I recently bought a 2005 Ram 3500 CTD "600" series with the 6spd manual trans, only has 35K. The tranny doesn't feel quite right. Gears feel a little catchy, especially in the mornings, and the shifter is loose. There's about 2.5in of play in every gear. Just wondering if this is a wildly seen occurance. Any responses will be appriciated.

I had that same thing happen in the 02 CTD 6spd I had. Both dealerships I took it to said it felt normal to them. These are the first two cummins I've ever owned or driven so maybe it is just normal.

J.W.

 

this depends on which tranny you have. the NV5600 (reverse next to 5th) is notchy during shifts, and my truck with 28K on it there is some play, more then when I bought it, but not as much as my 110K yoda

the G56 (reverse next to second) was installed into the truck this being one of the reasons. many people didnt like the notchy"ness" of the NV5600, and the G56 is a smoother shifting tranny, plus the G56 is built inhouse for DC.

if anything the shifter linkage just might need to be tightened, and you can do that by removeing the console and boot to get to the bolts.

 

Mine must be the NV5600, reverse is to the right and up. Same as the '02 I had. I did not realize they make two versions of the 6spd. As far as it being loose, one of these days I will tear into the console as see if it needs tightened up. Thanks, J.W.

 

in 05 the tranny was changed to the G56.

the G56 has a lower gear ratio than the NV5600 so even with 3.73's it is like you have 4.10's with the NV5600.

 

You should qualify that with "sometime during 05" as there were a lot of 05 trucks made with the 5600.

If his pattern is up and right, then it is a 5600.

Your symptoms sound just like a normal tranny...the 5600s feel notchy...they also shift hard when they are cold...and the shifter does move around quite a bit...mine is the same way.

I have heard recently that a "cure" for the notchiness is to add a bottle of Limited Slip modifier (the stuff used in a rear axle with a posi)...the reasoning: The clutches in the 5600 are similar to those used in the clutches of a posi...adding the modifier makes thins work more smoothly. I'm going to leave other people try this, and probably add some myself..

steved

 

and if you add those modifiers you'll be looking for new syncronizers in about 1-2000 miles. trust me on this one.

it might make the shifts smoother, but the brass syncro's in the tranny will wear quicker that way. New Venture Gear who made the tranny is no longer in buisness. parts are available, but are getting more and more expensive.

the NV5600 takes a completely different oil than it's little brother the NV4500, yet the 5600 has more in common with the 3500 than anything when it comes to internal design. I have see a 5600 pulled apart after the owner poured in fluid that is for the 4500. in about 500 miles the syncros were trashed, and the bearing races were eaten up.

if you use the correct oil in your 5600 there shouldnt be a problem.

 

No problems With my 05 trans, but the its only got 7k on it. but this info is good to know.

 

The 5600 does not use brass synchronizers anymore (if it did at one time, IDK)...we have been through this on TDR...while the NV4500 used brass for some time (the reason it calls for a GL-4 fluid), the 5600 uses carbon fiber synchronizers which are very similar to the clutches in the rear diff.

The NV5600 uses synchromesh...a 5w30 weight oil...the NV4500 uses Castrol Syntorque...a 75w90 weight oil...I will agree, changing the weight oil would definately have a negative affect since a lot of times oil weight is determined for how it crawls/splashes inside the case for lubrication. A lot of guys have been running 5w30 motor oil for hundreds of thousands of miles in the NV5600 without a failure.

I'm just telling you this because a bunch of TDR members are trying this...at the advice of a DODGE GARAGE...this isn't something someone just drempt up...dodge did it first!! I'm just passing it along.

steved