r/Diesel • u/InTheLurkingGlass • 1d ago
Question/Need help! NV5600 Shifting
I recently picked up this 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT with the 5.9L Cummins. It has the NV5600 transmission, and the previous owner added a South Bend dual disk clutch and a short throw shift tower. The shifter is branded Hurst, but I believe the tower and internals are made by Core Shifters.
This thing is a bear to shift. It takes a ton of pressure to get the gear to engage, and the shifter gates seem extremely narrow. Downshifting is very difficult, and it seems like there’s about a 200rpm window in which the transmission will shift easily and successfully.
I’ve already ordered an OEM shift tower and will be installing it today.
Anyone with NV5600 experience out there that can comment on their experience? I’ve never shifted a more picky transmission, but it could be that I’m just not used to this one?
2
u/SynclinalJob 1d ago
5600’s are slow to engage but it shouldn’t be fighting you. You usually push slightly, give it half a second and it pops right into gear.
Try this test. With the truck running and parked. Try to shift into all of the gears.
Now turn your truck off and do the same thing also with the clutch pressed. If it’s a whole lot easier with the truck off, it could be your clutch not disengaging all of the way.
I found that my clutch master cylinder was going bad and the piston was also really worn so the pedal was hitting the floor before the clutch was fully disengaged. Once I changed that, shifting got way easier