I have a six speed 2003 CTD. I was wondering if shifting without the clutch is okay to do? Does it mess up the gears if you don't open them up by pressing the clutch? Will I end up spending more on transmission problems than I would to replace the clutch eventually? Also, just recently I noticed that when I put it in reverse, the reverse lights aren't working. They were working fine a couple of days ago. There is no dash light saying that there is a bulb out so I don't know exactly what to check first. Thanks for you time.

 

I dont really know the technical side of this, but I can tell you my personal experience. I work for a large (the largest) power line contractor, and for years I have been driving the 1 ton pickups and the bucket and derrick trucks and only use the clutch to take off and stop. I was told that the larger trucks have a fuller type transmission and using the clutch to shift isn't necessary. Anyways myself and alot of other guys do this in the pickups, ( not tearing them up of course ) and have never seen a problem.

 

first, your syncro's will thank you for useing the clutch. the NV5600 tranny you have is no longer produced and parts are getting scarce and expensive. if you ever look at pics of the internals of this tranny they are massive, and are on the edge of being to the point where syncros are not needed, but they are in there and it will damage them by hot shifting.

as for the reverse light, the bulb would be the first place, if the bulbs are good check the reverse switch and make sure it is working, it will be on the passenger side of the tranny.

 

dang double posting[:@]

 

I alsway had better luck shifting with the clutch in my 03.

As for the reverse lights, if you don't have a lamp out light lit, and both are out the reverse sensing switch would be my first bet, then the relay.

 

as far as the shifting without the clutch, let me revise my previous statement. It was done while not pulling a load, and not trying to speed shift. If you do it gentle like and are paying attention to the rpm's it will slide out and take just a second and fall right into the next gear. Using the clutch in the bigger trucks is pointless in my opinion, but it just became so much of a habit, myself and others do it in the 1 tons too.

 

I'll agree with you on that mike, on the class 6 and up trucks useing the clutch after getting the thing rolling is rather pointless since you have to double clutch it most of the time. my old freightliner was driven like that, pulling a load the first two gears were clutched since I pulled over 30K alot. after that double clutching just wore my leg out.

gets fun when you're rolling on I-285 (A.K.A The watermellon 500) around Atlanta pulling two D4's and two planters (~42K) doing 110 with three gears left

 

Have one similar. Pulled 50' , 10k lb concrete poles on a 45' trailer down I-95 S though Miami, and then on surface streets off US1 behind Sunset Place. It's kinda like football, get a blocker, and haul a$$. Changing lanes if fun too,, just put on the turn signal, wait a second, then go for it can pretend that you don't see em,,, they tend to move. (quickly)[sm=gears.gif]

 

HA HA HA HA. . .I drove mostly at night so I didnt have to put up with the other idiots on the road, and kept it about 5-10 mph slower than the bear bait