Transmission Leaking near shifter input

[Ncostello]

My truck has been sitting in my garage, under various forms of repair, since the first of the year. So I guess about 7 months. A long time yes. But I've been doing alot to it as time allows and once I get something done, I see something else I want to do.



Anyhow, I've been turning the engine over by hand for various reasons, including my valve adjustment. I'm wondering if I'm causing the transmission sump to overfill?



Reason is... where I once had no transmission leaks... I'm now getting leaks out of the driver side where the shifter shaft is. It looks like its leaking from the shifter shaft area and running down the side and all around the pan. So the pan has fluid dripping from the sides and bolt heads.



In looking closely... I also see some kind of plug of sorts by this area. Its like a threaded in plug... with an even smaller plug in it. Like a test port or something. It may be coming from that as well as its wet.



I'm thinking of draining the trans and changing the filter anyhow. At least that would stop my leak for the time being . Hopefully this will go away once I'm back on the road in 1 week.

 

[Philip]

... I also see some kind of plug of sorts by this area. Its like a threaded in plug... with an even smaller plug in it. Like a test port or something. It may be coming from that as well as its wet.

Thats the second gear band adjustment. Its in front of the shifter linkage about 4".



There is a seal where the linkage comes threw the tranmission case. There is also a seal where the Throttle valve linkage comes up threw the shift linkage.



If you drop the pan adjust the rear band also.

 

[Ncostello]

Well... I'll just drain for now and install a new filter, then refill when I'm up and running. I want to have a fab shop weld a bushing on my pan so I can have a drain plug.



As far as band adjustments... I'll probably have O'Neal Transmission (knowledgable on Cummins Rams, owner drives a W350) do that for me. I'm not afraid to do it... but don't even know where to begin. Maybe I need to get a service manual .



As far as the shaft seals... if I do need them, can they be installed from the outside and the trans in the truck? If I have to pull the transmission... its getting gone over completely.



Here goes another one of those unforseen projects that keep delaying my truck being on the road!!!

 

[cerberusiam]

As far as the shaft seals... if I do need them, can they be installed from the outside and the trans in the truck? If I have to pull the transmission... its getting gone over completely.

Its a pain but you can put the seal in with trans in the truck. You will have to drop the VB to do it but it is doable.

 

[Ncostello]

I think I'll get it up and running again first and see if it stops on its own. Doubtful... but I'll find out. Seems the band adjustment is fairly simple. 72 inch pounds then back the adj out 2. 5 turns front, 2 turns on the rear. Simple enough.



Thinking about welding on a fitting for trans temp. Is the side of the pan OK for this? Are temp readings in the pan OK?

 

[BarryG]

I just had a similar problem on my 01 so it may not be the same. On mine it was the seal where the shifter comes through the case. My transmission guy replaced it when he was doing my usual service. He did not have to drop the VB and was hoping he wouldnt have too and he didnt. He got it in. The pan was off due to the service. It took a special tool, well I should say he used a special tool for the task. He said the tool was for that specific seal and made it a whole lot easier than without. Took him about 1 minute to get it out and about 10 minutes to get it in. Apparently just not much room to work and very hard to see putting it in so he was doing it mostly by feel. So far no more leaky.

 

[cerberusiam]

Thinking about welding on a fitting for trans temp. Is the side of the pan OK for this? Are temp readings in the pan OK?

No, front cooler line is a better place. It will tell you what your max sustained temps are so you can gauge when to chnage the fluid or pull over.