Manual trans lean

[NewSavoy54]

Hello all. I’m new to the forum and also a new owner of a 54 savoy with a three speed manual. The trans had a pretty significant leak towards the front, so I purchased a reseal kit and just finished reassembly and reinstall. I took the extra time to clean everything and repaint as well. I added fresh fluid last night and this morning I checked it and it’s still leaking from what appears to be the same location. I even used rtv gasket maker on the front shaft seal. I obviously missed something and would appreciate any input any of you may have. Thanks!

[Ivan_B]

This might be a rather unintelligent question, but are you sure it's the transmission and not the engine or something else leaking?

If you are capable of taking out and re-doing the transmission, one would usually assume that you would've properly sealed all of the applicable junctions etc. You did not add the fluid while still on the bench, did you?

Where is it leaking from, specifically? Do you have a picture?

Edited March 15 by Ivan_B

[Dave72dt]

Obviously the trans has to come back out. It does not have to be reinstalled to check for leaks.  Level it up on a bench, fill to proper level and observe.  Overfilling will cause leaks as will seals installed backwards or damaged.

[Sam Buchanan]

See if this thread has any useful info:

 

https://p15-d24.com/topic/58630-major-leak-countershaft-3-speed/#comment-630905

[Ivan_B]

Oh, the good-old counter-shaft rod? Yes, that got to be sealed individually

[Sam Buchanan]

1 hour ago, Ivan_B said:

Oh, the good-old counter-shaft rod? Yes, that got to be sealed individually

 

The shaft isn't supposed to require any sealing, at original assembly it was a press fit into the case. But it seems that in my tranny 75 years of service has loosened that fit enough for oil to leak past the shaft. The "plug" I made with a penny has been working well so far. The leak was obvious when I had the transmission leveled on the bench and filled with oil.

Edited March 15 by Sam Buchanan

[Ivan_B]

The rod tip was probably brazed with soft metal for good seal, at the factory, but it ain't good anymore. Sealing that part up is pretty much the standard step during service, I think.

[Booger]

5 hours ago, Ivan_B said:

This might be a rather unintelligent question, but are you sure it's the transmission and not the engine or something else leaking?

If you are capable of taking out and re-doing the transmission, one would usually assume that you would've properly sealed all of the applicable junctions etc. You did not add the fluid while still on the bench, did you?

Where is it leaking from, specifically? Do you have a picture?

Good point Ivan. Rear main seal and tranny leak can be cornfusing. Leaks arent the worst thing. youll figger it out with the pinky test in tranny

[Sam Buchanan]

1 hour ago, Ivan_B said:

The rod tip was probably brazed with soft metal for good seal, at the factory, but it ain't good anymore. Sealing that part up is pretty much the standard step during service, I think.

 

No, it is a hardened steel shaft with a drive fit in the transmission case......when all the components are fresh.

Edited March 16 by Sam Buchanan

[FarmerJon]

What seals did you replace? The "complete seal kit" I bought was missing many of the smaller seals. 

Did you use thread sealant on the bolts that are open to the inside?

Did your bearing retainer have the cast in drain onder the threads? If not, did you check that the "threads"of it ended at the low point?

 

As far as the countershaft, neither trans I have torn down had anything noticeable added to the shaft end to aid in sealing it. From the looks of it, both had been leaking from that area for some time.

Now one interesting thing I found was that the '47 trans had lead or some sort of babbitt lightly dipped onto on the pads of the shift fork.

If you did something similar to the tip of the shaft it might seal better. May also be a good way to get small bits of metal floating around your oil....

[Ivan_B]

11 minutes ago, FarmerJon said:

f you did something similar to the tip of the shaft it might seal better.

A little sealant should do it

[Loren]

I just finished putting my Overdrive back together. So this is fresh in my mind.

1) The Best Gasket Company gasket sets do not include the seal washers for the bolts on the main shaft bearing retainer ( where the throw out bearing is mounted )

2) That same part sometimes requires more than one gasket to seal. ( because of variations in the bearings )

3) There’s plug that fits in the end of the 2nd & high shift shaft. ( but not the first & reverse and I can’t tell you why )

4) The counter shaft could be a source of leakage. I used some low strength Locktite for pre-assembled parts on it, then a dab of Permatex Right Stuff gasket sealer. ( the idea of using a penny as a plug is one I will investigate before installation )

5) There’s gasket between the bell housing and the transmission.

So there’s some ideas as a source of leaks.

[NewSavoy54]

Yeah, my leak was coming from the counter shaft bore. I cleaned it well and sealed with rtv. No more leak. Thanks guys. 

[48jumpdoors]

On 3/15/2024 at 7:56 PM, Loren said:

I just finished putting my Overdrive back together. So this is fresh in my mind.

1) The Best Gasket Company gasket sets do not include the seal washers for the bolts on the main shaft bearing retainer ( where the throw out bearing is mounted )

2) That same part sometimes requires more than one gasket to seal. ( because of variations in the bearings )

3) There’s plug that fits in the end of the 2nd & high shift shaft. ( but not the first & reverse and I can’t tell you why )

4) The counter shaft could be a source of leakage. I used some low strength Locktite for pre-assembled parts on it, then a dab of Permatex Right Stuff gasket sealer. ( the idea of using a penny as a plug is one I will investigate before installation )

5) There’s gasket between the bell housing and the transmission.

So there’s some ideas as a source of leaks.

So I am trying to find out if anyone knows if the rear seal on the O/D trans and standard  three speed trans are  the same seal? I have a 48 Plymouth that an O/D was installed in, I have no idea what year the O/D is or if that matters, I know that the same drive shaft was used when the swap was made from standard three speed to O/D. I know that there is a difference in seals if you have a vehicle with the fluid drive per Andy's 

[48jumpdoors]

5 minutes ago, 48jumpdoors said:

So I am trying to find out if anyone knows if the rear seal on the O/D trans and standard  three speed trans are  the same seal? I have a 48 Plymouth that an O/D was installed in, I have no idea what year the O/D is or if that matters, I know that the same drive shaft was used when the swap was made from standard three speed to O/D. I know that there is a difference in seals if you have a vehicle with the fluid drive per Andy's 

Andy's show two different seals a T115 and a T115A and but does not stipulate between standard and overdrive but does stipulate for vehicles with powerflite trans.

[Sniper]

powerflite is a two speed automatic

 

[Loren]

The gasket set and the seal work for OD and STD transmission.

That is one of the beauties of the R10 G1 Overdrive.

[48jumpdoors]

1 hour ago, Sniper said:

powerflite is a two speed automatic

 

right on that Sniper, I thought that they have a manual/fluid drive? but didn't know what it was, anyways I found the seal on ebay and low and behold they say it fits both O/D and standard. Thanks guys