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Tranny has metal crunchies in oil

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K

KAllen

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Well I am gonna have to yank the tranny. Just drained the oil after experiencing hard shifts and grinding - found flakes and pieces of metal the size of pencil lead. A couple of months ago I put in a new clutch because it would not engage (the old clutch really was not that worn) (should have been a sign!) - and all the hydraulics - lines etc. installed by me - I have done many clutches on gm and fords - so I don't think I goofed that up. Travel on throw appears to be 1" approx. - I am going to check on play of crank main thrust bearings first (based on numerous web search reads) once wife gets home to help. Question - anyone do a rebuild themselves? I looked at Quantum mechanics page and they sell a kit that looks nice and complete and comment that the thrust washers can be a problem - so if you have done this yourself please comment - I have most of the tools to pull gears and can weld up whatever to help - I have the greasy hands garage guide to fall back on as well.
 
KAllen said:
Question - anyone do a rebuild themselves?
Click to expand...
I've done a few, with mixed results. Guess I really should have replaced that mainshaft instead of trying to reuse it by grinding away the damaged portion /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Some good articles at
https://www.vtr.org/maintain-index.shtml
(scroll down to the gearbox section)
 
If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, there is a guy in FL that sells rebuilt O/D transmissions for TR6's on ebay about every other month.

I don't know if there are any listed at this time, but his work looks very professional in the pictures that he posts.

Perhaps you can seek him out if you don't want to do your own.
 
Hi Paul

I have seen his posts - better price than the Quantum Mechanics rebuilds - but I cannot yet justify the $. I do believe Orange Beach is in the panhandle of Florida - about 350 - 400 miles north of me. It is a tough decision to try and do it myself. Especially since this is the first time, but since this will be just the second time for RR the tranny - I am inclined to go for it. I may change my mind once I get it out and remove the shifter etc.
 
You can always call him and ask for a price to rebuild yours out of the car, then drop it off or ship it to him.

I wasn't suggesting the purchase of the O/D as much as his rebuilding services in the event that you didn't want to do it yourself.
 
Can someone put a link to Quantum Mechanics here. I tried to Google it but had no luck.

Thanks, Tinkerman
 
I rebuilt my TR6 gearbox myself, this was the second one I did (the first a TR4). The problem with doing it yourself is if there are more problems then what the kits provide, it gets expensive real fast. Once torn down, I found the counter shaft unusable. Doing it myself cost me about $700 but it would have been more had I not had access to parts from another box.

While most of the repair work is straight forward, there a a couple of gotchas like the circlip on the mainshaft, and even just getting it apart is a challenge. You will also need to fabricate some special tools, get a micrometer, and a good set of feeler gages.

Read Bentley then decide what to do. But IMO not a job for the casual mecahnic.
 
I rebuilt my original 4-speed tranny and added an already rebuilt laycock (volvo) overdrive in the process. It seems overwhelming at first but you just need to read your resources and concentrate on what you are doing. The whole process was very fulfilling and I now know the unit inside & out.
 
Thanks Don!

Tinkerman
 
Glad to hear a few positives on DIY, I do have several micrometers, feelers and lots of gear tools and from the print shop I used to own. So I am certain I have the tools - but as you mentioned Ray - may be more surprises inside - so I am gonna take it apart and see - then get parts. Trying to plan ahead for the redos on this car has taught me to wait to order parts until I KNOW (or mostly know) what I need.
 
KAllen said:
So I am certain I have the tools
Click to expand...
Micrometers and such are not what I consider 'special' tools.
 
FYI - Orange Beach is actually on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, right on the Alabama/Florida state line.
 
KAllen said:
this pdf series is well done and helpful with tool substitutes.
Click to expand...
Yes it is. You may notice above where I provided a link to all the articles that Sam & Larry (no relation, AFAIK) wrote on the subject.

Just one of the points I disagree with them on : IMO you do need to protect the seal in the front cover when sliding it over the splined input shaft. You might get away without any damage to the seal, but it's my belief that it frequently does just enough damage to shorten the seal's life without actually making it leak right away. A few turns of vinyl (electrical) tape & some grease is all it takes to simulate the factory tool.

Randall Young
 
TR6oldtimer said:
there a a couple of gotchas like the circlip on the mainshaft, and even just getting it apart is a challenge.
Click to expand...
For myself, I now always buy 4 of those dang circlips. Not sure if it's safe to reuse them if you have the factory removal & installation tools (book says to use a new one), but IMO it's definitely not safe to install one that has been removed with the "3 screwdrivers" method. I did that, once, and it slipped out in less than 20K miles.
 
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