Freepop

Hi, I have a turbo 400 automatic and it is leaking out of the gear selector shaft. Can I fix this from the outside? or is it accessable when the pan is removed? or does this require major disassembly?


[Modified by Freepop, 6:04 PM 8/22/2002]

Freepop

I'll bump this up, any suggestions please?

Smokehouse69

I'm getting ready to find out, I have my tranny out of the car at present, and I ordered a complete gasket and reseal kit from http:\\www.bulkparts.com (Only $16.79) My TH400 was so covered in grease and grime that I couldn't tell where it was leaking from. The only thing I know for sure is that both the front and rear seals were good. However it looks to me like it was leaking at the speedometer cable, governor cover, kickdown switch, dipstick tube and shift shaft.
I think the seal has to come out from the inside, but I can't tell you for sure until I tear into the thing.
The before cleaning picture http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/eddlemsg/p000299.jpg

After I cleaned it! http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/eddlemsg/p000308.jpg

Freepop

Thank you S.H. 69, I would appreciate you remembering me after you discover how it's done. I had alot of oil on it, changed the filter and oil and cleaned it up. Now I see it was coming outa the shift shaft.

The best of luck to ya, and be careful.

Smokehouse69

I got my seal kit yesterday, but obligations limited my time to work on the tranny, I should get a chance to look at it this evening.
I vaugely remember somebody mentioning that it was replaceable from the outside of the tranny by carefully picking it out with a small pointed awl. Then the new seal could be pressed in using a deep socket of the right size.
The chassis service manual says that the shift rod can be removed with the pan off, but to be careful not to damage the seal when the rod is pulled out.
I'll look at it from both sides and see if I can figure out the best way to get it out.

Freepop

Thanks again.

Did you get the picture thing figured out?

Smokehouse69

Oh, I can post pictures, I just didn't post the pictures of the tranny because the pictures were too big! I should have resized them before uploading, but I didn't, so it was just easier to post links to them.
I just got home and looked at the shift shaft. I can not see any way of getting the seal out from the outside of the tranny. It is too small and too far inside the opening. I'm not saying can't be done, but I think it would be tough!
Later this evening I'll roll the thing over and pull the pan and see if there is a way to get to it from inside. It's too damned hot in the garage right now, 101 when I opened the door!

Smokehouse69

Okay! I looked at everything and I can't see a clear way of getting it out except by removing the shaft and pushing the seal out from the inside of the case. I'm going to post another question and ask specifically how to get the seal out, maybe somebody who has done it before can clue us both in.

NHvette

I think you take a nut off the inside end of the selector shaft, and in will
slide out. Then, it should be a simple lip seal that you can pull out with
some needlenose pliers or a screwdriver. I have the rebuild instructions at
work, so I'll try to take a pic or two and post it tomorrow.

:seeya

Smokehouse69

Thanx Dave, I wasn't thinking very clearly, the seal should be easy to get out with the shaft out! Too many hours at work, and not enough rest, makes you stoopid! :D

NHvette

OK - checked the manuals today:

All of the manuals show the "manual selector shaft" as being removed
after the valve body and pump. It looks like you can get it out with the
valve body in place, but I'm not sure on that. There is a pin that holds the
shaft in place. It goes through the case, just inside of the nut that holds
the selector bracket to the shaft. This pin is normally accessed through a
hole in the case - after the pump is removed. I think it can be taken out
with some bending of the pin. I think someone had a finish nail in there
when I rebuilt mine.

After the pin is removed, the nut is loosened, and the shaft should slide
out. All of the books show CAUTION that there are no burrs on the inside
shaft end - that may score the bore that the shaft rides in. File them
smooth, if there are burrs.

Now, replace the seal and install in reverse.

Alternatively - how can you take the seal out ? Well, I have a crazy idea,
but you must be VERY careful. If you can drill some small holes in the steel
part of the seal (VERY small holes) - then you could screw a sheet metal
screw (small diameter) into the seal and try pulling it out by the screw(s).
I put about 25% probability of this working - and 50% probability of the
case or shaft getting flubbed up. If your confidence is not high - then go
with disassembly and removal of the shaft. If the case gets messed up -
that's BAD. If the shaft gets messed up - they don't cost that much.

:seeya

Freepop

Thanks Dave.
That doesn't sound like much fun. It just drips out a couple of drops now and then, but you know how it looks on the garage floor. Since I am an Engineer, with experience in seals, I am going to try and find a seal that I can put in from the outside. That will still be a little chore but not near as bad as what you describe. I will measure the bore and the shaft and see if I can find something the correct size from CRS.