Manual Trans. 5th Gear

F.D.C. · 01-02-2008, 01:36 PM

I have a 1997 Dodge 3500 1-ton Dually. I have 136,803 miles on it total. I had to replace the 5th Gear at 88,729 and today,
my 5th Gear went out again. Is this a common failure with Dodge manual trannies? Any recalls or other help available from the factory? Any body else out there in the Dodge World have this problem? Thanks for any advice or thoughts. F.D.C.

MX26 · 01-02-2008, 01:56 PM

I know that the 5th gear unit is separate from 1-4, and have read in a few places that it is a weaker gear. Best thing I could tell you is to not lug it in 5th. Keep your RPM's over 1500 in 5th, and downshift it need be

__________________
94 12V Reg Cab 2WD - NV4500
4" FBD straight, #100, 3GSK, Autometer Pyro/Boost

F.D.C. · 01-02-2008, 02:30 PM

Thank you for the tip.

F.D.C.

MX26 · 01-02-2008, 02:35 PM

Might pull your driveshaft and pull that unit off. Make sure the nut is tight on there..

__________________
94 12V Reg Cab 2WD - NV4500
4" FBD straight, #100, 3GSK, Autometer Pyro/Boost

tractorpuller · 01-02-2008, 03:07 PM

I have heard there is a fix for it, but i am not familiar with it as I have an auto and havent had to worry about it. There have been threads on here about it if you search. Someone will speak up that knows about it, just give them time.

__________________
97 extendedcab 4x4 auto;18*timing;SFS custom tuned afc custom ground plate;3k gsk; ISSPRO guages, 4" straight piped, bhaf, b&w gooseneck hitch, prodigy brake controller, kdp kia

bucket truck · 01-02-2008, 03:26 PM

It is a problem with the nut backing off. There is a fix for it. I can't remember b/c it hasn't been brought up in a while. Someone will be able to help you. And you can do the fix yourself instead of having a shop do it.

__________________
2001 extra cab 2500 SLT laramie (dark blue over silver) 4x4 S.O. 55 block, 47re, silencer ring/resonator/muffler are MIA, gauges, big bumper up front, B&W turnover ball, 315 buck shots, and Quadzilla XZT+ (thanks DieselNut)
'89 GMC Sierra SLX 1500 4x4 186K 350TBI w/custom 400 tranny
'06 Freightliner Business Class M2 106 tandem w/lockers,30k# winch, and Altec digger/derrick

oldhand10 · 01-02-2008, 03:29 PM

On the five speeds, the fifth Overdrive gear is not inside the transmission case, but in the tail stock. There is a replacement nut to secure this gear on the shaft, and it is not a large job to drop the drive shaft, unbolt the tail stock, and reposition the gear back on the shaft, then use the new much thicker nut to secure it. Cost is around $76 bucks for the improved nut and a new gasket, but you will also need several quarts of the special synthetic fluid at near $25 per quart. Another thing to become aware of, synthetic fluid does evaporate and needs to be checked, with any needed top offs every time you change oil and filter. More transmission repairs are caused by low fluid level than any other cause, and that gets expensive. Hope this helps.

__________________

:woot

MX26 · 01-02-2008, 05:34 PM

Thanks for the clarification oldhand. I've read and heard about this problem a few times, but couldn't remember the exact details.

__________________
94 12V Reg Cab 2WD - NV4500
4" FBD straight, #100, 3GSK, Autometer Pyro/Boost

01-02-2008, 01:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
F.D.C. Newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2 F.D.C.'s Truck Pics	Manual Trans. 5th Gear I have a 1997 Dodge 3500 1-ton Dually. I have 136,803 miles on it total. I had to replace the 5th Gear at 88,729 and today, my 5th Gear went out again. Is this a common failure with Dodge manual trannies? Any recalls or other help available from the factory? Any body else out there in the Dodge World have this problem? Thanks for any advice or thoughts. F.D.C.

01-02-2008, 02:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
F.D.C. Newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2 F.D.C.'s Truck Pics	manual Trans. 5th Gear Thank you for the tip. F.D.C.

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01-02-2008, 01:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
MX26 Cummins Fan Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 83 MX26's Truck Pics	I know that the 5th gear unit is separate from 1-4, and have read in a few places that it is a weaker gear. Best thing I could tell you is to not lug it in 5th. Keep your RPM's over 1500 in 5th, and downshift it need be __________________ 94 12V Reg Cab 2WD - NV4500 4" FBD straight, #100, 3GSK, Autometer Pyro/Boost

01-02-2008, 02:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
MX26 Cummins Fan Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 83 MX26's Truck Pics	Might pull your driveshaft and pull that unit off. Make sure the nut is tight on there.. __________________ 94 12V Reg Cab 2WD - NV4500 4" FBD straight, #100, 3GSK, Autometer Pyro/Boost

01-02-2008, 03:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
tractorpuller Cummins Nut Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 477 tractorpuller's Truck Pics	I have heard there is a fix for it, but i am not familiar with it as I have an auto and havent had to worry about it. There have been threads on here about it if you search. Someone will speak up that knows about it, just give them time. __________________ 97 extendedcab 4x4 auto;18*timing;SFS custom tuned afc custom ground plate;3k gsk; ISSPRO guages, 4" straight piped, bhaf, b&w gooseneck hitch, prodigy brake controller, kdp kia

01-02-2008, 03:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
bucket truck Got Lights? Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Montgomery/Slapout , Alabama Posts: 1,012 bucket truck's Truck Pics	It is a problem with the nut backing off. There is a fix for it. I can't remember b/c it hasn't been brought up in a while. Someone will be able to help you. And you can do the fix yourself instead of having a shop do it. __________________ 2001 extra cab 2500 SLT laramie (dark blue over silver) 4x4 S.O. 55 block, 47re, silencer ring/resonator/muffler are MIA, gauges, big bumper up front, B&W turnover ball, 315 buck shots, and Quadzilla XZT+ (thanks DieselNut) '89 GMC Sierra SLX 1500 4x4 186K 350TBI w/custom 400 tranny '06 Freightliner Business Class M2 106 tandem w/lockers,30k# winch, and Altec digger/derrick

01-02-2008, 03:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
oldhand10 Cummins Fan Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: West central Georgia Posts: 66 oldhand10's Truck Pics	On the five speeds, the fifth Overdrive gear is not inside the transmission case, but in the tail stock. There is a replacement nut to secure this gear on the shaft, and it is not a large job to drop the drive shaft, unbolt the tail stock, and reposition the gear back on the shaft, then use the new much thicker nut to secure it. Cost is around $76 bucks for the improved nut and a new gasket, but you will also need several quarts of the special synthetic fluid at near $25 per quart. Another thing to become aware of, synthetic fluid does evaporate and needs to be checked, with any needed top offs every time you change oil and filter. More transmission repairs are caused by low fluid level than any other cause, and that gets expensive. Hope this helps. __________________ :woot

01-02-2008, 05:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
MX26 Cummins Fan Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 83 MX26's Truck Pics	Thanks for the clarification oldhand. I've read and heard about this problem a few times, but couldn't remember the exact details. __________________ 94 12V Reg Cab 2WD - NV4500 4" FBD straight, #100, 3GSK, Autometer Pyro/Boost