Wonder how much grease would be thrown out if you ran it with the top off while observing? Slow idle, of course.

 

I don't know, could be messy. I was wondering if I could drain it and run it for a short time with the top off? There would still be some oil in the bearings and the 3rd gear bushing.
Thanks Ray,
Mark

 

I would do what Ross suggested and run different oil. I have a Toyota trans that calls for GL-4 and everybody and their mother says GL-5 is perfectly fine.

Shifting sucks with GL-5. Works great with GL-4. Difference in lubricity.

Short of either running it and keeping an eye on it or tearing it back down, it's the easiest thing to do.

Running it with the top off will probably sling oil even drained. Do-able if you think it would help. Gotta drain it before you fill it with what Ross recommended anyway.

 

I drained the oil to run it with the top off and to change to 140W. So, I went down into the pit under the truck and set a clean motor oil jug with a funnel in it under the transmission drain. I removed the plug and dropped it into the funnel. The plug is larger than the hole in the funnel. Before I could reach in and retrieve the plug the funnel was overflowing all over the pit floor. When I stuck my hand into the funnel to get the plug, my hand displaced most the oil in the funnel, so it is also all over the floor. I'm not sure I saved much of the oil.
I did start it with the top off. I pushed in the clutch and slid the 3rd-4th gear synchronizer ring to 4th gear. It is noisier with the top off, but I couldn't see anything wrong. I think at this point I will get some 140W oil and try that. I really don't think that it will destroy itself, and will probably be a lot quieter when I put the transmission tunnel and floor mat in. We normally never hear a transmission running in gear by itself with no load on it, so noisy may be normal in this case.
Thanks for all the help. I will keep you all posted.
Mark

 

I finally found some 140W gear oil today. Every place I checked yesterday only had 85-140W multi weight oil. Straight 140W definiately made it quieter. The noise is not completely gone, but much quieter. When I apply light pressure to the hand brake to simulate a load, it quiets it even more. With the transmission tunnel and floor mat in, I don't think it will even be noticeable when driving.
Thanks for all the replies and help, especially to Ross for the suggestion of changing to 140W.
Thanks again, Mark

 

Might be the nature of the beast. If it shifts fine and isn't generating metal probably OK.

If it worries you, check it after you put some miles on it.