Decided to change the oil in the 4 speed today, 1964 T98. Stuff that came out was black as coal and stank. Nasty.

After online research here and on other sites the Traveller All Mineral SAE90 Ford tractor transmission fluid from Tractor Supply seemed to be a good replacement. Threads here and elsewhere indicated GL-1 rated oil is safe for all the metals in these old transmissions. I know 50W engine oil was called for, but that's 1964 oil....not the stuff we have today.

Refilling that T98 was a pain. Next time I'm getting a pump of some kind. I managed to do it today by connecting tubing to a small funnel, pinching it off, filling the funnel with oil, lifting it up into place under the truck, sticking the tubing into the transmission, and letting it drain. One......funnel......at......a......time. Took forever, and oil was everywhere.

It sure shifts smoother. This '64 F-100 is growing on me, and will be a fun shop truck until the '56 is done.

 

I keep a couple of the quart bottles with spouts and refill them. You can squeeze them and get more in quickly. There's just enough room to get the quart bottles in next to the trans.

 

Good idea there. The funnel and tube solution took a fair amount of patience.

 

I work at a boat shop and we sell a gear oil pump for refilling lower units on outboards and sterndrives. It's really just a condiment pump you might see used for ketchup and mustard, threads onto the top of the oil bottle and has a piece of clear hose slipped over the outlet. Put the hose in the filler plug hole and a few pumps later your done. Will work even if it doesn't thread onto the bottle but easier if it does. I use one for transmissions and for rear ends.

 

I like to use the pumps but, have also just pulled the shift lever and poured it in from the top.

On my Tacoma automatic I bought a few feet of clear tubing that fit the fill hole snugly. I ran the hose up into the engine compartment, put a small funnel on it and poured in the fluid.

I have done it the hard way enough times to finally get creative and find a better way. The hard way sucks.

Glad you got it done.

 

This is why I love this forum. There's always one genius that's figured out the obvious that no one else ever thought of. Makes me laugh at myself for not thinking of it, either. Too bad I have the column shift.

 

I didn't think of column shift. Never had one. Takes me out of the genius category for not thinking of that.

 

I use an oil suction gun. Works great, assuming you can find one that isn't cheap junk.

 

I like the condiment pump idea...probably cheaper than something sold as an oil pump...

 

An old GO-JO hand cleaner bottle with pump (we all use the stuff) works great as a repurposed gear oil pump. You will be surprised how much oil they can move.

 

I have a Tulsa PTO on my transmission that has a forward and reverse (big sucker). There is just enough room to remove the filler plug, let alone stick anything else in there, so I drilled and tapped the drain plug 1/4 NPT and added a ball valve and plug. Now I easily fill through the drain with the aforementioned Go-Jo pump.

 

I usually just unscrew the shift cap and top drain plug, pull the shifter out and pour it right in. Can lay right there on the seat if you want

Says about 3-4Qts or something but usually starts to drain out the upper plug sooner.

 

The Shop Manual lists the transmission capacities in pints as follows:

3-Speed _____ 2.75 pints = 1.375 quarts
3-Speed HD __ 6 pints = 3 quarts
4-Speed _____ 5 pints = 2.5 quarts
4-Speed SS __ 8 pints = 4 quarts
5-Speed _____ 10 pints = 5 quarts

 

I have a 5 gallon bucket pump that I used to fill my T98. The fill is not in the best location. With a PTO, the PTO lever and hydraulic pump lever are in front of the fill plug, it is hard to get to. The bucket pump does make it a lot easier.
BTW, I read somewhere that motor oils do not have any additives that can attack yellow metals, so modern 50W motor oil should be fine in the transmission. I have an New Process 4 speed that has a tag on it stating to use 50W motor oil also.
Mark