My tranny is starting to irritate me, and I don't think it's normal. First of all, this is the only standard i've driven besides a Porsche, and I sware the longer I own the truck, the harder time i'm having shifting it. When I got it 2 years ago I remember it shifting pretty nicely, the truck had 58k miles on it then. Now it has 77k miles and it shifts like CRAP most of the time. I start out in 2nd most of the time, except when i'm hauling/towing, because i've also got 35" tires. The couple of times i've towed a 12k trailer it shifts better it seems like. But empty lately it's been a knightmare. 1st to 2nd is NEVER smooth, no matter what, it makes a bit of a "clunk". Most of the time unless I give it pretty good throttle starting in 2nd the engine lugs or if i'm very slow letting up the clutch. It also shutters a bit some of the time. Besides for that it's ok. Every couple months it will grind a gear, 99% of the time it's 3rd to 4th. I am using Amsoil syncromesh, and nothing changed when I went to this oil a while ago. Also sometimes it won't go into gear at a light, so I have to go back to N, doesn't matter if I let out the clutch.

This can't sound normal? But i've never driven another truck standard. My brother has had 2 NV4500's one with 150k miles that shifted WAY better then this. I have started in 3th and dropped the clutch ONCE, and that was well over a year ago and I didn't notice anything funny after. I have had a Bullydog and now a Edge, but I don't drive it hard at all, very very rarely will I actually use the power. I don't ride the clutch at lights, it's always all the way in. I do ride the clutch backing up a bit, but nothing crazy.

Does this sound like a clutch or tranny issue? I don't think it's normal. Really tempted to go to the dealer and test drive a new 6 speed to see how it shifts. Also besides for the nearly impossible perfect shift between 1-2, it shifts a lot better for the rest if I don't push in the clutch all the way...

I mean so many people are saying they start out in 2nd or 3rd, even with a load. I don't see how it's possible, unless they are like dropping the clutch and WOT. I mean, unless I give it enough throttle to roll some coal stock, it will lug in 2nd with very little load (around 1,200lbs).

 

I've had some pretty good success in scuufing the synchros when that happens, although my NV has been great. Raise your speed in the gear above the trouble gear, 3rd for your 2nd clunk, and downshift pulling on the lever firmly toward 2nd, but don't actually drop into the gear. This spins the synchros and de-glazes the surfaces. This was a trick an old mechanic gave me and it has worked for me. Just do it lightly until you get the feel for the synchros meshing without actually downshifting.

Hope it helps if you decide to try it.

 

Give that a try.
I'd say too that it sounds like your clutch isn't disengaging all the way.

Or... it could be that they synchros are shot.

I agree that it shifts better when towing.... maybe because of the higher rpms? I tend to shift 1800-2000 when empty, but 2400-2700 when towing.

This truck ain't ever going to shift like a sports car.

 

I don't know why it shifts better with a load. I know RPM's don't affect 1-2, when I start in 1st I usually rev over 2000 anyways, I even tried going up to like 2500 but doesn't change anything. But I will say usually the other gears, when I am giving it a bit more, it does seem to shift somewhat better. The odd thing is, it downshifts PERFECT, no issues going into gear or anything.

I will give that a try thanks. Just hoping it's not something that's gonna cost me, cannot afford a new clutch or anything for quite some time. Really need it to last me another 20k miles atleast. Empty I almost always shift at 2,000, towing varies from 2,300 to 2,500 or so.

Also ever since i've got the truck, the clutch has engaged really high (my bro noticed it felt a ton different then his NV4500, and went to the floor like nothing). But I though it was a different setup so not sure.

I know it won't shift like a Porsche, even one that is almost 30 years old! (man I wish my truck was built as good as that thing) Because it is a linkage setup. But I don't think it should be getting worse then it was before.

 

When shifting double clutch it that lets you shift much easer.ON the 50 trucks it was jest part of shifting and it works now.

 

Several times I had an issue with it being hard to get into gear at a stop light.

This works for me and you might want to try it. Pump the clutch pedal really fast about a dozen times and see if the issue goes away.

MikeyB

 

Like mentioned, sounds like the pressure plate is not giving you full disengagement,either its on its way out or the hydraulics aren't working properly.

 

I'd try a new clutch slave/master cylinder assembly first, if that doesn't fix it, your syncros are shot.

 

i agree with coolride. i would try that first.

 

Could be a lot of things. Warped pressure plate, bad pilot bearing causing the input shaft to not slow down, synchros, hydro's, etc.

 

The problem is, one i'm out of warranty by about 10k miles, and two I cannot afford to throw money at the problem. I am really hoping I can find out what's wrong and JUST replace that. If I was to drain the oil, and pull the inspection cover would I be able to see anything? Any test to see if hydralics are bad etc? I will say there is NO noise whatever, wouldn't a pilot bearing get noisy?

Also I tried the driving up till 3rd at around 2,000 rpm and putting it in 2nd with the clutch in and holding it there, didn't do anything for that shift. It didn't do it 100% of the time today, but quite a bit.

 

I know you don't have the money for repairs but I don't think your gonna find a free solution.About all the possibilities have been listed,and none of them are free.Have you taken it to a reputable mechanic and got his opinion? My work truck is going through the same thing and I'm betting on the el cheapo pressure plate I thru in it 2 yrs ago when I thought I was gonna sale it.Well,its still here and now I've got to pay again.

77k miles isn't alot on stock clutches but you haven't owned it since new so you don't know what abuse it saw before you got it and that 3rd gear launch on a stock clutch isn't a good idea.

 

O yea I know it wasn't a good idea, reason why I only did it once. I don't think the truck was abused before, by the looks of the couple of add ons i'd say it was hotshot, but it was looked after extremely well, and had to of been on the highway a lot because the average MPH was 35.

The reason why I can't afford much now is i'm going back to school, and already in debt enough from that and the truck. I just need it hopefully to last 2 years, or even 1. Summer is almost over, and I don't drive much in the winter, i'd say it will see 5k miles all winter.

Basicly my question is, based on the things i've said it's doing, am I going to damage anything or risk breaking down if I continue to drive it as is? I honestly don't care if it shortens the life of the clutch, or hydralics. After 2 years I won't mind dropping a couple thousand on it, as long as it won't hurt the physical tranny.

I also noticed, with the clutch in going from 1st to 2nd, it does the "clunk" that I get shifting. So I know it's not me from shifting wrong or anything.

I haven't took it anywhere and I don't think I will, I don't trust anyone to work on my truck but me. I am going to try getting it warranteed threw a good friend who has connections, but I doubt it will happen. I do have a 3rd year HD mechanic friend who knows semi tranies and diffs like the back of his hand, who could however help me replace anything I can't do.

 

Hard to say if you will hurt it or not.Any type of "clunk" is usually a sign of a problem and I would have to say at the least,hard on the synchro's.Maybe your friend can give you his opinion.I'm sure you could find a low mileage stock clutch in the classifieds or from one of vendors on here who do alot of performance clutch swaps.Just throwing some options at you.

 

Yea the clunk worries me, but I figured maybe the gears would be the toughest part and something else would take it instead? If I can be sure it's the clutch, or the hydralics I can justify spending the money on it, I just don't want to throw parts at the problem. I know I will need a clutch eventully and if that will fix it I will pony up the money now and get a decent one. I am going to ask him, he just doesn't seem to know pickups much, as semi trannies are a whole nother thing.