Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Plastic in 6 spd

[ROGER/DODGER]

I was changing the oil in the transmission of my six spd. the other day, when I noticed,

that the funnel I was using, has a long rubber tube on it with a hard plastic insert on the end, It's about 1 1/2 long and 1/2 in dia. had come off and fell in the transmission! Du-uh! I pulled the PTO cover but I couldn't find it or feel it in a hour of fishing with a coat hanger.

I almost afraid to ask this but, does anybody out there have a opinion on how bad this could be or will it just eat this little bit of plastic and that will be the end of it.

Also, all I was able to get back into the transmission was 4 qt. of fluid before it was running out of the fill hole. I thought it took a little more than this ?

 

[csevers]

Definitely get it out of the trans It is only plastic but there is not much clearance between gears and that would be enough to bind things up but good. Try to get a mirror from parts store and look in through the pto cover and see what you can see.



Good luck!



Craig



I just changed mine a while ago and got 4 1/2 quarts in by jacking up the back of the truck. For better or worse.

 

[krs]

Roger,

It's best if you could get it out, but there's room at the bottom of the case for it to lie down out of harm's way if you don't. Under power the gears would grind it to bits if it were to get caught up but I think it's unlikely to do that. I know that I'd be unlikely to rest knowing the thing is in there, so... . The inside of the case follows the downward slope toward the front that you see from underneath. So maybe if you jack up the rear a little and turn the rear wheels by hand it would encourage the piece to go to the front bottom. A mechanical finger MIGHT be able to find it there through the PTO cover. Try to make slow sweeps from the opposite side of the cover you go into, I mean try to get behind the piece so you can maybe bring it toward you. Forget any idea of going in through the shifter or the tailshaft - you can't get close.



Good luck, it'll be messy.