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Messed My T90 Big Time

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by MotownMatt, Oct 18, 2019.

  1. Oct 18, 2019
    MotownMatt

    MotownMatt New Member

    Michigan
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    I completely rebuilt a T90 a couple months ago to swap into my CJ5. The day to do the swap finally came and my it would appear that the main shaft separated and dumped all of the larger needle bearings into the bottom of the case. Do I have to completely disassemble and rebuild, or is there an easier way so I dont have to jeopardize the 88 smaller needle bearings by removing the shaft of the main cluster? Any help, insight, or link to the thread with a good explanation is always appreciated.
     
  2. Oct 18, 2019
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I would, it is not that big a deal to pull it apart and look it over and make sure it is correct. Something to consider is to put sealer on the ends of the cluster gear shaft too. I put mine in and there was a spot of oil on the floor every morning, I pull it apart looking for the leak twice before I found it. I pulled the transmission and set it in the sun to warm up, after a while I saw a little oil running down the front of the case from the cluster shaft, I cleaned it with Brake Cleaner and put a dab of sealer on the end of the shaft and problem solved. Good Luck
     
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  3. Oct 18, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    BTDT. Take it apart, make sure you get all the needles where they belong. It will make you an expert.
     
  4. Oct 18, 2019
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Wouldn't some heavy grease keep the needles in place?
     
  5. Oct 18, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Don't use heavy grease as it doesn't dissolve. Use transmission assembly lube because it does.
     
  6. Oct 18, 2019
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    If all you dumped were the rollers between the input/mainshaft, you don't need to touch the cluster gear at the bottom. Just use a magnet on a stick and make sure you get all the upper rollers out of the bottom of the case. I've had the mainshaft back out and dump those rollers. It a pain!
    -Donny
     
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  7. Oct 18, 2019
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
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    What Chris said.

    If you do much with transmissions or transfer cases, do yourself a favor and get a tub of ATP (link below). It is not very expensive and is likely a lifetime supply for the average guy. It has almost a wax-like consistency at room temp, is quite sticky and easily holds loose needle bearings in place for assembly. As Chris mentioned, it also quickly dissolves in oil, which is what you want.

    https://www.summitracing.com/parts/atp-at201
     
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  8. Oct 18, 2019
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

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    I use vasoleine for this ,and seal installation ,oil pump packing .....
     
  9. Oct 18, 2019
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Well okay. But hard for me to imagine that a small schmeer of grease would hurt an oil-filled transmission.
     
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  10. Oct 18, 2019
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

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    Until the schmear plugs the oil hole and starves the bearings.
     
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  11. Oct 18, 2019
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I'll vote to go ahead and pull the cluster. If it wasn't assembled with assembly lube take the shaft out part way and fill the cavity with thick assembly lube and use a dummy shaft. I happened to have an extra needle in the Transmission that reverse found. When I reassembled I lost a roller and pulled it apart. Then I dropped a bolt for the shift tower. Then with it all together it wasn't acting right so I pulled it again and adjusted the cluster bearing spacers. Now it's good and I know nothing else is in there. :susp:
    I used my extra engine assembly lube.
     
  12. Oct 18, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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  13. Oct 18, 2019
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I agree. A friend was helping me rebuild a NP205 transfer case and missed one needle bearing. He asked if I wanted to check him and I said no, I trust you. Mistake. I had to replace two gears where the needle got between them.
     
  14. Oct 18, 2019
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

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    So with all the negative vibes about a heavy grease to hold the rollers in place, I guess I've been doing it all wrong for the last 35+ years and I just got lucky then.
    But......when I tore my T90 apart, I didn't see any evidence of my heathen grease on the shaft or inside the cluster.

    So.....how many recorded failures are out there, folks on this site, that have burned up a manual transmission because they used the so called bad grease during assembly ?
    Please, a show of hands.
     
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  15. Oct 18, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Well, I did it that way for 25 years and it was wrong. Didn't blow anything up, but I didn't know better. Now I do and, well why not do it the way the professionals do?
     
  16. Oct 18, 2019
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

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    i'm quilty too never hurt my Muncie or t 18
     
  17. Oct 18, 2019
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

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    I guess we could assume that we all don't have the same definition of heavy grease.
     
  18. Oct 18, 2019
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    11302001_lbg_19250_pri_larg.jpg I used to use grease and I never had a problem, but I use this stuff now it works MUCH better. (if you think the needle bearings in a T90 are bad try rebuilding a Warn od sometime )
     
  19. Oct 18, 2019
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

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    Both hands up.
    I’ve had customer transmissions that were freshly rebuilt ( by them, another shop, or their buddies) but burned up because the grease never reached a high enough temp to melt away and mix with the transmission lube. There was still grease plugging the oil passages and pliable yet the pocket bearings between input and output shaft were toast, taking out both the input and output shaft. I had a couple where the input and output shafts had welded themselves together and had to use a cutting torch to get them apart. Yet the cluster gear still had fresh grease in the center of the gear where there is a cavity.
    A better option if you don’t want to purchase the transmission assembly lube is plain old petroleum jelly. It melts at a low temp and mixes well with the transmission lube. Down side is it melts at a really low temp so can melt on a hot day. Put it in the freezer or refrigerator first.
     
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  20. Oct 18, 2019
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

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    Two hands up, only one person.
     
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