Trans Question

[mountainkowboy]

Never really messed with a trans so I need some info. It appears that the trans I got has a leaky gasket. I've changed the one on the nose cone before, but what about the next one forward of that one. Can you pull that section of case off and replace the gasket and just put it back together? The piece I'm talking about is #20 in the diagram, the gear carrier.

[Marc]

In order to remove the intermediate housing (#20) you need to remove the differential, take off the pinion nut (special tool, 160 lb-ft) and pull out the gears/shafts along with it...not exactly shade-tree level stuff.
You can, however, separate the housing far enough to add sealant - assuming you drain the fluid and can remove all traces of it from the gasket without tearing it up.
If the leak is bad enough that you can't just live with it, I suggest separating the housing by a minimal amount, just enough to verify that the gasket is intact and thread a length of waxed dental floss around the outside of the studs (ends crossed at the top of the trans) to "O-ring" it before you snug it back down. This can even be done without draining the fluid if you stand the trans up on the bellhousing end for a while first and don't mind a bit of a mess. The risk involved is in tearing the gasket up, so if the leak is minor you're probably better off doing nothing more than checking that the nuts are tight (spec is 14 lb-ft but they'll take 18 OK).

Make sure that the vent hole in the nosecone is clear.

[mountainkowboy]

Thanks Marc, that's what I thought. It looks like its been leaking, or weeping for awhile. I guess I'll see whats going on after I clean it up.