Model 18 Case With Od

is there anything special to do or look out for when cruising long distances with an early 70's cj5 with overdrive? thanks

 

Make sure the transfer case lubricant is full.
Although I don't have an OD, I've always read that low lube is the #1 killer of that hardware.

 

In the Warn days, I suspect 75% of the failures were due to insufficient lubrication. With the Saturns, that remains the same potential problem but the shift fork failure numbers probably exceed the number of lubrication failures. As long as the transfercase is full of lube, there is no problem driving those for as far as you desire. The caveat being that at some point, you may need help exiting the driver's seat

 

Oil level and quality is absolutely critical. Also try to keep track of the temperature (ir thermometer on the case at every pit stop)
I have a fill tube and elbow in my floor for the transfercase.

You should be able to take the rear cap off and get several Oz of oil. Then run it down the road in direct drive for maybe a mile and again get the same volume of oil. Don't lug a lot in overdrive they still flow oil through them in direct drive.

 

I had a warn OD on my 3B several years ago. I routinely drove it on long road trips of 150 miles each way into the mountains of NC. Just made sure there were no leaks and the case was always full. Never had the first problem with it.

 

My B made quite a few trip between Bozeman, MT and Denver, in stock form and later with both the 327 and the subsequent 350. That is about a 700 mile drive and I remember only once hitting a motel because of a little snow problem in WYOMIKE's vicinity. I also had the B in the Craig CO area several times on a project. That one was a really sweet gig with accommodations being a ski in/ski out condo at Steamboat and a week break in the project schedule I wasted--------skiing. Some just excellent tree skiing available at Steamboat.

 

Like the Steamboat area, we often went there for week trips to ride sleds. We liked the area up around Steamboat State Park where there are lots of trees.

 

thanks for the replies and tips!!!

 

Question I have a 18 transfer case with warn od and t14 3 spd. What is the correct fill levels. I have always used the fill ports till the gear oil runs out. Never had any problems, using Mobile 90wt gear oil. Is this correct?

 

This is correct
Fill the transmission from the side port till it overflowith then fill the transfercase till it overflowith. But with an overdrive (and or PTO) you need to top off the transfercase again after a few miles because it does not have it's own fill port.

 

A guy I work with has a dana 18 with a warn OD. After having it rebuilt the shop that did the work installed a 90* elbow in the fill plug with a nipple facing up with a cap on it. He said it holds a little more gear oil to keep the od unit from oil starvation. Right or wrong I think it's a simple cost effective solution.

 

lol. Some times you will find someone lets a squirrel loose and we chase it.

 

Yep, And sometimes we actually will catch it too!

 

Just run the right side tires up on a chunk of 2x4 and then top off the transfer case. It will be the perfect level at least until it leaks out.

 

Daryl, are you implying your driveway is level?

 

I would say collectively that there are thousands of Warn overdrives that have driven thousands and thousands of miles with no oil capacity modifications of the transfer case.
Do you add more oil to engines, transmissions, differentials etc ?
Of course not.

To each their own.

 

I feel like the extra capacity is a CYA maneuver. The instructions say to top off but if you don't follow up and the unit fails do you really want to tell your customer they messed up.

 

2X. I'm sure leaking output shaft seals along with operator inattention killed more of them than any other cause. As long as the D18 lube level is close to the filler plug there isn't a problem.

 

Same.

 

Apparently some do not understand the oil flow with an overdrive installed. The overdrive is a scavenger of oil. While driving at speed at least a quarter of the oil from the transfer case is in the overdrive. This is why it helps to have a little bit more oil in the system. If the transfer case is low at all then you will be very low at speed.