Tranny Troubles --fixed!

[neal c.]

My car has about 150 K miles on it and shifting was rough. Grinding into first and a scary loud noise when shifting down fast into second.
I tried local sources to take a look at the tranny but all I got was: "Thanks, but no, we are not interrested. We could send your tranny away to have it fixed if you leave your check book as deposit".
So, I bought a bad tranny on ebay some time ago to practise with, printed out the PP tech article and made myself comfortable with the idea that I have to deal with it myself. Bought beer.
Took the practise tranny apart and learned some valuable lessons (don't let the shafts drop on the floor and all the gears fly all over the place). Saved the good synchro rings from 4th and 5th gear.
Next I drove the car on ramps and took the tranny apart and got more beer. Diagnosis: Bad main pinion bearing, bad syncro rings on first and second. I did not disassemble the main shaft with the fourth and fifth gear assembly at all.
Ordered new bearing and gasket kit from PP and bought more beer.
Yesterday I tried to assemble the pinion shaft and the gears. No luck, gave up and took a break before breaking something with the big hammer.
Today I got the thing assembled, installed and working. I mean, really working good. Drove around for a while and enjoyed the snappy shifting, no grinding noise easing into first while rolling to a stop and shifting down into second without noise.
Anybody out there in the same boat as me: This is not an overly complicated job. Put it together as you took it apart. A heavy mallet is an essential tool for this job. I spent more time cleaning parts than anything else.
At this point I want to thank PP for their fast shipment of needed parts, the Alaskan Brewing Company and AC/DC for the inspirational music.

Neal

[red-beard]

Did you read this:

http://home.san.rr.com/pb914/rebuild/

James

[Scooter311]

Hey Neal
Waytago - before you fixed it, could you shift carefully and not get any grinding? Mine does the same thing yours did, but if I am careful, I have no trouble and it shifts nice. But if I'm not paying attention, then GRRRRRRUNK.
Anyway, what parts did you buy, and how much did it cost total?
I might tackle it in the winter
Cheers!
Jeff

[M. Hendrix]

For those about to rock!



Now you can do constant burnouts, and it'll only cost some beer.


M

[sammyg2]

Way to go. It feels great when you put it all back together and it actually works the way it's supposed to.
BTDT, but I'm amazed that you did it with the tranny case still in the car.

Obviously it can be done that way but 12 more bolts and a couple cables that thing is sitting on the bench.

I was a little intimidated the first time I took apart a 901 but they are surprizingly simple to work on, providing you can get the sincro snap rings off without braking a finger

[1bad914]

There seems to be a common theme to your maintenance practices...buy more beer! I subscribe to the same technique! Good job, you have inspired me, mine is doing the same thing, so it looks like I'll be tearing into it in the near future!

Randy

[914GT]

Is a particular brand of beer recommended before attempting this task?

[neal c.]

http://home.san.rr.com/pb914/rebuild/

That very helpful article was my main guide.
Since there was nothing wrong with 4th and 5th gear I left the main gear stack assembled, the shift rods in place and the 2nd and 3rd fork attached. No need for the fork alignment tool.
I assembled the pinion gear stack by placing the gears and spacers on top of the newly installed bearing and slid the shaft through the gears. That was fun, NOT!
I pried the snap rings of the gears by getting one end over the lip with needle nose pliers and then working the ring with a small flat screw driver.
Total cost :
practise tranny delivered to my house: 130
pinion bearing: 165
gasket kit: 50
2 syncro rings: free with donor tranny
3 cases Alaskan Amber: 45

I was able to shift very slooooowly into second without grinding before but first gear was almost impossible. It's hard to look cool at the stoplight with all that noise ...



I could have lived with the tranny as it was for shifting, but I am sure the bad main bearing would have put an end to driving sooner than later. The donor tranny had a frozen bearing.

Leaving the tranny in the car was an advantage for me.
Something solid to push against.

Whadda mean,[img]there is a common thread to my repair work?http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat6.gif[/img]

[maf 914]

Congradulation on a successful fix. Your explanation and those of James (Red-Beard) are giving me a little bit of confidence that a home overhaul is possible. But, only a little bit!

Mike

[red-beard]

I'm planning on turning that "Article" into a book. I guess I'm losing customers.....

James

[M. Hendrix]

Mike, I am going to do one for a 6 coming up, maybe we can get together.. since I don't drink, there would be extra beer.




Miles