Nv5600

[Windrider]

Warning: Owner ticked off with dealer rant about to start!



Well, I took my 6 speed into the dealer for the intermittent grind from 2nd to 3rd when I returned from vacation. Very Intermittent grind



The last 400,000 miles I've driven have all been with a stick. I've never had a clutch go less than 110,000 miles. It's not me.



Believe it or not, they couldn't reproduce the problem! I guess that is where the intermittent part comes in! They are going to try again tomorrow morning when it's cold, then I'm out of luck unless it magically breaks in the next 13,000 miles.



The service manager came as close as any man still standing to calling me a liar as I've ever heard regarding the grind.



Then he actually suggested that they could better diagnose the problem by experiencing it them selves than they could after my 15 minute explanation of exactly when it happened and the prevailing conditions at the time.



How hard is it. Push in clutch. Move shifter from 2nd to 3rd and hear: CRUUNCH!





Two questions:

1. Before I start spewing expletives, does anyone know how much it will cost to replace the synchro's between 2nd and 3rd after the warranty runs out?



2. Does anyone know of a "good" Dodge service bay in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex?

 

[redeye]

What year is your truck? I have the same trouble with mine. I've had it into two different dealers three times. One manager drove it and reported it shifted just like other six speeds he's driven. I ask if that was good or bad, he just shrugged and walked off.



I think the clutch is slow to disengage.



There’s an after market shop here that reported improving shifts with Redline MTL but kiss your warranty good-bye it’s not “Mopar” approved.



On a positive note shifting got easer as the miles added up, but I think I broke in and got better not the trans.

 

[bombero]

Boy my 6sp was the hardest shifting trans I ever drove when it was new. I was pulling my trailer and no way could I down shif tinto 3rd. I have only been driving med duty trucks for 35+yrs. Anyway it has got alot better. I dont think its the clutch, you can shift the trans without the clutch by using the engine rpm. I am going to change the fluid at 34K . Good luck Jim

 

[jtisdale]

I could tell right away my NV5600 wasn't built by Lenco. I got a cold grind into third, and when things get really warm, it gets kinda hard to shift in all gears. What do you expect for $37,000?

 

[Texas Diesel]

My replacement 6 speed shifts just fine, doesnt matter if it is 20F or 90F outside. Windrider, PM if you want, I can tell you the name of a good dealer to take it to, I know of two and the names of the mechanics who are good with 6 speeds.

 

[Pit Bull]

Sounds like if you are ordering a new truck the 5 speed would be the way to go now that they have fixed the 5th gear nut and the clutch in the 5 speed is more durable

 

[jtisdale]

good point pit bull,

What is the deal with that anyways? Lets make an HO, give it a little more torque, one more gear, and lets put a weaker clutch in it. Can somebody explain that for me, please?

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: good point pit bull,

Originally posted by jtisdale

What is the deal with that anyways? Lets make an HO, give it a little more torque, one more gear, and lets put a weaker clutch in it. Can somebody explain that for me, please?

I don't get it either? The ETC is more bombable and the 5 speed is more dependable. Plus they cost less. I think my next one will be the ETC with the 5 speed. Of course with only 40K miles on my automatic I can just keep it and have is "DTT'ed", and bombed. Decisions, decisions

 

[blumenthal]

The problem with your 6 speed is the synchro rings,we are not in the Dallas/Ft Worth metro area,we are in Oklahoma City. We are a New Venture Distributor and do have the NV5600 parts in stock,complete with R&R facility's. Let me know what year your truck is.

 

[rspinks]

syncro rings

blumenthal - let's hear more about these syncro's. I know my 6spd truck (Sept '00 built) grinds 3 to 4 bigtime when it's cold out (0c/32f or less). There was a previous post about a TSB# for this problem but my DC shop foreman claimed no problems with 6spd transmission's.



Mine is fine when it's up to temp, but there is definitely a problem when cold. It's like the syncro doesn't even try to grab, the transmission just shifts right through the syncro and grinds 4th gear. Shifting 2 to 3 isn't too great either but not as bad as 3 to 4.



I've got all of 5000mi on my truck now.



Rich

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

There is a TSB on this... I think. . 21-009-01. There was a thread but I can't find it.



Basically 2000&2001 ETHs have a problem w/high rpm shifts on 2-3 and more comonly 3-4 when temps are below 32*f.



I just had it done last week to my truck and it used $1500 in parts(under warranty). To perform the repair on site they have to have a 20-ton press. This is not common so DC makes a very expensive assy available.



This is a KNOW ISSUE. check it out.



l8r

MK

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by blumenthal

The problem with your 6 speed is the synchro rings,we are not in the Dallas/Ft Worth metro area,we are in Oklahoma City. We are a New Venture Distributor and do have the NV5600 parts in stock,complete with R&R facility's. Let me know what year your truck is.

Wow. What a coincedence. I just went to a 6-speed. I bought it from blumenthal, along with the conversion package to make my "5-speed" truck hold a 6-speed. Along with the 6 to 5 speed conversion clutch from SBC (13" clutch, new flywheel)

I ordered my transmission from them, and then a couple hours later, I realized if I had a 5-speed conversion clutch, I couldn't use the 6-speed with the big input shaft. I called 'em in a hurry and said,, I still need the 6-speed,, but I need it with a small input shaft,, What can you do ????

They said,, Ok, No Problem,, we'll ship you a 6-speed with a small input shaft. I said Thanks a bunch, but was thinking WHAT :--) ? Wow, they've got alota stuff in stock. Cool.

I ordered the transmission tuesday, and was out in town driving around Friday night. (With a whole bunch of other cool stuff)



My story,

Merrick Cummings Jr



BTW, My transmission is really tight (it has less than 250miles) And I've only ground a gear a couple times,, I'm sure it was a heavy hand and a light foot.

 

[rspinks]

MCummins it must be nice to be able to swap transmission's like that. Was your 5spd toast or did you just want the extra gears? I haven't driven a cummins with the 5spd but had a gas NV4500 and the 3-4 step was too big, even with the wide powerband compared to diesel.



FYI the grind doesn't require any muscle at all, in fact you have to REALLY baby the 3-4 shift to prevent grinding when it's cold. Warmed up I can't grind anything no matter how hard I shift it.



Rich

 

[Windrider]

All right! We are cooking with gas now!



My truck is a 2001. 5 ETH.



22,920 miles on the ticker when I took it in.



23,053 miles on the ticker right now. 2nd to 3rd gear grind 3 times since leaving the dealer.



With the 20 ton press issue I can see why they didn't want to break down the transmission. I thought I was in the twilight zone! After a 20 minute dissertation of the problem and exactly how it happens I couldn't believe they even took it for a test drive based on the fact that if it did it for them that they could diagnose it better.



This is the only flaw in an otherwise perfect truck. I even have a good lift pump. 14 at idle, 10-11 at highway cruise, never drops below 8 when floored in 5th and that's at almost redline.



Phone calls and personal messages on the way.

 

[jtisdale]

So what...

Its not our fault they need a 20 ton press to fix our trucks. We pay premium $$$ for our trucks, damnit we better get premium service. Right?

 

[Runaway]

Unbelievable

That there still is grinding issues with the six speeds. Guess I am one of the lucky ones that got one that shifts perfect everytime Oo. Took delivery 3/01, build date is 2/01. Just over 36K to date.



Hope you guys get those problems resolved.

 

[reddge]

My 1999 2500 6 speed is working great we have 40,000 miles on RED. It took 10,000 miles be for it shifted smooth. I just changed the oil in the trans. I bought oil from the stealer. It made the trans shift smoother.

Put a South Bend Clutch in at 30,000 miles piece of cake

I converted 1999 5 speed to a 6 speed on a friends truck last month. The 5 speed lost 3rd gear cynchro at 55,000 miles.

You will see the article in up coming TDR.

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by rspinks

MCummins it must be nice to be able to swap transmission's like that. Was your 5spd toast or did you just want the extra gears?

5-Speed was toast. Was only $400 more to buy a Rebuilt 6-speed. Compared to New 5-speed. Then a $100 conversion kit.



The 6-speed is nice and is nearly twice as big in SIZE as the 5-speed.



And Ohhh Maann, Does the 6-speed make my truck sound SWEET with the dual 5" stacks. The word,, BIG RIG comes to mind.



Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[kchristopher]

Originally posted by Windrider

29,920 miles on the ticker when I took it in.



23,053 miles on the ticker right now. 2nd to 3rd gear grind 3 times since leaving the dealer.



.

Do you do a lot of driving in reverse?

 

[blumenthal]

Probably one of the reasons for grinding in 3-4 gear,is the design of the nv5600,unlike most transmissions,the nv5600 shifts 3rd & 4th gears off the countershaft,instead of the mainshaft. The shift rails are awkward to shift inside the transmission because of the way the 3-4 shift fork sits on the countershaft,it tends to have alot of play or movement when shifting.