Oh noooo - tranmission!!

[slowmo]

Well that says it all. Released clutch at stop light and great big grinding klunk and nothing. The shift lever moves somewhat easier into all positions but no go. Shifted transfer case to low...no go. Back to high...no go.

Other ideas? What am I in for? Crapola.
David

[Les Parker]

Could be a broken 1/2 shaft. Do you have locking front hubs? If so, lock into 4X4 and see if moving into low box gets you mobile.

[cedryck]

Good advice, Les, we have all been there,
pull away, BANG, and no drive, could be half shaft,,,

[slowmo]

I hope you guys are right. I'll test it when I get home. I'll have to read the green bible and see what my next couple of weeks will be like.

[o2batsea]

Classic broken axle symptoms.

[ignotus]

Quick way to check if it is the rear axle half shaft, put it in gear (2 wheel drive) look under or down the center seat base and see if the rear prop shaft is turning. If it is you can do as described above^^^^ 4x4 and drive home. Don't drive lots with it as the diff could get damaged with the chunks floating inside.

[slowmo]

Well. I don't think it is an axle. While running the gear shift lever can be moved into any gear without depressing the clutch. That would indicate to me that either the transmission gears are not turning or the something is up with the shifting prongs? Based on the noise during the failure event (substantial) I hate to have to lean towards something major.

Oh. And I got Homer...home. The name seems quite appropriate.

[Les Parker]

When the clutch is depressed, is there any resistance? It has been known for the center of the clutch plate to "let go", thus no drive through the gearbox. Trying to be optimistic and hopefully not a massive transmission failure.
Next step would be to drain the main gearbox and transfer box and see if there any big bits of internal material in the oil or when you check the internals so see if there is any debris. Some pix if you find any material would be helpful to identifying the errant part(s).

[o2batsea]

Layshaft? What suffix is the gearbox? Finding a good used one shouldn't be too difficult or expensive. What hurts is getting the thing installed.

[slowmo]

Thanks guys. The clutch has noticeably less resistance so I will hold that as a dimly hopeful sign. I'll drain the cases through a sieve.

If I get no metal chunks I will proceed as if it is a clutch issue. Broken clutch = no spinning gears. Reasonable hypothesis!

Lining up pessimistic alternatives, if I get chunks or the clutch checks out, I'll get some Series Rover transmission experience. Whoopie. I will provide pics and whatever serial numbers I can find.

Asking a silly question (having no real information to the extent of damage and assuming pessimistic findings) what have others experiences? Options if the tranny is done?

[slowmo]

I drained the transfer case and there were a lot of what appear to be small brass flakes. This was not evident the last time I drained the transfer case (1-1/2 months ago). So the transfer case is making metal.

The transmission spit out one small gear piece 3/16" or so. The oil was clear in comparison to the transfer case.

So I cleared everything out and will rent a hoist sometime this week and begin the tear down process. I forgot to look at the gear box suffix so I'll post that later.

[Hectorious]

Have faith. I just replaced a sheared lay shaft, and sure, it was a bit of a PITA, it wasn't nearly ad difficult as I thought it would be. It requires a full transmission pull, but I was able to drop it out the bottom onto my creeper and wheel it out, then got my son to help lift it to the bench. I even had no pieces left over after the transmission was reinstalled! Follow the big Green Bible and you'll do just fine. I celebrated with a drive in the country just this weekend, and wouldn't you know it, I snapped a half shaft. If you got no motion in 4x4, that ain't what you got (but I think you know that already).

Here's hoping it's the clutch, but don't dread too much if its your trany.

Chris

[slowmo]

Transmission is out and teardown begun. Haven't measured anything yet but observations.

1. The last turkey who overhauled the tranny did not use any (yes...as in ANY) gaskets. He mushed on a ton of gasket sealer and thought that would do the trick. Why the tranny leaked so profusely is no longer a mystery.
2. He did not understand how to seat studs. Removal of each and every bolt resulted in the stud backing out as well.
3. The brass flakes in the transfer box came from the thrust washers of the intermediate shaft. Will need a new intermediate shaft.
4. The gear pieces are off of the layshaft. Will need a new layshaft.
5. The end of the mainshaft which has a roller bearing in the power take off end was damaged by the fact the roller bearing disintegrated. There is any obvious reduction in cross-sectional area. Will need a new mainshaft if I intend to use the power take off or install a Roverdrive later down the road, so yes...new mainshaft.
6. Almost forgot. In removing the front drive shaft, there were two loose bolts at each end. Very loose. Not 4 bolts. Two. That is not something one initially thinks of checking, but I have only had the truck since December. I know the previous owner didn't do a damn thing in terms of even keeping oil in it for 8 years, and whoever did the past work was a ...

David

[slowmo]

At least it is cleaning up nice.

[jac04]

2. He did not understand how to seat studs. Removal of each and every bolt resulted in the stud backing out as well.

I've been into a few gearboxes, and the studs backing out when trying to remove a nut is quite common.

I once owned a 69 IIA that had 380k on the original transmission. I did both the mainshaft and layshaft on it (at different times of course!). Then the axles popped, then the rear diff failed, then I sold it. I loved that vehicle.