Shifting N5600

[glav]

I have owned this truck for about 15 months and am still having trouble shifting the transmission without jerking or bucking the truck and trailer. I have gotten somewhat profient at shifting the truck when driving solo (without the trailer). However when connected to the trailer, the same procedure or processes of shifting with the added weight of the trailer (15300 lbs), the shifts are jerking and bucking. I think that it can be done smoothly, but I am missing something. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks Gene

 

[MMeier]

Mine shifts fine, sometimes after a 1000 mile straight thru drive, my legs get a little tired and don't quite work right but thats not the trucks fault!

 

[CumminsBu]

Try not letting the RPM drop below 1000 when in the shift, for me it's smoother that way.

 

[JLovas]

With my limited experience (6000 miles), I've found that brining the engine up to 2200-2300 RPM's, then shifting and catching her again at 1500-1600 RPM's has worked best for me. When your pulling, you might want raise your shift points a little higher yet. I have also found that double clutching between 3-4 seems to help too, which tends to me my "jerkiest" change.



In the last TDR issue, I read about someone changing their transmission oil at only 5600 miles, and I plan on doing the same. The author wrote about how the shift quality improved and that there was a fair amount of filings on the magnet. I'll be putting in Penzoil synchromesh manual transmission oil ASAP... only place I could get it was Autozone, but guess what, they only keep 2 quarts in stock!?!?! Service manual says it takes just under 5 quarts, so either order it and be patient, or order it from their website (www.autozone.com).



Hope this helps...



P. S. From what I've learned, this Penzoil synchromesh manual transmission oil is the only oil that is warranty compatible, besides the "mopar oil" that your dealer will sell.

 

[Sherman]

Originally posted by glav

I have owned this truck for about 15 months and am still having trouble shifting the transmission without jerking or bucking the truck and trailer. I have gotten somewhat profient at shifting the truck when driving solo (without the trailer). However when connected to the trailer, the same procedure or processes of shifting with the added weight of the trailer (15300 lbs), the shifts are jerking and bucking. I think that it can be done smoothly, but I am missing something. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks Gene

Gene. try shifting at 22-2300rpm, if you are used to gas engines with a manual trans. things are a little different than a diesel,when you get to 2300rpm hold the throotle at that position for a split second longer so the engine is no longer speeding up,when the rpm's has gone flat,then get off the throttle guickly,depress the clutch and shift to the next gear immediately and then get off the clutch guickly,don't get me wrong this is not what we call a power shift in drag racing,but once you allow the rpm's to flatten out at the shift pt you can speed up the shift change,then get smoothly into the throttle,don't slam it down,this is what is called easy in-easy out(of the throttle). Try this with your truck empty,practice holding the rpm at 2200rpm a little longer than a split second so you can get a feel to the rpm's going flat then guickly shift into the next gear. Experiment a little to find what works for you ,remember this is done with feel,the rpm split on the 6sd is about 700 rpm so shifting should at 2200rpm should put you in at at 1500-1600 rpm don't be concerned with rpm at this pt just go for the smooth gear change,remember easy in -easy out is the trick with the diesel,when you get onto it things will smooth out for you. When you start haulingthe tr the same thing happens except that since you are working at higher rpm's(24-2500) and you will be using full throttle the easy in -easy out is very important,with out it you will be jerking the rig big time,do what your teacher says now and do it till you get it right!Good luck

 

[Dick Garcia]

Shifting

When towing my trailer, I find that I need to lower the RMP shift points just slightly and then the transmission shifts smoothly expecially in 1st. gear.

Dick