For those at Carlisle you've heard this story.

WHY could you not use 1-2-3? Would it not physically shift into those gears, or was the vibration too much in those gears?

The leak sounds like it is leaking from the front of the trans. Problem is, there is NO seal on the front to leak. The input shaft goes thru the front bearing, and a nut holds it together. The nut is specific to this shaft/trans, and MUST be installed with the smooth side towards the front of the car, which puts the flats of the nut towards the trans. It takes a nifty wrench to install the nut. If the nut is installed backwards, it can rub on the bearing retainer, and start a leak. Overfilling the trans will also cause it to leak from the front. Leaking gear lube onto the clutch can certainly cause it to shudder on take-off.
The only other place for gear lube to exit the front of the trans is from the countershaft. There is also no seal there, either. It is a tight fit into the case, and that is all that seals it. I always run a bit of sillycone around it to seal it.
Get that thing up in the air and see if you can determine where the leak is....


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Joel Adams
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|UPDATED|8/28/2012 10:35:04 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Adam, It would not physically shift into those gears.

One thing that was mention by some gear heads at carlisle was it could be the pressure plate, may have lost some? fingers.

The clutch doesn't leak. Most likely what has happened, from your description, is you have a trans leak from the front. The gear lube got onto the clutch disc, and it is now sticking to the pp and flywheel, making it hard, if not impossible to get it into gear. It is possible there is something else going on with the clutch, certainly, but nothing in the clutch would make the trans leak...unless something on the clutch broke, and it poked a hole in the case....I think you would have heard an awful racket if that happened.
In any case, it certainly appears that you're gunna wind up pulling the trans/clutch back out....
That really sux, but at least you did make it to the event, and back home.


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Joel Adams
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Ok, Pulled the tranny yesterday.
I think I found the reason for the leaking tranny fluid , Vibrating clutch and Hard shifting.
But not sure, can anyone confirm that this might be the problem??



 
Joe

(in yer best Joe Dirt voice...)DAAAANG!

Where's the rest of it?  Only a couple of reasons for this to happen. either the bearing retainer was already cracked/damaged, or there is a problem with the clutch/flywheel not running straight. I have seen bearing retainers snap the snout off, but have NEVER seen one break into two pieces like that...(actually THREE pieces).

And, again....DAAAANG!

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Joel Adams
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Yup, that was kinda my feelings also!

He thought the same thing that it may have had a crack in it .

Good part about it is the guy I bought the tranny from is standing by it. He has a replacement retainer for me and is looking the transmission over.
I need to throw some brake clean on the clutch / pressure plate and bell housing which I also took off.

I should have it back tomorrow, sat, but will not put in back in the car till tuesday night due to the holiday weekend.
My buddy owns a garage and he said I could work on it over the weekend if I wanted, he would give me his keys to the place.
But I think it can wait.
Joe

Man, Joe, it's a miracle you made it home! Glad you found the problem and the tranny guy is helping out. Hope to see you at one of the later shows! Glad tro have met you at Carlisle!

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There ain't nutin in the tranny that caused that.The retainer "retains" the bearing in the front, and provides a place for the throw-out bearing to ride. The input shaft never touches the retainer. It could have been cracked already, for sure. It could also be caused by the clutch not running true to the face of the trans, which would throw the bearing sideways every time you mashed the pedal down. That puts a lot of stress on the retainer.
It could also be caused by the tob hanging up on the retainer for some reason. That's just one of those things that happens once in a blue moon, the retainer breaking like that. Sure glad you were able to make it home!

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Like Joel said, that front retainer probably didn't break because of an internal trans problem.  I would check everything between the crankshaft and the front face of the transmission.  Is the big bell housing hole concentric to the crankshaft?  Good pilot bearing?  Look at the relationship between the throw out bearing and the clutch fork; they have to slide against each other a little bit during clutch peddle travel.  

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1973 BB 4-Speed Coupe Project Car

Well, got the tranny back.
I had him look it over, good thing, Because i was so hard on the tranny on the trip down and back ( low gear oil level, grinding gears cause the  throw out bearing wasnt working , ect....) I had to have a new input spline.  I also had him put a new front bearing in too to be on the safe side.
I also had a new reverse gear put in ( this had nothing to do with the busted bearing retainer) I knew when i got the tranny that they were not the best but at that time i opted not to have a new one put in. So tomorrow (tuesday ) after work, i put it back together.
Will keep you updated.
Hope every one had a great weekend.
Joe

Great to hear, Joe! Get 'er in and get back to motoring!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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What was wrong with the input shaft("spline")?
Anyway...sure glad it dint take the case out with it....that would have been bad news. Ya still need to see if there is something else that caused the failure, if ya hasn't already....


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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Adam,

Oh,

Congrats on getting it done! Hopefully that's the last you'll have to worry about that!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Glad ya goter done! Now....take it easy on that car....no more hot-roddin...y'heah? Dang kids.....





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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"