grinding in 3rd only....

Hi all,

My Jeep 3 speed (T90?) tranny has started a new habit that i don't like. More often that not when I go into 3rd it makes that grindy noise of not accurately engaging. Sounds like Radar's jeep on MASH. Sometimes it is fine....sometimes it takes really slowing revs or a few tries...

This is new. This is annoying and of course not good. I was already thinking I needed to tighten up my clutch cable....wondering if that would be the culprit in JUST 3rd?

other culprits? Low fluid? Not viscous enough fluid?

 

Pull your floor plate to expose the top of the transmission. Then remove the 6 bolts holding the top of the transmission and the shift stick. I suspect that the brass sychronizer ring is worn. If so, it will require that the transmission come out, along with the transfer case. Have you checked the level of the transmission oil (90w) level lately? Shift carefully, these transmissions were not buiild to speed shift, but rather to select driving gear ratio.

 

Yeah fluid and wear...I do not shift hard ever, I baby this thing as I do not want to do what you suggest! LOL but soon I am going to have to do it, leaky box, leaky case, 2nd pops out....probably time for an overhaul.

 

First make certain that the clutch is correctly adjusted.

The 3rd gear (foreward most) cone clutch can be inspected for flaws by removing the transmission cover.
The 3rd synchronizer blocking ring cannot be inspected for flaws by removing the transmission cover.

 

Its certainly cheaper to rebuild sooner than later, you may only need the brass wear parts now as well as a full set of new needle bearings and such. If you let it grind, your cost can easily increase 10 fold, needing new cluster gear and such. On the upside, if you wait long enough, it will eventually stop leaking, (when all the oil is bled out of it

 

Hey Digger, so you know how to rebuild these things???

 

I've done a couple. The toughest part is getting the transmission and transfer case in and out. The rest is just a greasy stinky mess.

 

Hmm we'd make a good team then....you are nearby and I don't mind the grunty removal part, I just don't get trannys as far as repair! Maybe I will PM you after I do my BMW suspension replacement project!