WHAT'S UP WITH THE 6 SPEEDS

[RobG]

The only crunching my 6-speed has done was if I tried to shift too quickly when it hadn't warmed up all the way. And by too quickly I mean racer-style (gear jammin').

So far, I'm even impressed with the clutch (knock on wood). I'm hard on clutches, and so far this one hasn't slipped yet.

Rob


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2001. 5 RAM 3500 QC 4x4 ETH/DEE Silver/Agate 4. 10 USGear OD, Rickson 19. 5 Wheels, Edge EZ, SPA Guages, Psychotty, Firestone Airbags, Hellwig Rear Swaybar, Torklift Superhitch & Camper Tiedowns, Mag-Hytec Diff Cover, DD 4" Exhaust, US Gear Exhaust Brake, etc.

 

[JJW_ND]

My new Govt. ride is a 2001 HO 6sp. It grinds almost every time going into 3 and 4th WHEN COLD. It is cold every startup and stays cold when driving intown only in ND this time of the year. If I double clutch or really shift slow it will not grind. I can not make it gind in any other gears... . I tried!

I went out of town this past weekend with this truck and once fully warmed up I could not get it to grind. It actually shift quite nice. The next morning after setting, it gound again going into 3nd or 4th. When cold and cruising about 30 mph, with clutch fully depressed If I move if from 3nd to 4th and back to 3nd it will grind each shift.

Once fully warmed I kinda like this trans. Otherwise it is nothing special as compared to NVG4500.

We have 4 other 2001 trucks just like this. Will have to see how common this is.

jjw
ND

 

[Great White]

JJW-ND
You said this truck was new? Perhaps you could post the shifting problems as the miles accumulate?
I belive that some of the trucks cannot get enough friction between the syncro ring and the taper on the gear shoulder, this "cone clutch" arrangement is what accelerates the shafts to match speeds which equals easy shifting. In cold weather the lube thickens and the boundary layer of lube gets thicker also. So either the resistance of the lube(to the spinning gears) requires more effort to accelerate the shafts to matching speeds or the lubricant in the "cone clutch" is preventing coupling to spin up the next shaft, OR BOTH!
I changed my lube and noticed some strange things till it broke in. Rich


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2001. 5 2500 ETH/DEE 4x4,Patriot Blue over Silver,Camper pkg, Trailer pkg,Agate Leather,Stainless Smitty Bars,Tow hooks... . Except snowplow!

 

[1tuffram]

This may be a stupid question, but what is "double clutching"??

 

[Rattlebox]

I recieved my 99' 6-speed in April of 1999: 31,000 - No grinding.

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1999 Quad CAb, Short Bed,4X4, Sport Package, 6 speed, 4. 10 rear, Camper Package, MIA Silencer Ring, Amsoil Air Filter, VA CPC, Bosch 275's, Practical Solutions Boost Module, Custom Dual 3" Exhaust with dual 5" Tips, BD Exhaust Brake, Alcoa Classics.

 

[Dane]

Mine just gets sweeter and sweeter as the miles go by #ad
When I changed the oil at 10,000 miles, it really got smooth on the shifts. There are a couple of points to remember imo.

1) This is a 390lb transmission, so when you shift you're moving some heavy gear sets and it takes a little longer for the synchros to do their job.

2) Third gear will always grind a bit if the clutch is not fully disengaged and the driveline and engine are far apart in RPMs. My ity bity Toyota transmission did it all its life and still ran like new at 165,000 miles when I sold it.

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[JJW_ND]

The truck only has 2K on with 1K pulling. I have been deliberately shifting from 3nd to 4th and back allot when intown to speed up breakin. These run 30Wt fluid compared to the 90Wt in the NVG4500, it is very thin even when cold.

Temps is the key as far as my experience. Once warmed up the trans shifts fine in all gears.

Double clutching as i do it is... . fully depressing the clutch and dropping out of gear, then releasing the clutch and fully depressing the clutch again and shifting into gear. This can be done very fast but because of the extra "leg excersize" and delay the shift smooth.

The grinding I am getting is independent of how the clutch is depressed. It is a syncro issue. And it SHOULD NOT DO IT!

jjw
ND

 

[1tuffram]

Thanks JJW-ND for the double clutching definition. I will try it on my 5 sp to see if it smooths the 2nd to 3rd shift. So far the only thing that prevents a little "bite" when shifting from 2nd to 3rd is to keep the clutch depressed, shift from 2nd to neutral, let the RPMs come down till the engine is at idle for a second, then shift into 3rd. If I try to do this before the engine RPM is at idle I get a little "bite" on the shift into 3rd.

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'95 2500 SLT 5 speed 4x4

 

[merryman]

20,200 miles on my 6speed (ETH DEE), and no grinding ever, even in Elk camp with single digit temps. . At least 4. 5K towing with a GCVW of 19K----really like the transmission

Vaughn

 

[tom sweeney]

13. 8k so far and NO PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!!!
... love it... tom

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2001QC 2500HD LB ETH/DEE 4x4 4:10's LSD, Pacbrake,Combo Gauge on A pillar,All options except cab lights,Xcelerator air filter,Forest Green/Light driftwood. Westin tubular black powder-coated side bars.
26'Holiday Rambler 5th wheel. Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator ke3Rx

 

[rhoads]

Hype!!
Heaver weight has to do with the bellhousing/ clutch assy. transmission all being one piece. you pull the transmission and it all comes out together...
SAME as Ford>>>
Same as Rockwell--!!!
Same synco problem!!!!You say the gear pattern is different??????. Simple re-arangement of enternal parts.
Fords theory is production never stops,keep on making the same mistake. Be glad D/C cant(build enough/fast enough) same factory-different line. Fix it first. Mertor. . (SP)rockwell-international. Think not ?Why do they both have the same problem??If not- patent infringment??

 

[Archive]

I have had my 2001. 5 since Jan. 8 2001. I have approx. 2450 miles now. When I first bought it 4th gear would grind when cold. After about 2200 miles it quit. My 1995 CTD, I had to be easy with 3rd gear all 6 years I had the truck.


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2001 RAM H. O. 6Sp 2500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab, 4Wheel Disc, 4. 10 Limited Slip, Fog Lights, Muffler removed, Silence Ring Gone,
K&N RE-0880.

 

[CUMAPART]

EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH THE SIX SPEED!! #ad
NO GRINDING IN THE FIRST 250 MILES SO I THINK SHE'S FINE.

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2001. 5 2500 DARK GARNET QC LB 4X4 6SPD HO 3. 54 EVERYTHING BUT THE COWHIDE

 

[Deezal Man]

First test drive no grinding.

Second test drive (different truck)
Horrible grinding in 2nd and 4th gears.

Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd was IMPOSSIBLE unit the truck was motionless.

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98. 5' 24v 2500 Auto/3. 54 4x4 SB QC 285-75-16's on Alcoa's. Everything but leather. PIAA 1200's, AMSOIL dual filter relocation system, Smittybuilt Stainless Steel Nerfs, Rhino Liner(Junk), K&N air filter(For Sale)15 year AMSOIL dealer. Time permitting, Soon to include Ultra-lite Pyro,0-50lbs boost, Trans temp in the pillar. Rancho 9000's with in cab adjustment.

 

[J D Young]

Originally posted by Murle:
I don't think I would want a 6 speed. Too much shifting. But it is ok. Have noticed I have to watch where I shift because the gear shift pattern is tighter than my 5 speed. Also reverse in in the wrong place.

I have a 2001. 5 4x4 qc six speed, 8500 mi, and have had no problems at all. Regarding too much shifting, I like the 6 speed because in town, I usually go 2-4-6 and it works fine. But when I need the gears for pulling, I got em. I would prefer an auto, but have never had one last more than 80k on any truck I have ever had.

 

[DJOliver]

No problems here. Good exercise and love it.

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2001. 5 3500 6 spd 4x4 ETH/DEE Quad SLT Silver Metallic. Tow Group,Camper Special ,3. 54, western nerf bars, Towing 99 Damon Challenger 5ver 31' ,Jacobs E Brake . Need :Guages, aux fuel tank, tow mirrors & Cb radio.

2000 Dodge Intrepid R/T. Wife loves it.

 

[Runaway]

Have 1000 miles on truck with varying driving conditions and have not had even a hint of grinding.

Tight shift pattern? Compared to what! It is tight, but not compared to the Stratus or Neon's 5-speed. I never drove a 5-speed in the Ram. The 6-speed is still a truck transmission.

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"01" Forest Green QC/LB ETH/DEE,4x4, 3. 54LSD, VDO (boost, pyro) Westin SS Nerf Bars and Grill Gaurd, Delta tool box, K&N.
00 28' Jayco 5th Wheel, 86 "Classic 16" Alumacraft, 00 Honda Rancher