Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) NV4500 shifting issues.....

[JGheen]

Anyone ever have any issues with shifting their NV4500 from a dead stop? Every morning I have such a tough time trying to get my transmission into reverse. I was told before that because the reverse and first gears are so big, that the sycros have a tough time getting them into gear. It's just when I move the stick over and down to put it in reverse it only goes over and then down after really pulling down on the stick and then it finally gets into gear. It does this same thing in first gear from a dead stop as well, but it is definately easier and seems to slip into gear a bit easier then reverse.

Anyone have any advice they can throw at me to make this shift easier?

The transmission is actually my second one in the truck, so it's still pretty new, maybe 10,000 miles. Also, I recently replaced the gear oil with some Redline MT 90 since i had installed that Genos NV4500 transmission filter kit.

 

[RT66DOC]

JG:



Mine has always seemed to balk a bit if I try to pull it down into reverse from neutral. A long time ago I got into the compulsive habit of whipping the shift lever through a few gears before putting it in reverse. As I recall, I usually go to 1st-2nd-5th-reverse, sometimes I move the lever through all five then R. Goes in slicker'nsnot every time. I always put it in N at stoplights out of respect for the puny input shaft on the 4500 then when I get ready to take off I pull it from N to 2nd then up to 1st. Just had to think through all this in detail as I don't even think about it while driving. Overall I'd say the 4500 in my truck shifts really slick/smooth - not exactly like a 6 spd BMW but I have always been happy with the feel of it. Now if 5th gear hadn't blown off... but that's another story. Syntorq in the box.

 

[JGheen]

Thanks Tom,



Yeah, I too put it into other gears before reverse sometimes when it has trouble getting into gear and it seems to make it slip in better without pulling a muscle trying to get it past the syncro. I'll have to try that more often and see how it slips into gear.

Anyone else have the same issues with getting it in gear from a dead stop?

 

[moparguy]

I always pop it into 4th, then 1st or reverse. No problem that way.

 

[Jerred]

Same here, notice it more when it's cold in the morning. Once she's warmed up, she's good to go. That Syntorq is made for high heat capacity, probably has something to do with that. But my dad taught me long ago to down shift a manual gear box, so I got into that same habit of running it through some gears before letting go of the clutch. Always thought it was a nervous habit, glad to hear I have a support group!

 

[JGheen]

Thanks for the advice, guys, it seemed to work really well this morning. I let the truck warm-up for a few minutes as I always do every morning. Then put the clutch in and went from 1st through 5th gears, then it slipped into reverse so easy, I was amazed at the difference then just going straight to reverse. Gonna be doing that from now on since it worked like a charm. Guess you just got to run it through the other gear syncros and wha-la! Slips into gear like, well, you get the picture... :-laf

 

[RT66DOC]

It IS a nervous habit but it serves a useful purpose.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

if I'm leaving a dead stop in 1st, I'll pull the stick back towards 2nd... not enough to put it in gear, just enough to slow down the input shaft, then put it in 1st. It's really a quick little shuffle... if I'm leaving a dead stop in 2nd, I'll push it up towards 1st. again, not enough to go into gear, just to slow down the input shaft... It's 2nd nature now, and I don't realize I'm doing it half the time.



if I'm going to reverse, I put it in 5th gear first and then come down to reverse... I've always had to do that in all my T5 and Tremec equipped hot rods, and I just kept the habit w/ the NV4500... works great.



Forrest

 

[JGheen]

works great.



Forrest

Yes, it does. The habit is beginning... .

 

[RT66DOC]

Well at least we have synchros - don't have to double-clutch.



That reminds me, years ago I was at the Columbus 500 - IMSA GTP & stuff like that, Anybody remember Al Holbrook/Lowenbrau Porsche, Bob Tullius/12 cyl Jag et al? Anyway after the race I had the opportunity to talk with Bobby Rahal and somehow got on the subject of shifting. He said he never bothered with the clutch much when racing - took too much time. Oo.

 

[Jerred]

Well at least we have synchros - don't have to double-clutch.



No kidding, I grind the gears in our TDI Jetta while I'm rolling backwards out of our slopped driveway as I'm easing into reverse. So used to driving the ole' Ram.

 

[JGheen]

That reminds me, years ago I was at the Columbus 500 - IMSA GTP & stuff like that, Anybody remember Al Holbrook/Lowenbrau Porsche, Bob Tullius/12 cyl Jag et al? Anyway after the race I had the opportunity to talk with Bobby Rahal and somehow got on the subject of shifting. He said he never bothered with the clutch much when racing - took too much time. Oo.

Well, he was probably running a sequential(I think that is how you spell it) gearbox on his car and that required him to only have to use the clutch when leaving his pit stop. Other than that, just banging through the gears with the DSWOL(driver shift without lift).

 

[Dr.Bob]

I belive the correct fluid is half MTL and half MT90 but most likely thats not your problem.

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

I was also told half and half with MTL and MT90. Since new, my 4500 has been darn near impossible to get into 2nd gear before up to temp in the winter. The dealer replaced the top section of the transmission, that didn't help. I put Redline in this spring. I hope it helps my problem this winter.



Dan