

 

[JFinke]

To each his own - but personally, I supect the "no clutch shifting" is sort of a mix of laziness and being macho, otherwise, what's the point...



Sure, you might get away with it for a while, but there is most definitely added stress on the syncros using that method over the long haul - and a single careless moment MIGHT end up being pretty costly and inconvenient!



No offense intended to those preferring that method - but I guess I'll stick with the wimpout method, and get the value outta that fancy clutch I recently installed...

I suspect that most who use the no clutch method are past or present big rig drivers who are experianced at this as class 8 trucks don't have any synchros. If they did and you grabbed the wrong gear the trans would explode. If you don't get the right RPM to MPH combination it won't go into gear. It's to keep the trans alive. Very few truckers use the clutch when shifting, and if they do they still have to match RPM to MPH.



I only use the clutch in my truck to get it into lo or reverse to take off from a stop. After that it's all clutchless. Those who use the cluch all the time seem to tear out a lot more clutch brakes. In my pickup I use the clutch out of lazyness, and it shifts faster not having to match RPM to MPH. If I were of a mind to shift it without the clutch I would do so without any fears of hurting the trans. As it is mine lost 6th gear and the synchro's are all fine. I hope the new one shifts as well. Jake

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Using the clutch really shouldn't be considered a "crutch", or excuse for ignoring the good practice of matching engine RPM to the gear being changed to - which is one reason some of the younger crowd inexperienced with a *truck* transmission seem sorta puzzled that it won't submit to the rapid shifts they were familiar with in their sporty-type cars...



I tend to treat my transmission and clutch with respect - and hopefully, they will reward me with a long and trouble-free lifespan...

 

[jhutton]

NV5600 shift smoother

As a coincidence I recently had to replace my transfer case and while in the shop I had the transmission fluid changed. I forgot to take the Royal Purple Synchromax with me and they filled with the rec Mopar lubricant; terrible grinding on 2nd to 3rd and sometimes in between 3rd and 4th until real warmed up (its 22F here now). Drained and filled with Synchromax and 90% of the problem is gone.



jh

 

[AggieJustin]

My NV5600 has developed a bit of an attitude on the 4-5 shift. It grinds a bit if I run the RPMs up in 4th and don't pause for a second before hitting 5th. I noticed it occasionally when towing heavy and winding out 4th, and it's pretty noticeable when trying to row the gears fast while showing off.



It's also got a little picky about reverse from a stop... sometimes you have to release the clutch a little way to get it to go into gear.



I'm going to do a fluid change over the holidays. Running Redline MTL right now that is about 40K old, so I'll see if this help any. Unless someone has other ideas.



JM

 

[DPelletier]

Well,

Add me to the list of happy NV-5600 owners. My transmission shifts very smoothly UNLESS you try to speed shift or force it to shift faster than it wants to. It is a HD transmission and I think that MOST (not all) people complaining of NV-5600 shifting are just expecting it to be more "car like". I have had lots of experience with manual trannies (albeit only a little on a class 8 truck), and for sure the NV-5600 can't be shifted the same way as a Muncie M-21 or BW Super T-10. I use engine rpm matching and double clutching often and habitually. What can I say? Happy, happy, joy, joy. I like my NV-5600's almost as much as I like my Cummins'.



Dave