Ive noticed this a couple of times. This is my first 5spd so im still learning. I was checking out my flex on some stacked railroad ties today and put her in 4lo becuase she couldnt climb them from a dead stop in high. When I got on the top, i noticed a burning smell that smelled horrible. I think it came up through the shifter? I got out and smelled it from around the tranny area. I also noticed it one time when I was climbing a super steep parking lot. I havnt changed my tranny gear oil yet (blew out my hand pump pumping gear oil into my old 82) could it be my oil needs a change? I was kinda thinking my clutch might be going out? My reverse growls sometimes when I go into R (AdamF told me his does too so i didnt think much of it). Any ideas or thoughts would be cool. Other than that the tranny shifts really well, but im kinda scared to go wheeling with it acting like this.

 

I'm not too familiar with manual trannies but I'd say your clutch was burning because you were trying to modulate the clutch and keep the power up to get up the steep areas. It's certainly not a good thing, but that's what happens with a manual tranny and off roading. That is why people get dual gear boxes to get ultra low gearing to crawl up rocks.

Steve

 

Sounds exactly like a worn clutch. Mine slips on inclines sometimes - sounds like I'm doing a burnout but unfortunately the truck isn't moving yet. Yours probably isn't as bad as mine but I think I'm past the stinky stage.