Hi All, I have a 97,4x4,5 speed and have lost my 5th gear 4 times now. Is there any way to put it on and keep it there???
I pull a 5th wheel rv and do alot of travling. So far Dodge people have put it on 2 times and 1 private party.
I have tryed everything from the nut with a set screw and locktight to the standard nut.
I was thinking of a new all thread shaft and if I have enough room to put 2 nuts on the shaft like a lock nut set up.
I am in Savannah Ga. If aynone has an idea or knows of a good shop to do good work pleas let me know.
Thanks Terry

 

Weld It!! works every time---(seriously)

 

I wouldn't weld it.You are taking a chance on snapping the shaft by doing that.Especially if you are towing heavy all the time.Track you down a 6spd.Trust me, you will like towing with it alot more. Or you can dump a bunch of money into the 5spd with a fully splined shaft...Quad 4x4 has a really good tech article about the 5spd on their site.

 

Welding sounds like a good idea, but I've seen welded ones come loose too. It sounds to me like the splines on the shaft are worn and allowing the gear to move on the shaft. You will have to start with a new shaft and gear at the same time. And I do believe the shafts are now updated with a longer splined area to prevent this problem.

 

You can see the difference in the shafts in my photo gallery, I would suggest to go with the fully splined shaft and Blumenthuas in Oklahoma city and Standard trans in Ft worht Texas carries the newest designed full spline. And heck it is a good time to do a clutch job up right for all the pulling that you do. Welcome to the DTR and hope you get everything worked out you have found a great site for info on your truck and someone is allways around to help even if you are out on the road, So don't be a stranger. As above mentioned Quad 4x4 is also another great place,but they are a ways from you. Goodluck,,Rick If this works here is a photo of the two, the new one on top and the factory one on bottom, notice the difference in the splines and threads!! Take a look in my galler also and you will see the new retainers, I did not snap any photos of the set screw nuts but next one that is done I will.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...cat=500&page=1

 

Contact these folks, he has a setup that he patented himself that he warranties against failures. Also very easy to deal with. I know people are gonna say they have welded them with no problems, but the majority of people that do this won't admit it because of the damage done. When you heat the shaft up enough to weld it you also distort it. Just that hair out of balance and it will vibrate your whole tranny apart in time.
http://www.quad4x4.com/

 

Weld it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......................then start looking for a 6 spd. & hope the old 4500 doesn't fly apart before you find a 6 spd, do some searching & try & have your necissary parts rounded up, then when the 5 spd. lets go the next time, junk it & slap in the 6 spd, you can't go wrong with the NV5600 swap, Dusty

 

i welded a full bead all the way around that nut on my tranny, 900 ft lbs of torque and never had a problem, cept when i shattered all the teeth off 5th gear, then it was a bi+++ to get apart, slid the nut back up on there and welded it again... but the weld had nothing to do with the gear shattering.