? on ETH/DEE

[SixShooter]

I am wondering if the 2002 6 spd is going to be improved so that there won't be all of these people complaining aout hard shifts, I thought that the DEE was supposed to be smoother than the 5 spd. My main concern is that when I upgrade it, will it put out just as much as the 5 spd-DD III, edge comp and hx40-will the 6 give less power than the 5 when these are added? I want to have a good shifting standard, one that I could clutchless shift if I wanted to. Also when you upgrade it, does the comp box follow the fuel curve that is already set up in the ECM? I am now trying to decide on wether the 6 speed will be bette than the 5 speed.

 

[RedRam1]

SixShooter,



Regarding your concerns about hard shifting 6 speeds; I believe this is an isolated problem, primarily confined to early production trucks. I took delivery on my truck on 10-10-01, it has the rear discs etc. so, I guess in TDR vernacular, my rig is a 2001. 5. Anyway, I now have 13K miles on it, and the trans has been smooth as silk from day one. I've never experienced any 3rd gear grinding, hard shifting or any other problems, even my wife has no problems driving the truck (not necessarily a good thing).

I do know that the hard shifting/grinding business is for real though, I test drove a '99 6 speed and the difference between my trans and this one were like night and day... It took two hands to wrestle that one into reverse, and it would grind in 3rd, no matter how I drove it.

Don't be afraid of the 6 speed, just take a thorough test drive, and don't accept a trans that does not perform flawlessly, because they do exist.

As for the bombing potential of the ETH verses the ETC, I'll leave that to the experts. I can tell you from my experience that The ETH does respond very nicely to the EZ.

 

[RedRam1]

Correction to my earlier post: I took delivery on 10-10-00, not 10-10-01. Even if I had been living in my truck, it would have been tough rolling up 13K miles in 14 days!

 

[Mschevey]

I have the 6 sp. and after if was broke in 5,000 miles +, it can be shifted clutchless with no problem. Took about three attempts to get timming down right. Now I can shift it smoother without the clutch than with it, under some conditions.



As for handling the power upgrades, the only concern is the clutch. I plan on a South Bend as soon as I start BOMBing.



I have had the truck about 6 months and now have over 18,000 miles.



Mike S.

 

[klenger]

Thumbs up to the 6 speed. No problems.

 

[DSmith1]

It had been a while since I have had to shift prior to my current truck. I now have close to 10000 miles on my ETH without any problems what so ever. I love it and would not trade for automatic for nothing. My last cummins was a automatic and there is no comparison.

 

[X-10]

Add another great 6-speed to the list. 12000 miles and still the smoothest shifting manual I've ever had!

 

[Partyat33]

I have 36 k trouble free shifting miles on my six speed. It's sweet.

 

[HeberRam]

6-sp

Sixshooter... I agree with what everyone has said so far! I too have a 6-sp and love it. . as far as 6-sp vs 5-sp , you have an extra gear when towing and better ratio between gears... The main thing is the 6-sp has a heavy duty trans and larger clutch disk and pliot bearing to handle more torque... . As far as bombing you will have 100 different opinions either way. I know some are getting or close to 600HP on their ETH's. I doubt very much longer there will be any noticeable difference in bombing ability or HP advantage. . If I were to do it again, I would opt the 6-sp HO again.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Happy 6er

One more very happy 6 sp owner. As my post says I have one of each, a 5sp and the 2001 6sp. I MUCH prefer the 6sp. Better ratios tighter pattern and a much more durable transmission. The ETH does respond very nicely to 275 injectors and a EZ box. You will LOVE the extra rpms of the ETH 24 valve! Dodge Cummins sure suprised me again. I thought that my 93 DC was the best pulling truck untell I bought the 95. And again I couldnt imagine a better performing puller untell I bought the 2001 ETH. Wow! I wonder if the next generation will be that much better?

 

[JHansen]

Love my 6 spd.!

Mine shifts smooth as silk except when the dummy behind the wheel slides the clutch out a little quick The tight pattern takes a little getting used to when you come over from a Roadranger-but I wouldn't give this transmission up now...



On a side note my truck was one of the trucks that got hung up in St. Louis for a month supposedly waiting for transmission repairs (as was posted on here back in April or so?). Anybody else's truck end up in the same boat? I tend to believe something was done to this one-quite a bit of anaerobic sealant around the case mating surfaces when I picked it up... . whatever was done seems to be fine!



Jason

 

[Bigsaint]

Me too !!!

Received my newest 4 ton child on 7 OCT 00, smooth shifting since day one



Scott W.

 

[MGC]

First post!!

Picked up my 2001 six speed HO just 1500 miles ago. It's getting smoother and easier to shift, it was pretty hard the first few 100 or so. It's taking a little getting used to, but I like it so far.

 

[Dave Fritz]

Sue's early '01 6 speed still crunches into 3rd gear for the first couple of cold shifts. When it is cold, we double clutch 3rd the first mile or so, then shift normally. The threshold temperature for the crunch seems to be getting lower as miles accumulate, so our problem may eventually go away.



NV gear has been modifying the synchro hub friction material to get better shifting performance. I am curious to hear if later production trucks still have the shifting problem.





Dave

 

[klenger]

Sounds like a new poll comming up?

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Dave Fritz

Sue's early '01 6 speed still crunches into 3rd gear for the first couple of cold shifts. I am curious to hear if later production trucks still have the shifting problem.

Dave,



Our 2002 has a build date of August 1, 2001. 3rd is a little "crunchy" when cold (well, as cold as it gets in Houston, TX) every now and then. The truck has 2400 miles on it, and it's getting better. If it never improved from where it is right now, I could live with it.



Rusty

 

[Neal Cassady]

Slight 2 -> 3 grind when cold

My build date was 12/00 and I have approx. 13K at this point. I can grind 2 -> 3 when cold if I hurry the shift. The 3 -> 4 grind has gone away for the most part.



The transmission shifts a lot better with a load in the bed or pulling a load.



Dave

 

[RobG]

My 6-speed does shift better than other 5-speeds I've driven, but I still find it difficult to get into gear. And it's not the transmission that I think is the problem, but rather the shifter mechanism.



Does anybody else notice that you have to apply very firm pressure to "pop" the lever into each gear? Sorta like you're pressing through a rubber isolator or something. This has been my #1 complaint, since I've never experienced this on any other manual transmission-equipped vehicle I've driven.



Then somebody who drove my truck last week said something that started me thinking... he said that he thinks the reason for it is to keep the lever IN gear when towing, because if it was to pop out or be knocked out accidentially, that would be bad.



It sorta makes sense... anybody agree? I would like to eliminate that "notchiness/rubbery" feeling if possible, but not at the risk of killing the transmission.



Rob