Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Looking for Mitchell Gear Splitter Info

[JacobsonD]

Hi,



I'm new to the TDR, and I've been searching for information on the Mitchell Gear Splitter. I haven't found any threads on the topic, but I may not be the best at searching the forum, either.



I recently bought my '98 12V. The previous owner took great care of it and I received his maintenance records. Early on he installed a Mitchell Gear Splitter, and in the course of the years he owned the vehicle he would remove and later re-install the Mitchell, but his MX records don't indicate why he did this. I have the original drive shafts so if needed I can also remove the Mitchell and keep running.



I've tried locating info online about this under drive unit, but I've come up empty other than getting the impression from another truck forum that the Mitchell is basically bullet proof.



In a few days, we leave on a summer-long trip towing our 25' Airstream trailer, and last week I was doing some routine MX including changing the oil on the Mitchell. When I pulled the drain plug I noticed a goo on the plug but I did not find any metal. The gooing substance felt like teflon tape. Concurrent with this is the fact that lately it seems harder to shift this under-drive. However, since I've only owned the vehicle for a 1 1/2 months, I don't have a lot of past experience to know how the Mitchell should shift.



Does anyone have a Mitchell under drive? Does anyone have tips on how to shift it? Any ideas on what this goo could be? Is there some sort of clutch plate in this unit that let out or is about to let out?



Thanks!

 

[FDavid]

Don't know if they are still in business or not, but here is there info to get a hold of them directly.

Mitchell Manufacturing P. O. Box 236 Healdsburg, CA 95448 1-800-859-2088

 

[JacobsonD]

Thanks for the phone number. I gave them a call, and the lady I spoke to was helpful. She is mailing me all of the literature they have for my unit (it's a 3500D). She also said that they haven't built these for 15 years, but that they do still have a few parts available.