Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Stuck in 5th

[hummincummins04]

Hey guys i could use some help on this one. Last week i was driving my truck one day and i noticed that is was kinda sticky pulling it out of 5th gear just after i left my house. well then i drove about an hour and a half stopped for about an hour and then proceded to head home when i came to a stop light i couldn't get it out of 5th. I put everything i had into it and it wouldn't come out. Unfortunately i was on the uphill side of a hill and not thinking because people were screaming and honking for me to get out of the way so i put her right down to the floor and dumped it. needless to say i think i smoked my new centerforce dual friction clutch cuz i wasn't smart enough at the moment to put it in low range. but when i got to a parking stall i kept playing around with it trying to get it out of 5th gear and the shifter went into the neutral position but the transmission is still stuck in fifth. I can move the shift lever from side to side but i can't put it in any hole not even fifth. Just wondering if anybody could help out on this one or maybe it'd just be easier to tear it out and send it to a shop. I oughta know this truck by now after 3 clutches (stock, napa, centerforce in there now) and i'm on my 3rd rear end, and more parts than the parts store has got in the front end and its still loose as a goose.



97 Ram 3500 ext. cab, 4 inch custom exhaust, custom grind cam plate, centerforce clutch, k&n Air filter

 

[CRobbins]

Btdt...

Mine does it all the time esp. when someone else drives my truck#@$%! . Take the shifter boots off and get a large wrench around 1 inch, push down on the retainer in the top of the shift tower at the base of shifter then rotate wrench till it pops out under spring pressure. Pull the works out and look in with a flashlight, the "gate" on the drivers side is the one that needs to be centered up with the others. Re-assem in reverse order and order new clutch. Ive smoked clutch 2-3 times b4 low range come to mind, now 4-low it everytime it sticks in 5th to get off the road. I'm stock but full forward and can slip the clutch any time, I want dual disk hauler. It takes me 5 minutes to do the above cause Ive done it so many times.



I hope this helps...



CR

 

[gitchesum]

Yep, when you pulled the gearstick into neutral, you popped the gearstick out of position. You'll need to pull it up and put it back where it belongs.



Now as far as your problem goes, it sound like one of your syncro struts is hanging up. I've had it happen before.

The picture shows them. They are little metal taps held in place with springs. If they hang up, the truck will not come out of neutral. You might have to remove the tail secton of the transmission to get to it. I would call Standard Transmission or Blumenthal Mfg and get a whole new 5th gear syncro assembly. It wil make things easier and probably prevent the problem from coming back.



BTW, next time it happens, try this. When you are in 5th gear, keep the clutch engages, and feather the throttle while GENTLY pulling the shifter out of 5th gear. It should pop out with a little finess.

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[ewcmr2]

When I had my transmission rebuilt the top cover (where the shifter goes) was worn. The shop had a used one that they replaced mine with. The first time I drove the truck it got stuck in 5th gear. I took the shifter apart and got it into neutral went home and called the transmission shop, they said bring it in and we'll look at it. I brought it to them (without using 5th) and dropped it off, the next morning the shop owner calls me while he's waiting for the tow truck and says "it really does get stuck".



After the better part of a week trying to figure out why it was getting stuck in 5th they tried a new top cover and it has worked great ever since.



Eric

 

[stacerbob]

Had one last week that did exact as first post. The nut was a bit loose & the edges were "chewed" up a bit on the 5th gear set. I believe there was a piece hung under one of the the dogs/struts keeping it from coming out of 5th. Maybe not?