how heavy is tranny?

e_nough · 02-08-2001, 03:27 PM

how do you lower the tranny out of the car? i have a jack of course but im sure it will fall over off of the jack with its little cicle lifiting pad. i could make a rack of somesort that holds the tranny from falling over, but has anyone done this?

and for that matter how do you get one of these in your trunk to take home from the dude you are buying it from? engine lift?

thanks

scoober78 · 02-08-2001, 03:35 PM

I know that they make a beast called a transmision rack/lift. I am millitary and our base garage/ hobby shop has one for us to use. Not sure where you can get one to use though. I look around and see if they are rentable or cheap...

Erik

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Go the distance....

AMCPorsche924Powerhaus! · 02-08-2001, 03:35 PM

you can get two jacks (they are like 20 bucks each for a two ton jack these days) and support the tranny with a big peice of flat wood I think. I have done a front tranny this way lowering it on to one jack with a lat peice of wood (watch that the would isn't too tipsy on the tiny jack though!) but I am sure two jacks would work supporting the wood at each side if you really have trouble of it being tipsy.

nigel · 02-08-2001, 03:54 PM

I always remove a gearbox (I'm English) like this:- Unbolt everything except for two bellhousing bolts. Lay on your back with your knees together under the rear of the Gearbox, and your chest under the bellhousing. Push your knees up under the tail end of the box, to keep it in place while you undo the two bellhousing bolts, (you may also want to leave the mounting to body bolts on a couple of threads). Pull the Gearbox rearward and supporting it with your arms, lower it down onto your chest, whilst straightening your legs. You can now roll the box off your body to the side. You might also want to use an old coat or something to protect your chest. I know this sounds dumb, but try it, you'll be surprised how easy it is. The Gearbox isn't all that heavy, I'm only an average 200lbs, and I can lift the box up to my waist easily.

AMCPorsche924Powerhaus! · 02-08-2001, 03:56 PM

Could also put some hockey pads on with that coat just in case

e_nough · 02-08-2001, 04:58 PM

i usually use a similar method whenever i need to put my car on jackstands. i just shimmy under the car with my head turned to one side so my head fits, and then once im under the car i just turn my head straight ahead and my nose comes in contact with the jacking point and lifts the car. i hold up the rear of my car with my pinky toe if i need to get all four wheels off the ground, and i can usually just rotate all four tires while im under the car if just reach around to the lug nuts and torque them off with my thumb and index finger. After a couple of times doing things this way you can torque the lug nuts back on to the correct torque just using your fingers, but I usually torque them down with my free pinky toe just for the extra challenge.

nigel, what the heck?

how much does the gear box REALLY weigh? im just "takin' the piss outta ya", but im surprised the gear box doesn't crush you.

wolfrpi · 02-08-2001, 05:03 PM

The box is heavy....place a good quality jack underneath when you remove it from the rear of the car. I've lifted mine after removing them, but they are heavy...Guessing here...150lbs.

Erick

wolfrpi · 02-08-2001, 05:03 PM

The box is heavy....place a good quality jack underneath when you remove it from the rear of the car. I've lifted mine after removing them, but they are heavy...Guessing here...150lbs.

Erick

AMCPorsche924Powerhaus! · 02-08-2001, 05:08 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by e_nough:
[B]i usually use a similar method whenever i need to put my car on jackstands. i just shimmy under the car with my head turned to one side so my head fits, and then once im under the car i just turn my head straight ahead and my nose comes in contact with the jacking point and lifts the car. i hold up the rear of my car with my pinky toe if i need to get all four wheels off the ground, and i can usually just rotate all four tires while im under the car if just reach around to the lug nuts and torque them off with my thumb and index finger. After a couple of times doing things this way you can torque the lug nuts back on to the correct torque just using your fingers, but I usually torque them down with my free pinky toe just for the extra challenge.

AHA HA HA AH HA AHAHAH AAHAHAHA AAAH ha
Just for the extra challenge, I can't believe that, I use my pinky all the time its not a challenge what are you talking about.

lm6y · 02-08-2001, 06:26 PM

When we did my clutch, we just used a floor jack, and one of my buddies held it in place while we lowered it. It's not really that heavy, I picked mine up and carried it about 20ft so I could clean it off with engine degreaser. I don't have the strength of a gorilla, but it wasn't that bad. I wouldn't want to do it all day though.

cyclemike · 02-08-2001, 06:39 PM

e_nough, Most equipment rental places rent transmission jacks for around $10-15 per day. They are extremely easy to use and quite adequate. I used one to remove the trans. from my brothers fiancee's Ford Explorer. I did the job by myself so the jack was mandatory. It made the job simple for me and I'm a whopping 145lbs soaking wet. This is definitely the way to go. Check your yellow pages for a rental place. It's worth the $12 if you're doing the job by yourself.

Mike

vas defrens · 02-08-2001, 07:55 PM

I agree..I have done a few tranny's and tried to get away cheap......all it got me was more agravation...rent the tranny jack....it's worth the peace of mind and prevents hairloss from losing your temper under the car......

e_nough · 02-08-2001, 08:00 PM

thanks guys, im still doing pinky toe bench presses to get ready for the repair, but i guess i can cancel my training program and go for the rental thing.

$10 is worth it.

Also, i emailed a guy who is selling one and he weighed his for shipping purposes. It weighs 125lbs.

thanks!

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

125lbs, that's it? Sure did feel heavier to me when I took mine out.

You know what, bet you that was a non-LSD transaxle! I'm guessing it also didn't have any fluid in it.

My transaxle from a late model NA, with LSD and fluid seemed damn close to 180lbs or so. (I can bench 217, but couldn't really carry the thing much farther than say 20 ft at a time!).

You can definately load it to the trunk of a car, my (then) beater vw scirocco took it just fine. Well, the car was a bit strained, but that's because of the winky little engine

Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

e_nough · 02-08-2001, 08:51 PM

ahmet use some common sense!

The fluid?!?!

how much do you think a 1/2 gallon of fluid weighs?

Well, 1/2 gallon of water weighs just over 4lbs, and oil is lighter than water. In otherwords the gear oil in or out will not matter.

Dude, you have to believe people sometimes.

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

No, can't be, we have to, umm discuss.

Scale was broken, no he was lying, umm, the tranny takes 400 gallons of fluid...

OK, kidding aside I can tell you one thing, and that is my transaxle sure did seem heavier than that, just letting you know...
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

lordgrommit · 02-08-2001, 10:36 PM

I had no problem lowering it with just a floor Jack. When I put it back in I straped it to the jack. Worked Pretty Well

Matt

kukunaokala · 02-09-2001, 05:32 AM

Yeah, good tip! Always strap it down. You've rented the jack AND THE TRANS FALLS OFF THE PLATFORM.

I'm doing mine this weekend. Good luck and Aloha, Neal

BTW, can you get 90 in/lbs nah....good laugh. I've heard of guys trying to animal the trans out/in, that's not the way to work.

nigel · 02-09-2001, 05:18 PM

I don't believe it all this talk about the weight of a tranny, obviously us Brits are tough!!! But then, why worry about 125lbs of tranny on your chest, when you expect your girlfriends to put up with your 180-200lbs on top of her most evenings!!!!!!

Dave951 · Dave951's Garage

I have had success with a single hydraulic floor jack. It has a circle pad about 4-5 inches in diameter and you can esaily balance the tranny on it. You have to be pretty good at guessing where the center of gravity is of the tranny however. Just remember that the bellhousing looks big, but weighs next to nothing. With yourself under the car to disconnect things once it is supported by the floorjack, you can easily balance it if you are anywhere close to the center of gravity. Have a friend roll it out from under the car. It's not really that bad.

Good luck,
Dave