Trans And Transfer Are Starting To Leak More

Been driving the Jeeps more, and they are starting to leave their mark more and more.
Just keeping a check on the fluid levels now, but are there any less invasive short-term fixes to slow down the seepage that won't cause more problems? I'm enjoying them now and don't want to do a complete reseal at the moment. That is coming down the road. Got a spare transmission and transfer case, when I get a chance, I will go through that just to be ready. Getting myself prepared to dive in. Driving and shifting good now, but I know it coming.

Dave

 

Can you tell where it's leaking? TC pan would be quick & easy, most anything else is more involved.

 

Borrowing from bar room humor...
"my transfer case doesn't leak anymore.....it doesn't leak any less either"

Ba dump bump

 

Most of the oil is on the skid plate. Good idea, a good cleaning is in order. maybe I can see where the oil is coming from. I am sure a re-seal is looming in the future. I haven't gone into the trans and transfer case. Seen a lot of videos on the T90 and T18 rebuilds. I would prefer not to start a big project without having the spare gone through and ready to put in. Just got them both running well, and don't want a lot of down time. Seems a little leak after a while makes a good size puddle. Just getting ready for the long run.
Are there any members in my area who are well versed in T90/T18 tear down, inspection, and rebuild?
Gathering information at this point. Right now, keeping the plenty of the Gl-4 close by.



Dave

 

The transmissions are bad to leak from the front input shaft seal. This would cause transmission oil to drip out of the weep hole in bottom of the bell housing, and requires removal to fix. The transfer cases are bad to leak around the yokes / output shafts, and pan which can all be fixed without removal. So, yes the first thing to do is some clean up so you can get an idea of where the leaks are.

I have had quite a few Jeeps over the years, but only one which didn't mark its territory and that one was one I had rebuilt.

 

If there are no other issues, there isn't any reason to tear down the drivetrain over a leak.
Remove the skidplate.
Clean/pressure wash the undercarrage and leave it to sit overnight or longer.
Observe any drips or seepage. If you don't find any, drive it a short hop.
If it is an input/output seal, transmission lid gasket, or the t case pan gasket, it can be replaced with a minimum of effort.
If it is a trans/t case gasket, t case shift rod seals, or transmission input you're going to have to put more effort into it.

 

FWIW it might help to check your vent ports to make sure they're clear and venting. Excess pressure build up could exacerbate existing leaks.

 

With the caveat that the seal leaking may well have resulted from loose tapered bearings on the shaft, which ought to be adjusted if so.

 

The speedometer cable is a popular leak point too. A right-sized o-ring can stop that. As others have said, you need to give it a cleaning to see where the leaks are.

 

All good information. I am pretty sure it leaks a little from input and output shafts. I will check the vents also. First step will be a good leaning then wipe it down and look to see where the leaks are coming from. That's why I keep cardboard and old newspaper around. Seems that if these old Jeeps aren't leaking, well, then they are low on oil. Hadn't even thought of the speedo cable connection.
I will find out where they are leaking and plan to fix all of this after the Jeep shows are over.
Seems like when I jump into these jobs, the learning curve slows down progress.
Just really happy they are running reliably.
I need to keep an eye on these things to make sure they keep it up.
Thanks for the replies.

Dave

 

Last Saturday I pulled the transmission and transfer case of a CJ2A, not because of leaks, but because they needed replacement. Both did leak badly, the worst leak being from the front input shaft of the transmission with oil dripping out of the weep hole in the bell housing.

I already have rebuilt units ready to go back in but intend to rebuild the T-90 I pulled.

When I separated the transmission from transfer case I noticed whoever had been in it before me had used a sealed bearing on the rear output shaft but not on the front input shaft bearing where a sealed bearing might have been a better idea.

Since the transmission and transfer case share oil, it just doesn't make sense to me that anyone would put a sealed bearing on the rear. On the front is where it makes more sense. The sealed bearing on the rear wouldn't totally prevent oil transfer from one box to the other because there are drilled passages for that.

If you decide to replace seals in the transfer case, particularly if you decide to attempt it with the unit still in the Jeep, do yourself a favor and buy the seal removal tools Joe DeYoung makes, they make pulling the seals in the two housings, and shifter rail seals easy as pie.

 

Sounds good. How do you go about ordering Joe DeYoung Seal pullers?

Thanks,

Dave

 

He has a thread on the CJ2A page forum under member created parts, which you can view even if you aren't a member over there. He lists his contact information on that thread, and you can also read some reviews of the tools and parts he makes. Everything I have seen that he has made has been top notch. He makes an excellent tool for removing stuck distributors, and a very nice steering wheel puller.

 

Pretty cool. I will check that out.
Good to know. I would like to have the steering wheel puller and some for the trans and transfer case.

Dave

 

Good point.
Be sure to check the vertical movement of the yokes before removal.

 

Thanks,
All good information. Planning for the future.

Thanks for the responses.

Dave