Archived Getrag 360 started leaking after swap

[jd5373]

I removed the transmission from my backup truck and installed it in my duty truck (from a ’90 4x4 to a ’91 4x4) because the duty truck was slipping out of gear. The old transmission works just fine.



However, there is an oil leak from the front of the transmission right at the bell housing – when sitting still – before it was ever driven.



It doesn’t seem like it could be the front seal because the oil level, even with overfill, isn’t that high in the transmission.



What else could it be? It didn’t leak when in the old truck.

 

[Paychk]

On the front of the transmission there is a seal for the cluster gear shaft it is a rubber coated plug, that may be leaking. The pic below show the cluster shaft bearing minus it's seal.



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[jd5373]

Thank you Paychk

I'll bet you are right on. That cluster gear shaft seal would be low enough to leak while sitting and it could have been damaged.



Thanks a lot.

 

[Paychk]

Anytime



The recommended sealer when installing that seal is 3M Scotch-Seal Industrial Sealant 800. It comes in 5 oz. tubes, you may be able to reseal it without removing the old one. If you do decide to install a new seal you should be able to get it from Standard transmission of Fort Worth, Tx.

 

[jd5373]

Thanks. Right On. Job Done.

Paychk,



Hey, I just noticed, we’re practically neighbors. I live in the country north of Longview, not too far from Lake O’ The Pines and come to Shreveport to the VA hospital occasionally.



You hit it right on. That seal was damaged (puncture hole). It had been repaired some time previously and I did not notice.



I came up with a solution that did not require removing the transmission and transfer case (and renting the transmission jack again and driving 70 miles round trip to get it and again to return it).



We (my wonderful wife works right with me on every project from construction to truck repair to cutting and splitting firewood – and is most attractive too) did the following:



Unbolted the transmission from bell housing but left the bolts holding by a couple threads.



Removed bolts holding transmission to mount and cross member.



Removed rear drive shaft.



Slid the transmission and transfer case back about an inch – just enough gap for wife to reach in to work with her small hands.



Cleaned all transmission and bell housing surfaces, with particular attention to the cluster gear shaft cover.



Cut a perfect fit circle for the shaft cover from handsaw blade metal (springy and correct thickness to be flush with transmission facing).



Put a THICK glob of gasket sealer on the new plate and put it into place over the cover. Put a lot of silicone where the transmission meets the bell housing (mostly to provide support for the new plate and keep it in place, plus adding a little more sealing if needed.



Pushed transmission back into position, bolted up, and were out of there in probably less than two hours. It would have taken that long to go to Longview for the transmission jack.



So far NO LEAKS. We’ll see how it holds and will keep an eye on transmission oil level. Worst case, we will have to remove the transmission and replace the shaft cover properly.



Thank you for your input. I posted that question on three different forums and yours was the only answer that made sense. One got no replies and the other said it was the input shaft seal.



It is nice to have a place to go to ask questions and get good answers.