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t-90 question

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by ggreenwood37, Jan 7, 2013.

  1. Jan 7, 2013
    ggreenwood37

    ggreenwood37 Member

    Pittsburgh PA
    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2010
    Messages:
    88
    Ok so here's the setup -1959 cj5, buick v6, t90, dana-18 twin stick, warn overdrive


    A few months back, I rebuilt my t-90 with the basic small parts kit. Everything went together rather smoothly and I installed it back into my rolling frame. Since that time, I've been busy working on the brakes, body and pretty much everything else. It hasn't run since I parked it, as I need to rewire which is next on the list. Yesterday I finally got a socket large enough to torque down my overdrive castle nut and put the pin in. I torqued it to 115 ft lbs, threw the pin in and buttoned everything up. For some reason, I tried to shift the transmission through all of the gears. Reverse and 1st shifted fine, but shifting to 2nd or 3rd is a no go. I took the shift tower off and it appears that the 2nd gear is bound up on the countershaft cluster gear. With the tower off, in 1st gear - i can push the jeep forward and everything turns 1/4 of a turn and then binds.


    Is this something I should be worried about? It's been sitting since the rebuild and I'd hate to put everything back together to just pull the transmission after I put the body on. What else should I try to do? I remember it shifting fine after the rebuild, but I do recall having to manipulate the input shaft some to get it to shift at times. I'm thinking that now that everything is snugged up, it may just need the input shaft to turn a bit to get the gears to mesh up. But then again, this is my first rodeo....

    Any help is greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Jan 7, 2013
    jossar

    jossar Member

    Freedom, WI
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2012
    Messages:
    199
    I had the exactly the same issue - Yes it's a problem. Turns out a needle bearing dropped in between the input and main shaft when it was put together. Everything turned nicely and shifted nicely until it was snugged up to the transfer case then it would bind and not shift 2/3 just like you describe.
     
  3. Jan 11, 2013
    ggreenwood37

    ggreenwood37 Member

    Pittsburgh PA
    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2010
    Messages:
    88
    So I drained all the gear oil and yanked everything out. Removed the overdrive and pulled the transmission and transfer case as one unit. Left the adapter and bell attached to the block. Dropped the trans and case on the bench, bolted the shift tower on and much to my chagrin... it now shifts fine. All gears. I looked inside the case and I don't see any bearings.

    Had I found something, I probably would feel better. Now I don't know what was wrong, if anything at all. Any suggestions? How should I troubleshoot this?

    When I originally got the 5, it didn't have a pilot bushing and the clutch disk was on backwards. Could my input shaft be thrashed? Maybe that was why the PO didn't install the pilot bushing...
     
  4. Jan 11, 2013
    jossar

    jossar Member

    Freedom, WI
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2012
    Messages:
    199
    If I'm following you , it now shifts fine and turns free on the bench with the transfer case still bolted up tight to the transmission? If thats the case then it sounds like something else.

    The "dropped" bearing in mine was in between the input and main shaft - had to pull it back apart to fish it out, The little buggers are just the right length to fit crossways in the pocket in the end of the input shaft that the stub/needle bearings on the mainshaft slide into. Like I said mine would shift fine and turn good until it was tightened up to the transfer case (also on the bench). If I loosened the bolts a little it would work - tighten again and it would lock up. I scratched my head for a while before I figured something was wrong and took it into a tranny shop. They got the needle fished out and it was not damaged so they put it back with the rest and everything was hunky dory.

    Mine is an F head / T90. You mentioned you left the bell and adaptor?? still bolted to the engine? Is the pilot bearing seated all the way and did it turn freely on the end of the shaft? I suppose if the input shaft is too long or the adaptor too short it could bind. There was no adaptor on mine - doesn't the T90 bolt right up to the bell on a V6?
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2013
  5. Jan 12, 2013
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2006
    Messages:
    2,793
    You are trying to shift this with out the engine running?

    Shifting may be smoother with every thing turning and the clutch disengaged like when you push the pedal to the floor.

    First and Reverse will be smooth without the motor turning, or Second and Third. But not both sets at the same time. Just don't want to mesh right.
     
  6. Jan 13, 2013
    ggreenwood37

    ggreenwood37 Member

    Pittsburgh PA
    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2010
    Messages:
    88
    I was really hoping it was something like that. Thanks for the replies. Time to get it all back together...
     
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