Another Getrag bites the dust

[1stgen4evr]

NIKI inquires as to what fluid in the various gear cavities. I am (new) posting this so all new members with a Getrag will hopefully view.



Got a call from a friend who had a friend who was working on a Getrag over on Interstate 75. Couple of new owners of a first gen (down in Florida) loaded up the dually truck and LOOOONG trailer with much hooha and struck out for home in Kentucky. A common scenario as most can't stand the heat of summer time Florida. At or about 120 miles into Georgia, the Getrag failed. The reason. No oil, or at least VERY low oil. Ripped (some of) the teeth off the input shaft. I brought a complete transmission and some spare new parts that I keep. They decided to use the new input and front bearing (there is some damage on the cluster and pitting on the rest of the bearings). I have my fingers crossed for them.



I don't give a rip what oil you use. I have over 500k miles with 85aw. BUT BE DA__D sure you have it not just full but a quart over. And keep it that way. Check it often enough that you don't run it low. IT WILL KILL IT.



There may someone in the Mont Eagle area that hears from the folks again. They said that they intended to try and get home with the trailer. Pray for them.



James

 

[Bob Langjahr]

What is the easiest way to get a a qt. over ? without taking the top off.

I have heard possibly thru one of the PTO bolts ?

Thanks.

 

[btoscano]

I removed one of the upper PTO cover bolts and the shifter boot and filled it from inside the cab with a funnel and tube.



Regards,

 

[dpuckett]

I have always taken off the shift botos and removed te stick from the tower, and poured it in. Just make sure you have the drain plug back in, and top 'er off at 5qts.



Like james said, make sure you keep it oiled. If you are lucky enough to be able to tow in 4th (3. 54s back east), you can get away with stock fill levels. Otherwise, keep it at the 5qt mark. I have been toying with an idea to make a check hole on the driver's side where you can just fill to the hole and have 5qts. I thought a PTO cover would be a convenient place for it.



Daniel

 

[1stgen4evr]

Well, you can park the truck in a ditch (steep side angle away from the fill hole) or extremely nose low in a ditch and fill an extra quart.



Daniel, if we could send of to the handy dandy widget manufacturer and buy a pto cover that also was fitted with the check tube and stick from an automatic, we would have a place to check and fill in one easy install.



James

 

[EZGZ]

The fill plug is Pipe thread. Just put on a street 90 pointing up and add a nipple, coupling and plug. Then fill from the boot hole.



I even strapped on a mechanical water temp gauge to the nipple so I can keep an eye on it laying on the floor.



Sure it's micky mouse but it is cheap easy and works for me.....

 

[Sri Ram]

I put a raised fill port on one pto and a filter set-up on the other. Capacity is now about 5-1/3 qts. Will try to post some pics…

 

[Sri Ram]

Ok, here are some pics:[/IMG]#ad


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[btoscano]

Where'd ya get that filter from? How do ya change it? Does it trap a lot of metal?



Brian

 

[Sri Ram]

I got the filter from Quad4x4 although I think Geno's Garage has it, too. It's got a 'spool' like yarn in it that catches the oil and any debris as it is slung off the gears toward the passenger's side. It also comes with two magnets. To change it, you remove the pto bolts and take out the filter, drop a new one in and reinstall. It comes with gaskets, so no rtv sealant is required. As for performance, I've only got about 1000mi on it, so I haven't changed it yet. I've read from others here that it can save the transmission. For the price, it a good investment IMO.

 

[Greenleaf]

There is a picture of the innards of the filter in TDR magazine. Thinking it was three issues ago?