I have searched just about all archives available on the subject of the NV4500 transmission and the infamous fifth gear problem ...still It would be interesting to have available under one thread as many positive testimonials from CTD owners who made it through many miles without experimenting this problem! So bring in your positive testimonials mentionning about your driving conditions and type of usage . Am I right to think that fifth gear failure is highly related to one or many of the followings: Usage with boosted power trucks,heavy/frequent towing,"spirited" driving manners or higher mileage trucks?

These results could help CTD owners deciding to proceed to the transmission removal and performing the fifth gear ...I am one new owner of a low milleage 1994 wich original clutch is supposed to be still OK and I would prefer to wait clutch replacement to do both at same time.

thanks,
Ron.

 

185K as of right now

Not even the fifth gear nut failure.. good trans... Just a couple clutches went in here and there..

Rick

 

201k not one bit of trouble and still on the original clutch, was a daily driver untill last year, about half af these miles were towing something, horse trailer, camper , tractors, ETC.....

 

Well that makes it two zero in favor of letting this transmission still showing its unmolested original boltings...

 

i made it to about 198k them BBOOOOOOOOOOM. I was pulling at the time.

 

What's even better, you don't have to pull the transmission at all to do this. Even less reason to put it off.


For what it's worth, my transmission failed at 270k. The 5th gear problem had already been fixed. Mine ran low on oil and died on Interstate 49 in LA with a 32ft fema travel trailer behind me. This transmission had put up with quite a bit of abuse before the oil starvation got it.

 

well i have 2 diffrent ones here dads truck 99 2500 4x4 has 130k on the clock an has been a farm and trasportation truck with no problems at all my truck bought it with 80k on the clock alredy had the updated 5th gear nut and then at 120k shelled the trany the at 135k lost 5th and then at 140 it shelled again got it back together and has 165 on it now but seems to be holden up but i tow with it constantly my trailer is 9k empty and have had over 20k on it with gvw of 39k+

 

transmission at all to do this. Even less reason to put it off.


For what it's worth, my transmission failed at 270k. The 5th gear problem had already been fixed. Mine ran low on oil and died on Interstate 49 in LA with a 32ft fema travel trailer behind me. This transmission had put up with quite a bit of abuse before the oil starvation got it.[/QUOTE]


Please could you refer me to the bulletin service showing how to replace the nut with the one with set screws? I have seen it before but can't find it anymore.
thanks,Ron.

 

I don't know how to do it either-it was done before I got the truck.

 

the 97 of my brothers had 160k and towed all of its life before the rear seal let go and ran her out of oil on mt. hood with his gooseneck on with his old 84 6.2l farm pu on back.

 

I did I think about 150 on mine pulling 30k gross loads, changed to the six speed at a clutch change, still have the 4500 here. Just do not run under 1900 or so in od.

 

Just killed mine...... 175,000 miles on it.

Lost a seal and cooked it. Makes me feel stupid as I just checked the oil recently and had it changed about 25,000 miles ago.............

just reinstalled the new tranny yesterday, hopefully this one goes more than 175000.

 

Onemoretruck, I responded to your PM about the Nut replacement TSB.


FWIW , the nut had been fixed in my fathers truck when he bought it with 201 000 kms on it. My college teachers 01 had been repaired when he bought it with 206 000 kms on it.

As far as the 01 , i believe it pulled a horse trailer , but how much , i don't know. Dad's truck worked every day of it's life pulling farm trailers, fifth wheel camper, and a horse trailer , before we got it that is.

 

Thanks JKM..The job asks indeed for quiete a few special tools and I don't think it is something one can envisage doing crawling underneath..a lift is very indicated here.The dilemna is it is hard to be sure of anybody who could tackle this type of job while they really know what they are doing..around here anyway!
thanks again,
Ron.

 

With 160000 miles decided it was time for a clutch (hadn't had any problems, just wanted to take care of it before I did). At the same time, had them do the fix on the 5th gear nut, since the tranny was out anyway. They said it was loose, so it was probably just a matter of time. I don't think of myself as being hard on a vehicle, but do pull a 10000 pound 5th wheel RV from time to time. The drive train is stock.