Howling Trans.

[ScottB]

My transmission seems to be howling a bit and I'm wondering what I should do? Should I drive it till it blows or should I rebuild as soon as possible how much diference will it make? Any advice is welcome. I really don't have the money right now to deal with this so I'm weighing my options. By the way it is the Getrag and I prefer to keep it that way. Thanks in advance

 

[AMikonis]

It may behoove you to pull it apart now. When does it make noise? For instance, my D250 was taken off the road before I bought it because it was making a racket in 5th, and a little in 4th. Pulled it apart and the 5th gear bearing was fried. $20 repair, no special tools.



We had the rear countershaft bearing go out in another D250, it knocked a hole through the back of the tailpiece. The bearing itself was a cheap and easy repair, a little welding took care of the tailpiece. Couldn't find the seal for the - if I'm remembering right - the front countershaft bearing; a little JBWeld took care of that...



Point being, if you can isolate a bad bearing as the cause, easy fix... if you let things go, they aren't going to get any better. Case in point: my W250. But that's another story...

 

[Harlan]

I am runing 1 extra qt, of amsoil in my trany and have not had any truble. Was told of this by an old trans builder right after I got the truck new. Said the main shaft would not get the oil it needed and wood starve out if the oil got just a little low. I would repair the problem now befor it got two hot and started welding expensive parts to geather.

Just thinking. Harlan

 

[J DeMaio]

Hey guys:



I've noticed that mine growls in 4th-5th when at a very low RPM and the throttle then matted. After it gets to a certain RPM it stops, I've been told it is the throwout bearing. What do you guys think?



Thanks,



John

 

[Tim1]

Hey Harlan, how do you get an extra quart of fluid in the gearbox? Streetell,fill on the uphill side,fill from top? I would like to put a little extra oil in there, just for a little piece of mind. I have the nv4500 and adapter, but the explosion was in the differential, not the gearbox, will probably need it in the future. Will run the getrag till she quits. Thanks, bud! Tim

 

[Mel Fuelling]

Harlan,

That's what my transmission rebuilder told me too.

Tim1,

I use both ramps on the right side, or a side hill, depending on

which is closest.

ScottB,

You may get by with a bearing kit now, but if you wait until you

experience a catastrophic failure(that's how the Bultaco shop

manuals phrased it), it may be 4 or 5 times as expensive.

Sorry,

Mel

 

[4020Deere]

To add the extra quart of fluid, just remove the shifter. It's fairly easy, and basically just takes a snap ring pliers. Just make sure you have some extra help putting it back together. A buddy will have to push the shifter down into the transmission (it's spring loaded) while you put the snap ring back in.

 

[ScottB]

Thanks for the replies. One more question, does anyone know where I could get a repair manual for this trans.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

Even after I had my Getrag rebuilt I felt that it was just too noisey - so I went the NV4500HD route. I felt that there was a permenent fix for the 5th gear nut available while the Getrag would still be noisey. I couldn't believe the difference in the noise level in the cab. I can run the NV4500HD against the governor and all I hear is the Cummins hummin not the transmission whining You might want to price the NV4500HD conversion - I don't think the cost would be all that much more than a Getrag rebuild. Good luck.

Happy trails

Bob



PS My rebuilt Getrag has about 1500 miles on it and I hear they make great boat anchors

 

[Paychk]

The 93 factory repair manual is the only manual that has the repair procedures and exploded view of the Getrag 360. It applies to all years 89-93 of this trans.



here is one source for the manuals



http://www.techauthority.daimlerchrysler.com/



No afilliation with any company.

 

[JLEONARD]

About adding an extra quart. .

I had another idea that I planned on doing at my next gear oil change, probably in a month or so.

I was thinking about replacing the plug with a 90* fitting. Then attaching a length of good hose (like hydraulic) that would be easily accessable from the engine compartment. That way I could very easily fill the transmission after draining the old oil... . would also allow an extra qt to be added easily.

Any comments?

 

[Harlan]

J DeMaio= the sound you ar hearing is the Getrag Grumble, You will get this sound when you ar at low RPM and stand on it. When you get the sound back out of the go pedel and shift down. The more power you are runing the more it will grumble. Mine realy lets me know if I am below 1550 to1600 and I hamer it.

As to the extra oil I just pull the shifter and fill from the top. 5 qt of amsoil, and all is good.

Harlan

 

[J DeMaio]

Thanks guys. The noise has gotten louder in the past couple of months though. Oh well, it still shifts good and I changed the fluid a while back, it's not low either.



Thanks,



John

 

[AMikonis]

John, I don't know, it sounds a lot like what my D250 was doing, especially since you say it has developed recently. The noise got really bad in 5th, lugging it or not. After changing the 5th gear bearing, no noise in 5th, a little rumble if I lug it in 4th. Try the other suggestions first, but if it keeps getting worse I'd look at that 5th gear bearing...

 

[bflood]

GETRAG Oil Overfill

I cooked my GETRAG bearings on a long haul last October. Very expensive fix by a dealer in midwest bygosh who had me by the hoosits. $4,750 (not counting costs of unwanted 3 day layover) for rebuilt transmission, clutch, pressure plate, clutch arm boot, throwout bearing and rear engine seal.



Anyway, to overfill the new transmission, I plumbed a 4" external vertical capped standpipe out of the fill plug. I used standard plumbing brass hardware. I also used a Tee fitting, instead of an elbow, and installed a temp sensor as cheap future insurance. It could've been difficult to fill but I had a simple, cheap plunger pump that screws onto a plastic windshield washer fluid bottle. Works fine.

 

[ScottB]

I sure do appreciate the input you guys are the best. Now do you guys think it is possible to put a rebuild kit in myself. I know thats sort of a hard question to answere, but if myself and another guy with some mechanical experience could do this... ... Well it would really help me out but I don't want to dive in to deep if you know what I mean.

 

[Harlan]

PM Bob Beauchaine and ask what he wonts for his rebuilt Getrag boat anchor. Its not even broke in yet.

Harlan

 

[JLEONARD]

bflood,

I like the T fitting idea with the temp gage. That is what I will do.

What temps do you see on the transmission?

 

[bflood]

transmission temp

J Leonard

bflood, I like the T fitting idea with the temp gage. That is what I will do. What temps do you see on the transmission?

I have not done any heavy hauling since installing the gauge and overfilling the oil (One trailer pull 40 miles). My temp gauge starts at 140deg F. I have not seen a reading that moves the needle yet. I had to simulate the sensor with a 100 ohm resister just to satisfy myself the gauge actually worked. I consider the gauge to be cheap insurance and I'm pleased with the plumbing hookup.

 

[AMikonis]

rebuilding

Now do you guys think it is possible to put a rebuild kit in myself. I know thats sort of a hard question to answere, but if myself and another guy with some mechanical experience could do this... ...

Scott, It's not really that difficult, and the '93 Dodge manual is pretty detailed. The biggest problem may be the fact you need access to a big press, and the associated tools to press the gears, bearings and synchros off the mainshaft.



Like I wrote earlier, on two trucks I fixed it was just one one the bearings on the end causing the noise, in which case the rest of the trans was serviceable, both trucks still on the road, one 7 months later one two or three years. And in a case like that you don't need to use a press to fix it.



If you have the access and desire to do your own Getrag, Standard Transmission advertises the rebuild kit with synchros for under $250. I can afford that every couple hundred thousand miles.



Get a hold of the '93 Dodge manual, read it, see if it scares you!



Andy