Sloppy G56 shifter

[AEdelheit]

The shifter on my G56 suddenly developed excessive movement this weekend, mostly front to back a little side to side, in gear I can move it front to back 4+" or so. I will pull the tower off this week and look but figured I would ask if anyone has seen this before?

 

[SRadke]

I had a stick on a getrag break once. Does it twist too?

 

[AEdelheit]

no, I have a pistol grip shifter which does put some torsional force on the shifter when im shifting, especially into reverse, but its solid in terms of it twisting.

 

[SRadke]

Interesting. The g56 does have an additional spring in the tower that allows the stick to move some independent of the actual piece that slides the rails. This spring is quite stiff and if you don't pull really hard on it you'd never feel it was there. I wonder if it could have failed giving you this increased free movement?

 

[AEdelheit]

Hmm, well that is more information then I knew about the G56 tower 5 minuets ago, Im hoping to take the tower off Tommie but I have a feeling between work and weather it wont happen, ill be sure to post my findings thanks!

 

[Regcabguy]

Joe Donnelly's written an interesting article on our transmission's in this issue. The shifter breaking issue has been seen at Standard Transmission. I'm going to switch out the fluid per Standard's recommendation soon to Pennsoil Synchromesh.

 

[Shadrach]

Pull the boot up and look at the isolator. It might have come apart. My buddies Getrag one failed twice on his 93. My G56 one is a lot bigger than the old getrags were. Shadrach

 

[AEdelheit]

Well I pulled the boot off and found the 2 bolts that hold it to the tower backed off causing the play, so easy fix! Man I was starting to worry thinking about all the possible issues, thanks for all the input guys!

 

[Regcabguy]

Reverse hangs up.

Mine wants to stick in reverse sometimes especially when cold. It takes a pretty good pull to shift it into 2nd. This occurs when backing out of the driveway. It'll also occasionally do it when the transmission's warm. Anybody else having this happen on their's? I'll try and shift it out of reverse with the clutch in while barely rolling to releave any pressure also. Same thing.

 

[AEdelheit]

hmmm, There are times 2nd seems to take more pressure then I feel it should, with the research ive done on the G56 im kinda scared to know what the problem may be! Im just gonna drive it, keep oil in it and hope there are no more big issues. Hate to say it but after dealing with clutches, stiff shifting and all the issues ive read my next truck will have to be a NV5600 otherwise id just get a 68RFE

 

[PFlory]

Well I pulled the boot off and found the 2 bolts that hold it to the tower backed off causing the play, so easy fix! Man I was starting to worry thinking about all the possible issues, thanks for all the input guys!

Just curious how many miles you have on yours when the problem happened?



Also what do you think of the double disc clutch? I'm ordering one next month, but am concerned about smoothness of engagement when launching in first, and backing into sites with the 5 'er.

 

[AEdelheit]

Just curious how many miles you have on yours when the problem happened?



Also what do you think of the double disc clutch? I'm ordering one next month, but am concerned about smoothness of engagement when launching in first, and backing into sites with the 5 'er.

Well which "problem" are you referring too? The 2 bolts loosening were my own fault I had them off about a month ago, right before Glamis where there was some shifting that was faster and harder then that transmission was ever designed to do, my own fault! The stiff 2nd gear honestly couldn't say, I just notice every now and then it doenst want to shift into 2nd as easy as it should.



As for the Double Disk if you get the quite street version then you will love it! The engagement is not a harsh as you would think, every now and then it will get a little grabby and you have to put it in 3rd or 4th at a stop and burn it, I know you should never ever do that to a clutch but for some reason on a double disk it helps with the engagement when it gets grabby. When backing into tight spots I often go into 4Lo, I have 37" tires and reverse is a little to fast even at an idle for backing into tight spots, granted you dont want to use 4lo on hard surfaces but its better then running a trailer into a house. Ive never had any issues starting in first, even on a hill with 12k trailer its smooth.

 

[PFlory]

As for the Double Disk if you get the quite street version then you will love it! The engagement is not a harsh as you would think, every now and then it will get a little grabby and you have to put it in 3rd or 4th at a stop and burn it, I know you should never ever do that to a clutch but for some reason on a double disk it helps with the engagement when it gets grabby. When backing into tight spots I often go into 4Lo, I have 37" tires and reverse is a little to fast even at an idle for backing into tight spots, granted you dont want to use 4lo on hard surfaces but its better then running a trailer into a house. Ive never had any issues starting in first, even on a hill with 12k trailer its smooth.

That's the confirmation I was hoping to hear. Can't wait to get it in so I don't have to keep babying the throttle.



Is the burning in something you discovered on your own or did Southbend suggest it?

 

[SRadke]

It seems to be a DD thing. Mine always drives better for a week after a sledpull.

 

[AEdelheit]

Umm, I belive SBC suggested it, I know atleast 5 other people I know with the 3250 have also said it but I do belive it originated from SBC, not 100% positive on that though. One thing I should mention is you may want to plan on installing a better balancer such as a fluidampr, it is the next thing on my list to do. Getting rid of that dual mass flywheel does send a lot more vibration through the transmission and you will hear it through the shifter, everything Ive read basically says if you get rid of the factory flywheel you will want to upgrade the balancer, and there are not cheap so FYI!

 

[Prairie Dog]

My ConOfe from Southbend gets real grabby too and SBC suggested I do the clutch burn. I've learned that it only takes 2 applications in second gear with my foot on the brake to make it behave for a while. This has got to severely shorten its life but it's just too hard on the drive train if I let it go.

 

[Shadrach]

Vibration

... . Getting rid of that dual mass flywheel does send a lot more vibration through the transmission and you will hear it through the shifter, everything Ive read basically says if you get rid of the factory flywheel you will want to upgrade the balancer, and there are not cheap so FYI!

Interesting thought. My buddy has a G56 behind a 96 CTD and is always loaded heavy. I wonder if that might help him? Or if it would help my 03 CTD. I haven't noticed any vibration yet as I have less than 4k miles on the SB CON OFE clutch and trans it do far. Shadrach

 

[AEdelheit]

hmm, well on mine you can hear the vibrations coming through the shifter, and in 5th gear it can get really loud, especially towing, I cant imagine any extra vibrations going through the flywheel can be good on the already sensitive G56!