Ordered My USGear OD today!

[Turbo Thom]

Larry:

Glad all went well for you. Over torqued? Wow. Mine must be ready to explode. My unit is between the 241 HD and the transmission. I'm right at 350 HP so I should have around 700 ft. lbs ? The SB co fe is good to 1250. I got a ways to go to catch that.



By the way. Would you PM me on how you installed the PGS Kit. I do most all my work, I don't trust others on my truck, and I'm not sure of the best way.



Also how do you check for " over torqued" welds. The weird want to know.



. . Preston. .

 

[LarryB]

Picked up my driveline today. Spent a bit of time there over the past two days asking questions. Didn't get a whole lot of straight answers. Funny how the price was going to be about $450 for a total rebuild cause everything was ruined. I informed them they just did the whole thing 18 months/7000mi ago, made em look up the reciept. I pressed them on the torqued welds thing and also the worn u-joints. Well maybe they weren't quite so bad as we first thought. And that slip yoke? Maybe it's OK after all. Final bill? $210. 00. Ya gotta watch your money all the time. Anyway, I'm heading out to the shop to throw it in now.

 

[LarryB]

Well! It works like it's supposed to. I certainly have more gears now than I need. That double-over sure is nice. Can't wait to do the 4K trip next month to see how the mpg turns out. Hoping for 20, I'll be happy with 18mpg towing a car. Not too shabby for a motorhome huh?

 

[Barry]

Hey Trbotrk: I too am looking for a deal. If you find that thread about the recon units, please let me know... ... ... ...

 

[trbotrk]

Recon units

BARRY---- I haven't been able to find out anything on the recon units. I did get a good price on a new unit and am thinking of going that way. let me know if your interested .

 

[Barry]

Tell me!!!! If you can get me a price, check my sig. .

 

[LarryB]

I paid $2070 total cost delivered UPS. Adapter, switch, everything but the oil and driveline work. $210 for driveline shorten and all 3 new u-joints. $2290 all done, no labor of course. If you need the contact and company name, let me know.

 

[Barry]

The 6 speed (DEE) is a whole differant annimal. The quote I got was over 3 grand for the install. There has got to be a better deal out there somewhere.

 

[LarryB]

Barry

That's about right. $2k for parts, $1K labor. Same unit just a different adapter part#. I did all the labor myself.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Just for everybodys information, if you can find a total junk unit and can get it CHEAP, to US Gear that means you have one and they will sell you one, just the unit, no wiring for $995 exchange.



I burned one up and I got another one from them for $995. 00



May be worth a shot. I checked on a re-built unit from Rose Automotive in Indiana and the price was not much better.



. . Preston. .

 

[trbotrk]

Hey guys, what's going on. I was getting ready to order a US gear unit but I finally got through to the factory and their rep told me that they do NOT recommend towing in fourth over as a steady condition. This was one of the reasons I wanted a gear splitter. Has anybody heard this? Has anybody had any experience with fourth over.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Yeah, Me.

When I lost 5 gear the 4th time I ran 1 week in 4 over with a 14K trailer at 60. Did I hurt it? I don't know. I had to .



. . Preston. .

 

[LarryB]

#ad




trbotrk

After some thought it seems strange that USGear would brag about how strong their unit is and then recommend not to use it. I think I'll have to call BS on the story you got from USGear. Call them back and ask them about their underdrive made especially for pulling power. The underdrive is the same unit with the gears reversed. It is designed to give lower gears for hard pulling. Something doesn't add up with that! I think whoever you talked to is full of it. Or maybe he just meant they don't recommend it because they think a lower gear is generaly better for hills, not knowing our situation.



I don't think it will harm the unit in any way.

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Barry

The 6 speed (DEE) is a whole differant annimal. The quote I got was over 3 grand for the install. There has got to be a better deal out there somewhere.

Barry,



I wonder if us Texas guys could get a package deal going for a group purchase and install? I'd be interested if you find anything. Here's the information I got from U. S. Gear for my 4x2 NV5600 overdrive application last July:

The part numbers you will need are 170-68180 (gearbox) and 80-80056 (adapter kit). It is priced at $2,595.

Rusty

 

[trbotrk]

LARRYB--- Ihear what you're saying about US gears claims about building a strong unit. I almost dropped the phone when the rep told me that prolonged towing in fourth over would create to much heat and would "BURN UP' the unit. This statement was in response to my statement that I intended to use this unit to take the strain off fifth gear when towing and also wanted more gears between second and fourth. I might try to get another rep at the factory but it took me one week to finally contact this one. With all this in mind I started a new post "US gear ??????" and asked if members used fourth ever but I haven't had any replys yet. Let me know if you get any or know any feed back on this.

 

[LarryB]

trbotrk



I spoke with Lee at USGear about this and confirmed what you got. He said overdrive will generate heat because of loss of efficiency. He said it's like the NV4500/5600 or any overdrive. Looks like a temp gauge is a must. I'll be doing a 5K trip mid April so I'll report back on temps. He also admitted that the type of oil makes a lot of difference. I'm going to take a quart of LE, Amsoil and Castrol Syntorque with me to try. I'll see what they do for the temps.



Dang, things are never as simple as they appear

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by LarryB

He said overdrive will generate heat because of loss of efficiency. He said it's like the NV4500/5600 or any overdrive.

Gee, I didn't know I was doing something wrong by towing our 5ver in 6th gear. If I have to tow in 5th with the 4. 10's, that's certainly going to add some travel time to our trips!



Rusty

 

[LarryB]

Looks like what it boils down to is the oil temp. If you don't overheat it you're OK. If you are making a whole bunch of extra power and using overdrive to pull fast,hard and heavy you need to watch the temps. If the oil gets too hot you may have trouble. Goes for all gearboxes I guess.



Makes sense.



Rusty

I'm sure you're OK with stock power. He meant all overdrives will generate more heat than direct. I'm sure the 6sp is designed to dissapate the extra heat generated under normal use. Same with the NV4500. Just might want a temp gauge if using the box.

 

[Barry]

I have no interest in split shifting with the US Gear. I want to run OD empty and direct loaded. The DEE/4:10 combo is the finest towing set up I have ever used. It's when I go bob tailing 500 miles at 75 that it is a pain.

 

[RustyJC]

Barry,



That's what I'm looking for as well.



Rusty