You ever feel like someone from Above Hates Me!

For the last few years, not months, but YEARS. Every vehicle I get has Transmission problems. Mind you I have been rebuilding transmission on older vehicles more years then I can count. Up until the last few years, I have never had anything more then minor problems. Now keep in mind, I am what you consider an Old Fart now, and take it easy on my vehicles. I check and change the oil, do the upkeep just like you should. But every vehicle I own except the wifes(thank the one above that hates me), has transmission problems.

If any one has been following the hints I dropped now and then know, I have been converting a 2 wheel drive 89 Ranger to a 4X4 Ranger Extended Cab. 2 Months I have been kicking myself each night to get out in the shop after work and do something on it. Last night was the big night. After all the grunting, sweating, welding, chasing parts, and Bleeding, I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

I go to pull the truck out, and bang, the trans locks up. WTF! I just rebuilt the Trans. I try it again, and it is stiff, but it rolls under it's own power. I pull it out, and take it around the block and back, then try reverse again, and it is locked up again(Bangs head on Steering Wheel) Then you have to rev the engine and slip the clutch to keep from killing the engine when you let out the clutch in Nueteral.(Head fits nicely in dent in Steering Wheel)

To make a long story short, it comes out again this weekend. It is a Toyo Kogyo 14 bolt pan. I got the impression when I rebuilt it, that it was a Disposable Trans. Use it once, and toss it. I think I know what the probelm is. The end play between the Input Shaft and the Mainshaft would keep changing. This would force the Syncro's into the gear and cause the trans to lockup when I had it on the Bench. When I finished rebuilding it, it would free spin easy, but somewhere betweent he bench and test drive, it tightened up again.

I got nobody to blame but me, so not complaining. Just venting frustration, and to let others know that they are not alone out there. It just goes to show you that no one is perfect, we are all human. Feel free to vent as well.

BTW, any bids for a good used Steering Wheel that has a comfortable spot for your forehead, Shipping is free.

 

Well to follow up on this, I have no one to blame but me.

I replaced all the Syncro's, Bearings and the Hub Gear for 3-4. When I re-assembled the main shaft, the Hub Gear for 1-2 was on backwards.

I should have caught this, but as it turns out, someone at one time had this trans apart before, and reversed the gear. I had to file down the splines to get it to go back on the right way as it had pushed up a bur in the splines. When I replaced the Syncro's, there was 0 tolerance where before the ware allowed it. The 1-2 Hub Gear, on the center is wider on one side by 1/32. This is all it took to Jam the Syncro onto the First Gear hard enough to lock the Trans.

I reversed the gear, and it works perfect now. Just goes to show, even when your in a hurry, it does not matter how much you have done this before, pay attention to detail. It will save you a lot of headache in the future.