Shift arm shaft seal leak

[DanEC]

One of the shift arm shafts is leaking slightly on my rebuilt Toploader transmission. My main concern is I'm getting a leak and I haven't even driven the car yet - only run it in neutral. At first I thought I might have over-filled the transmission but the fill port is considerably below the shifter shafts so I guess igear lube is getting thrown up on the fork and shaft and dribbling out.

Is there a seal on the shaft that is replaceable without major dissassembly of the transmission? It looks like the shafts screw into the forks so I'm assuming I might have to pull the cover and unscrew the shaft.

[DanEC]

I went to Kajun's site and it appears that a simple "O" rign is inserted on the shaft behind the shift arm lever. That probably answers my question - it looks like it installs from inside the case so the shift arm shaft would have to come out. Is that a major issue?

KAJUN ENTERPRISES,TRANSMISSION REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE, WHITNEY, TEXAS

[DanEC]

Can anyone tell me if replacement of the shift fork shaft o-rings is possible without complete dissassembly of the transmission?

[priobe]

I'm pretty sure there is no other way but to disassemble the transmission.
I rebuilt my top loader and all the guts have to come out to replace those o rings
Best bet is to watch fluid and make sure you don't run low on fluid
Maybe you do have too much fluid. I have I seen this happen. Wipe it clean and monitor.

[blykins]

You basically have to tear the whole trans down to fix that little o-ring.....it's a pain in the butt.

[Jerry Clayton]

I've been racking my brain trying to remember --------but I seem to lean toward that I didn't have to do anything but remove the mainshaft assy far enough to get the forks out and then the shifter arm could be removed----------seems to me the hardest part was working on car while every body else was partying with the girls

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

I've been racking my brain trying to remember --------but I seem to lean toward that I didn't have to do anything but remove the mainshaft assy far enough to get the forks out and then the shifter arm could be removed----------seems to me the hardest part was working on car while every body else was partying with the girls

I suspect this is right - the main cluster has to come out. It's a minor occassional drip right now. Think I'll live with it until I can drive it and make sure there isn't something else in the transmission after the rebuild that needs further attention.

Does anyone recall what Ford specified for topping off the fluid in these? I filled it up to the the bottom of the fill hole. Possibly I should have left it down about a 1/2 inch.

Thanks.

[cscobra]

The bottom of the fill hole is correct--no problems thus far with my toploader after 500+ miles. Hope it stays that way, and I hope that your problem proves to be temporary.

[Jerry Clayton]

You can maybe remove the arm on the outside and put a piece of leather (cut from an old boot) over/around shaft/arm to act as a seal--might take more than one thickness to take up the space----------

[DanEC]

I hadn't thought about leather - interesting idea. May try that.

[Rick Parker]

"seems to me the hardest part was working on car while every body else was partying with the girls"

Yep....THAT would do it

[Jerry Clayton]

Dan-if the old shoe leather thing works for you maybe we can get them to start making wheel bearing seals out of leather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!or is that cruelty to animals?????????

And of course another way is to take a piece of small diameter rope and work it around the shaft behind the lever-------oh, a rope seal, what a novel idea------------( I suggest maybe a leather shoe/boot lace)