Need comfort on getrag????

[JBrookshire]

OK Went to put a clutch in the truck this past monday. When I got the trans out I had alot of free play in the imput shaft. So I took the top cover off and I could move the hole shaft 1/8 inch or more. I had the trans rebuilt a year ago with all new top shaft and every thing on it (2000$) Eney ways Come to find out the bearing behind the imput shaft wore into the race made in the iback of the imput shaft. I got on here today before I put it in and did a search on GETRAG. 4 pages of reading and looks like every one is putting 1 1/2 quarts extra in them. So I did with 5-30 moble 1 syth. The trans shop sad it was lack of lubercation. The transmission only had about 12-15,000 miles on it. So how is every body else luck with the extra lube in it?? Just dont want to pull it out for the 4th time. Thanks for eney advice and i love this site It has saved me alot of hassel and gave me alot of info, and the south bend con o so far is doing good sorry so long but i gotta get it out Justin

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Justin, there is only one fix for a getrag, get a NV4500. Yea I know its not cheap(around $2200 w/kit) but how often do you want to pull your transmission ? Also your cab noise will be less and the NV4500 shifts MUCH better.

Kyle

 

[JFitzgerald]

Justin, the Getrag in mine is working fine at 131K. I changed oil in it a few months back with Mobil1, and added the extra quart. It seems smoother, shifts better ever since. I tow 12K lbs. fairly frequently, and so far, so good. I hope to get much more life out of mine by changing the oil frequently and adding that extra quart. A guy I know lost his because of low oil (lower than the normal level). Fast coolers would seem like a good idea, but my opinion is they're priced too high for what they are.



Let's hear from some others who are still running the Getrag without failure.



John

 

[CAROLINA CUMMINS]

Going strong at 196,500!!!

Howdy,







My getrag is stock for all I know and is original, but I need to check and change the oil, exactly what kind (oil) do i need?







Good Luck Steve

 

[Lil' Dog]

I sold my 89 with 250,000 miles on the Getrag. All I ever did was add that extra quart. . Sure saved that bearing. .



My 93 howls a little, this one might not make it that far... LOL. .



J-eh

 

[JFitzgerald]

Re: Going strong at 196,500!!!

Originally posted by CAROLINA CUMMINS

Howdy,







My getrag is stock for all I know and is original, but I need to check and change the oil, exactly what kind (oil) do i need?







Good Luck Steve

Steve, the manual recommends 5W30 synthetic oil.

 

[JBrookshire]

so far so good

It has been two days with this clutch and more fluid in there, I can tell it is alot quiter and dont growl as mutch just alittle at low rpm's. I think this is the trick besides the nv4500,5600 And when is this clutch broke in??? There is a pull at my local fair this wed and I would like to pull. I may have 100-150 miles on it by then. What do ya think Well thanks, Justin

 

[rwinslow]

272,000 miles on my Getrag. Never pulled it down yet. Change oil in the transmission every other engine oil change. For cold winter months used Mobil 1 5W-30. For summer months I have recently started using Chevron Delo Gear Oil which is a 80 - 90 Gear Oil without any sulfur EP additives (Boron is the EP Additive). I overfill by a quart and always let the transmission spin in neutral for 20 seconds on initial start up to ensure lubrication to the input shaft bearing.

 

[bflood]

Put a temp gauge on the transmission!! Cheap insurance!!



I cooked my GETRAG last fall while still over 1000miles from home. I had to get it replaced with a rebuilt GETRAG, from a Dodge dealer. The whole story is too long and too painful to tell today but one day soon I will post it, when the ordeal is finally over. Let me just say for now the only thing worse than the GETRAG is some of the business people one gets stuck with!! I'm right in the middle of upgrading to an NV4500 because of some of these people. Also, beware that all upgrade "kits" are not the same. I hear the most favorable stories about Quad 4x4 kits.



But, back on track, I finally overfilled the GETRAG and the temp gauge did not go over 150 degrees F during some 100 hilly miles of heavy towing. I believe overfilling, with the 5W-30 synthetic, can prevent a predictable GETRAG failure.



With what I've learned about the GETRAG though, I wouldn't waste my money rebuilding it. My local transmission rebuilding expert (truly one of the best, and a good friend to boot) just refused to rebuild one and said he wouldn't rebuild mine either if I asked him to. He says upgrading to the NV4500 is the only sensible alternative. Enough said.



Good Luck.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

bflood,

Glad you remember that, WHATEVER trans you have, auto or manual, GET a Trans Temp gauge. Remember, heat KILLS.

Kyle

 

[rwinslow]

Ditto on the transmission temperature gauge. One of the fast coolers has a temperature port or you could possibly mount in the PTO cover itself. I suspect that the life of this transmission is dependent upon driving habits, service history, lube life, and luck! My transmission re-builder in the west does not have a lot of good comments about the NV 4500, either, (however QUAD 4x4 does seem to have the best product and install) so go with the best advice you can find, consider all of the alternatives, do the $ analysis and GOOD LUCK!

 

[McGivern]

overfill

This may be a dumb question, but does anyone have a good trick on how to add the extra quart of oil?



I am going to change my trans oil this week and want to put in the extra quart.



Mark

 

[bflood]

overfill

This is from my postings on the subject earlier this year (https://www.turbodieselregister.com...94&perpage=15&highlight=overfill&pagenumber=2)



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.



Warning!!! My standpipe had a failure. The brass material is not strong enough (in particular the horizontal close nipple coming out of the transmission)! Last weekend I was changing transmission oil and found the close nipple coming out of the transmission was broke, leaking, and almost ready to fall off!! I was lucky to find it when I did.



I replaced the close nipple with a galvenized steel close nipple for strength. If I were to do this over, I'd use all steel fittings.

--------------------------------------------------



Don't forget the transmission temperature gauge!! A 3" verticle nipple is probably long enough. Also I used a standard female endcap.

I can't remember where I purchased the hand pump but it was probably either from a discount store or autoparts store.



Hope this helps.

 

[JFitzgerald]

Re: overfill

Originally posted by McGivern

This may be a dumb question, but does anyone have a good trick on how to add the extra quart of oil?



I am going to change my trans oil this week and want to put in the extra quart.



Mark

The way I overfilled was to take out the shifter. I left the fill plug out of the side, filled 'til oil came out the fill hole, then put the plug back in and added one more quart through the shifter hole. Not too bad a job to pull the shifter, you'll need snap ring pliers.

 

[McGivern]

overfill

Two great ideas!



Thanks to both of you. I think I may initially fill through the shifter, and then if I like the results add the fittings. I've had the shifter out when I rebuilt the Getrag. and it is pretty simple.



Mark

 

[Tim1]

overfill

What i did to add a quart to the getrag was to park the truck on a severe sidehill with passenger side up and used a steel nipple to come out of the transmission and a brass street ell with a cap and with a small plunger pump 4. 95 at auto parts store, was a easy task. 120,000 on the unit and it makes a little noise, but not bad. Have a nv4500 standing by just in case. But if it ain't broke, don't mess with it. I don't tow in 5th as I don't tow much. I agree that the fast coolers are a bit overpriced, but a good product. What do you guys think of the filter accessory for the pto cover? Tim

 

[AlK]

I also added an extra quart by removing the stick. Next time I will change the plumbing. transmission seems a little quieter. A six speed sure would be nice - maybe one day.

---

Al

 

[Dale Reed]

BBC Dodge in Burien replaced my Getrag with a rebuild 100,000 miles and 10 years ago. I use regular engine oil, do not overfill. The transmission shifts fine and is quieter than the engine.



The original transmission was replaced because it was slipping out of low when creeping(engine being used as a brake) down steep, rough mountain roads. The truck is a playtoy for going to the dump and adventuring, with *no* heavy loads, campers, trailers, boats...



Transmission is a lot more fun to shift than the worn out five-speed in my 92 Honda Acura Vigor with 180,000 miles on it.

 

[JFitzgerald]

Trans Filter

Like Tim1, I'd like to know if anyone has used Geno's filter and what they thought of it. I am curious about how it works since there is no oil pump in the manual trans.

 

[McGivern]

filter

I have the Geno filter on my truck. I changed the oil last night. I run Dyson Supsershift synthetic ATF and have since the trans was new. (164K now). When I change the oil last night I could see the filter was a bit dirty, so it must be doing something. The oil was still bright red and fairly clear. There were 34K miles on the oil. One trick is that after you change, you need to drive around the block and top it off after the filter soaks- I added about 8 more ounces. Then I parked on a steep drive and got in about 2/3 of a quart more. I think the extra oil helps it shift smoother, and I think the filter is doing some good.



Mark