is there any place in partictular that a 5spd dual range transmission leaks? common? not common? has anyone else had this problem? its leaking pretty bad. just installed it too

could it possiably be the rear output? is there a seal in there?

Check the bearing retainer seals. I've had to replace several for customers on both autos and manuals. I have seen them lose as much as a quart a week. If that is the problem remember to replace the o-ring on the outside of the retainer ( usually the problem anyway )

Check the bearing retainer seals. I've had to replace several for customers on both autos and manuals. I have seen them lose as much as a quart a week. If that is the problem remember to replace the o-ring on the outside of the retainer ( usually the problem anyway )

 

That wasn't his problem, it was the rear output seal....

 

But you should NEVER remove the side bearing retainer rings. They adjust the gear loading on the front diff, and if not set correctly can cause the front diff to eat itself. Although if you *have* to do it, then I guess mark where it was, check it's torque and put it back the way you found it. Still not a good idea unless you have the proper tool to set the side gear torque load.

 

GD

yep, rear output shafts leak frequently with trans work. pulling the driveshaft out can ruin the seal or just sitting and getting old.

 

it's a good idea to check the driveshaft that slides into the trans. if it's rusted at all from sitting outside during the work, the roughness of the rust can eat away any new seal and leak.

Yeah - this one was just old apparently. It looked ok, but he said the new seal had a lot more "suction" when he slid the driveshaft in. No rust or anything - the driveshafts were done before all the wet weather started around here. New seal was like $7

 

GD

wasnt the output seal. does anyone have any other ideas? its loosing QUARTS at a time but about 1 1/2 quarts do not leak out. all fluid but that leaks out almost instantly. i cant see where its coming from but i know its near the rear somewhere around the output of the transmission and only really leaks when i drive

could be the gasket between the transmission and the t-case, the t-case being the back 6 inches of your tranny. maybe its got a hole in it, or the drain plug is loose/gone?

why do you say "it wasn't the rear output seal"? did you look at it, replace it, was it leaking at all from there? was it leaking in front of that?

really need a picture or to know where it's coming from. can you absolutely, for sure, rule out the rear extension housing from leaking - where the driveshaft slides in?

I was not suggesting that he do it himself but have a competent shop do it IF that is the problem. Our shop has done about 20 in the past 2 years with NO come backs or leakage. Also you are correct about setting preload.

why do you say "it wasn't the rear output seal"?

 

We replaced it. I'm thinking it may be some of the seals around the shift rods.... weather has been nasty here so it's hard to tell.

 

GD

thanks for the advice everyone, i am replacing the shift rod seals today and praying thats my problem. im spending more on trans fluid than gas to get around

problem solved! it was missing a DR LO switch, turns out before they put the LO light switch in the consloe there was one on the transmission itself. must be an 85 thing. there wasnt even casting for the single range lever. so now its holding fluid and shifting smoothly.

Yeah - it was definately different than my other D/R I had to look at, and also different from the single range we pulled out. The extension housing is actually a different casting with a switch on the side in a similar location to where the pushbutton cable lever is on the other tranny's I have. I'm guessing they originally put the low range switch on the tranny itself, and then later when the push-button came out they changed the houseing and just put the low range switch on the shift lever instead to facilitate only using one casting for both trannies....

 

For whatever reason, this tranny was missing that switch, and we didn't notice it till it started losing fluid.

 

GD