I have a 1999 with Cummins, 2 wheel drive and a five speed transmission with 105,000 miles on it. Today I noticed clutch problems. I went on a hundred mile trip today pulling an empty 32 foot gooseneck and I started noticing that it was hard to get it in fifth gear. Then when I would stop and start from a standstill the truck will jump like crazy. It got progressively worse but after it sits for about an hour it will go in gear a little easier. It goes in all gears hard and sometimes it won't go in at all.
After the trip I checked the fluid and it is full. Does it have a cylinder on the side of the bell housing that may be bad? Can it be bled or is pulling the transmission and replacing the clutch what it will take to fix it? Its like there is a wall there keeping it from going in to the gear and the jumping was mostly when I was backing up. I noticed about two months ago after hooking to a trailer and having to spin the wheels in sand to get out of the spot that it refused to go in to fifth for a day or two but then got better then today this, right when I need to take it on a 3000 mile trip.
Any and all advice appreciated. Sonny

 

sounds like a clutch & pressure plate to me. are thier any noieses from the throwout bearing? if the slave cylinder is bad it will leak or your shifting problems will be all the time. if this helpes?

 

well if it is not slipping don't buy a clutch yet. it sounds like a new master/slave cyl. assy, or could be 5th gear going awol.....

 

I had fifth gear to go out about two years ago and had Dodge Dealer to put in a new one along with the newer nut and washer. Cost me around $800.00 It has the same problem on all the gears, not onlt fifth. Thanks a million, I'll get under it and see about replacing the cylinder. Sonny

 

From your discription the clutch is not sliping , possible throughout bearing .

 

I decided this afternoon to go ahead and try to take the transmission out because the more I think of it the more I think it may be a pilot bearing keeping the main shaft from stopping and thats why it was sometimes impossible to get it in gear. I have it almost ready to come out I think. I haven't gotten in the cab to tear that mess apart and take the shift lever out yet. I was wondering if someone who has done this might be able to tell me what all is involved in the cab? Is there a plate held on by bolts or what does it take to get to the shift lever? Mine has two seats with a center that folds up and down. The seat is probably what is referred to as sixty forty. On the floor is a cup holder. I don't know if they are all like mine

Please respond tonight as I want to get back on it the first thing in the morning. Many Thanks, Sonny

 

The rubber boots around the shifter need to be unscrewed to do this lift up around the edge of the rubber and you will see about 5 or 6 screws holding it down. The 4WD shift lever boot just pops out I think then you take the little rubber deals out of the cup holders there should be some screws in there. Take those out and the plastic housing will come off.

Then there is another rubber boot under the plastic, that should just unscrew after that there is the top of your tranny four more bolts to take the rest off the shifter assembly off. I taped the hole up so I wouldn't get dirt in there. Good luck

 

I'm glad you decided on a pilot bearing issue. That was going to be my vote too. You can usually tell if the hydraulics are failing by the feel of the pedal. You'll have lots of freeplay at the top, and when lifting the clutch pedal, it'll engage while still very close to the floor.