The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Clutch/Transmission Problems

About a month ago, I filled the transmission with 90W oil and took the truck for a spin. I have a 1949 4400 with a 235/SM420 combo. While driving, the clutch started to slip and no power to the transmission. I limped her home and let her sit. I believe the clutch disk is getting oil soaked when I drive the truck. I try and drive the truck once a week. When I first start out, the truck runs great. After about 3-5 miles, the issue comes back. No power in upper gears, and limp home in 2nd or even 1st. Transmission shifts smooth, no rattles or noises. Truck only hase 18,000 miles on it, so I don't think the tranny needs a complete rebuild. Was wondering if there was any type of seal in these transmission or what might be the issue. Any help would be appreciated.

Hy eggofire, I doubt your issue has anything to do with an oil soaked clutch disc, that problem does not go away and come back, once a disc is soaked in oil it will need to be replaced. I would check the temparature of your brakes when this happens. I would also check the fuel pump pressure, your fuel cap, and the temparature of the ignition coil (it might be breaking down when it heats up), I hope that helps.

Take the cover off the bottom of the flywheel & look up yo see what is going on. Like 3B says it doesn't act like grease on the disc but there is no seal on the front of that trans. If you get it too full it can run in to the clutch houseing, especially when parked faceing down hill. You should have some free play in the linkage before the TO brg. contacts the pressure plate. I think you need an adjustment or a new clutch.

Hello 3B.
I checked everything on your list, the brakes are staying cool, the fuel pump is brand new, as well as the rest of the fuel system as of the beginning of summer, and the ignition coil is fine as well. Thanks for the input though, I will keep this in mind on other projects.

Thanks Wrenchbender,
I forgot to say that when this happens, I can put the truck in 4th, release the clutch, and the truck just sits and idles, no grabbing, lurtching, or stalling. However, when cold, it trys to move and dies just like it "should" durring this test. I think I filled the tranny too full last time and that's when this all started. Do I just need a new clutch or is there some way to prevent this from happening again?

Keeping the lube level slightly below the fill hole seems to work well- - - -just leave it where a finger inserted into the hole in the side of the trans can reach the oil level easily, but it's not all the way up to the hole. Later-model transmission solved the problem with a lip seal, but it would require a different bearing retainer and input shaft to upgrade to the sealed model.
Jerry

Hotrod Lincoln,
If I just keep the level lower and put in a new clutch disk that this will solve my problems?

Hy eggofire, as others have mentioned if you park the truck with the front end facing downhill the transmission might leak lube out the front bearing retainer into the clutch area, under "normal circumstances" this doesn't happen. When you take everything apart to check/replace, check the rear main seal of the engine as well as it my also be contributing to the oil contamination problem. You might even find that your problem is the pressure plate itself, good luck, hope that helps.

Well today I finally got to the teardown stage. I have been driving the truck slow and short places, but am getting into the rebuild/refresh stage. Today I took the engine/trans out of the truck for the rebuild process and found that the front cast bearing retainer on my trans was broke in two! NO WONDER i couldn't keep oil in the trans and my clutch was shot!!!!!!!! Good thing I found another trans with PTO locally for 75 bucks. Also found I have the heavy duty clutch. Let's hope it's not a needle in the haystack to get one found!

Also found that there was a very hard packed mouse nest in my pressure plate. The springs do not look like they are engaged all of the way. Is this why I have the slipping problem? Do I need a new one or can I simply remove the nest and be okay? The flywheel and pressure plate surfaces also look really clean, no rust, pitting, or hot marks.