guess im going to have to pull the tranny, i would love any tips. im going to pull the tranny an maybe try to crack open the case an see how hard the 6th gear synchro is to replace. has anyone had any experience with the 6spd internals?
i cant figure out why 6th gear would grind but no other gears grind? maybe the previous owner didnt use the clutch when taking it out of 6th onthe highway, who knows?
robertsgoodnight@yahoo.com

 

Not something to be attempted at home - weighs 397lbs, is an end-loader, requires an engine lift to remove the cast-iron case from the clutch housing, which is also the front case bulkhead.

Cast-iron tailshaft housing weighs 62lbs, alone

Might try a fluid flush\change using Texaco STF or Penn\Quaker State MTF in 5W-30 weight, as spec'ed by NV Gear.

Observe the flushed fluid for steel, brass, indicating synchro deterioration.

Could also have clutch release problems.

 

yea trust me, not a job for you to do at home.

the tranny builder who did mine said he will not attempt another one. most likely your synchros are rounded off like mine were in reverse.

i just had 6th gear and the reverse synchros replaced...not cheap, and still a fraction of a new tranny

 

heh! shes quite heavy. ive pulled mine in the shop 3 or 4 times. ive taken the guts out of the 6 speed and i had one of my buddies help me (hes a very experienced diesel mechanic and has worked on many many transmissions on various sized trucks) and he said that he will NEVER tear into another dodge nv5600 again. depending on where you get your parts and if you get the bearings (you need new bearings and seals, being as how yours are contaminated with the old sycnro shavings) and seals, it will cost anywhere from 500-1000 for parts. plus labor.

 

i really appreciate the advice but im pretty hardheaded an will definetly do it my self all of it.
aint that right forrest.

 

do as you please, just trying to warn you. when a guy who builds nothing but transmissions day in and day out tells me he will never work on a nv5600 again becauase they are too big and heavy then i figure it means something. the bad part is the fact that you have to stand it up, and everything has to be lifted off from the top, and to go back together everything needs to be assembled standing vertically, then the case and tail housing slid down from the top.

here are pics of mine before i put it back in...just for anyone who doesnt know the size of this tranny

 

Don't forget to jack the front of the engine up - lowers the rear to allow fitting the pilot shaft thru the clutch and into the crank pilot bearing.

Good pics for show and tell, btw.................

 

yea ill throw a floor jack and wood block under the crank pulley up front to tilt it back a little bit, and help line it up. hardest part will be finding a way to spread the frame rails for putting the cross member back in. the exhaust is right in the way of being able to get a good surface to place a bottle jack in there for spreading the rails

 

i really respect the difficulty, but it makes me wanna do it myself even more knowing that pro mechanics choose not to work on them. i did a clutch on my sisters powerstroke a while back an rented a tranny jack, no big deal at all on that truck.

 

Pulling the tranny is the EASY part, thats just nuts and bolts. The problem is taking the tranny apart, if you look, the top don't come off like most do. You have to pull the case off the gears starting from the back, and it's one big pain in the butt with out a book, (or with one). Let us know how you come out.

 

good luck is all i have to say

 

yeah same here
just keep us posted!!

 

man, I wouldn't mess w/ it Steve...