Im sure this is one of those things that im doing it all right since ive driven manual rigs all my life from little car to farm equipment but since it my new baby im secound guessing myself.

 

Remember the 6 speed is an evolution of the ancient SM 420/465. They were referred to as the 'granny tranny'. Those were 4 speeds that were in reality 3 speeds since the low gear was so low that you could walk beside it with it running in gear. On those trannies low was something like a 7:1 reduction. Doubt you could push more than 20 mph in that gear. The 6 speed is in essence a 5 speed with a synchronized "low" gear. First is just for towing, pulling. Unless you're heavily loaded you don't need to use it. I can get started in mine in 2nd with no throttle application in 2nd. In 1st I seriously doubt it's possible to stall.

 

These things have so much torque that an idle is all you need to start, even pulling 14k infirst.
The manual recommends second gear starts when empty.

 

Actually, 1st in both trannies is very close to each other, something like 5.6:1 or so. The 6 speed just has an extra gear between 1st and OD. OD in both the 5 and 6 speeds are pretty well the same (.76:1 to .73:1).

 

from my understanding on the gear ratios the only difference is that in a 6 speed 3,4 take the place of 3 other wise 1,2 are the same then 4is 5 (in the Sixs) and 5 is 6 (in the Sixs).

 

Come again

 

I guess I am the exception......... Unless I am pointed downhill I always start in 1st.

 

to hell with it im probably spouten bs. 1 and 2 same in both trans 4,5 (5 speed) is the same as 5,6 (6speed) The difference is in a 6 speed you have two gears to fill the gap between 2 and 5 instead of one gear filling the gap between the same ratios in a five speed. Im probably all jacked up though but thats what i got told i think. I think im lost now.

 

here, just let the numbers do the talking

i think what you're trying to say is the six speed splits the 3rd gear of the 5 speed

NV-4500
1- 5.61
2- 3.04
3- 1.67
4- 1.00
5- 0.74


nv-5600

1- 5.63
2 * 3.38
3 * 2.04
4 * 1.39
5 * 1.00
6 * 0.73

g-56
1- 6.29
2- 3.48
3- 2.10
4- 1.38
5- 1.00
6- .79