Getrag leaks like a sieve

[ARedetzke]

Last weekend I overfilled the getrag for the 1st time. I knew I was going to be towing, so I figured I ought to give it a try just to be safe, even knowing that the transmission had a leak. The leak wasn't too bad at normal fill level, but over fill it a quart and fuggetaboutit!!! Lets just put it this way, the bottom side of my truck from the transmission back is now a well oiled machine!! I kind of think that it's coming from the top cover, at least I can see oil all the way up the side, so that is what I'm assuming. The front sides are pretty clean. Is there a seal in the top that I can change, without dropping the transmission?? (long shot, I know) I just had an nv4500 out of a buddy's truck last weekend, and I was kind of hoping that would be the only transmission I would have to drop this year... I guess if it comes down to dropping the transmission I'll just wait and do it when I put a 4500 or 5600 in there, once the cashflow allows. I'm hoping someone out there has had some experience with the leaks too. Sorry for the novel.

TIA

AJ

 

[bgilbert]

yEAH just cut a hole in the cab floor above the transmission and you won't have to drop the transmission lol..... Probly could use a gasket or RTV to stop the leak. Not sure but I think it can leak from the shifter tower. . ??

 

[ARedetzke]

Trust me the thought had crossed my mind

 

[dpuckett]

The Ultra Black or Ultra Copper works well for that. I'm surprised you had a problem after the overfill; first I've heard of a leak as a result of overfilling. Gotta drop transmission, or remove carpet and cut a hole. Neither one sounds too appealing, esp this time of year.



Daniel

 

[ARedetzke]

Oh, the over fill didn't cause it. I've always had a leak, no it's just gushing until it gets to normal levels

AJ

 

[bgilbert]

AJ, did you look at my RR gallery of my 'getrag access door'? Link to it https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&userid=13880&albumid=1315. Might be easier to do this than dropping the trans and t-case. Then if you ever have a shift fork go south you could simply open the new door and repair it w/o dropping transmission.

 

[ARedetzke]

SWEEEET. You think you can figure out rough dimensions of that critter and send them to me?? I would really like to make this transmission last as long as possible, but I am not looking forward to dropping another one anytime soon. I like to use my weekends to do other stuff, like BOMBing instead of fixing.

AJ

 

[Horsepuller]

The Getrag in my '93 did the same thing. It always leaked, it just leaked more when I overfilled it.

 

[CGauthier]

Here's the thread I was lookin for...

Too bad it's not the news I was looking for



My Getrag started a leak after I overfilled it... and I'm pretty sure it's from the top of the transmission somewhere because the side of the trans is wet... also the reason i even looked there was because my carpet was getting kinda black for no reason, esp. around the shifter. I really like Bill's idea of the access door, but i am totally afraid to try doin that because the chances of me making the inside of my truck look like a practice corps after a rookie surgeon got ahold of it are pretty damn good. It doesn't leak that fast, but it makes me wonder how fast the oil level goes down. Anybody ever made the access door? Cutting torch obviously would do the trick, but making a nice job could be difficult. I sure as hell don't wanna drop that sucker Lol

Any advice would be mucho appreciated... .



TIA,

Carl G

 

[MrWinkey]

My Getrag in my Green 92 did the same thing. If I over filled it or drove above 60 it would leak like a sive.



Upon removal and disection I noticed the gasket that goes around the top of the case had ripped out of the bolts and sucked into the case. The whole right side did not have a gasket!!!



I also had the black carpet around the shifter... . I belive that is just from the oil comming out and wind from the road blowing it all over. I couldnt find the leak and I sealed everything up w/ RTV.



It finaly got low enough on a trip to do some damage so I limped it home and just finished putting in a NV4500. I just need to hookup my drivelines and away she goes!



Good luck

 

[1stgen4evr]

transmission access cover

In the early seventies, ford one ton trucks had a cover in the floor pan that would allow you to access the top of the transmission. With the exception of the problems mentioned here (leaks or broken forks), there is little you can do with the cover off. You can however get to the bolts that hold the transmission in if you have such a cover and rig a method to hold the transmission from the top and let it to the floor with out a transmission jack. If you are going to do it (cut the floor), find a truck that you can rob the floor hump from. Cut as large as you think you can fit back on the hump nicely and after you clean up the edges and such, lay that on the floor of your truck and mark around the piece. Cut one and a quarter inch to the inside of that mark and when you are done you can secure the panel with sheet metal screws about every three inches and with some body putty, it will be water, sound, and smell tight. Use a plasma torch rather than accetelyne and you will get a much cleaner job. Make careful preparation to contain and extinguish any fire that would likely start with all that oil underneath.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[CGauthier]

Very good thinking as usual James... I wouldnt have thought of cutting it out of another truck first then tracing it. Problem will be to find this other truck... Are all the bodies the same as far as 150's,250's,350's and gassers? I can't really say i like the idea of butchering my truck, but i dont really like the idea of dropping the trans either. I guess first things first, I should check to see exactly where its coming from then decide what has to be done. Hopefully maybe just the shift tower or sumthing like that. I guess I should have stuck to putting in 4. 5 quarts instead of 5?? Dam this is a bit of a bummer.



Carl Gauthier

 

[1stgen4evr]

all the same as our trucks

Carl, I THINK the floor stamping is the same but not sure. My manual and my automatics have the same shape. Just no cutout for the shift stick. You will just have to look at some junkers. Dodge doesn't have a lot of extra tooling as they don't make the numbers of units that Ford or Chevy does. Another thought. Make both the cut outs an inch larger than you first consider. You will then have a piece left over that you can send me to use on mine.



My junk yard buddy got a truck that the P/owner just made a large center cut with end cuts and folded the pieces back. What a mess, but when he was done, he hammered it all back and covered it with carpet and it is OK. I had to do an overhaul on the getrag for him. It was locked in fourth and siezed in the pocket bearing and required a new shift fork. Third gear set was scuffed. Still got it back running for under a six hundred with a few used parts.



Whatever you do, fix the leak. NO transmission will tolerate low lube. I have a 4500 that was run low and ruined. (NOt by ME)



James