Broke Transmission - Diesel Forum

alanhege · 05-30-2009, 12:09 PM

I was hauling a empty horse trailer up the continental divide yesterday and snapped my transmission. AAA hauled it back to the house where I can get it in the garage. When it snapped I lost all forward gears I only have reverse.

I will pull the transmission myself and can get one out of a junk yard to get going again, but I was wondering is it worth rebuilding the old one? I know there are some very knowledgeable people on here and I would like to fix it back the best and most trouble free way.

I have plenty of time no hurry to have it right back out on the road. Thanks for any info you may have.

It is Automatic Trans.

chuckster57 · 05-30-2009, 01:16 PM

Is it an automatic or manual tranny?
Your gonna hear BTS or J Woods alot if it's an automatic.

alanhege · 05-30-2009, 01:27 PM

BTS or J Woods Any places in the south east. It's automatic, I edited the post to add the info.

chuckster57 · 05-30-2009, 02:24 PM

Since I live in the great (HA HA) state of Calif. I don't have any suggestions...other than maybe a factory rebuild. It will have a warranty and it will cost less than the BTS or J woods. I have been wrenching for quite a while and trannies are the one thing I try to stay out of.

Fozz · 05-31-2009, 04:16 PM

I bought a Ford reman a year ago, it's about the best deal out there (especially if you can work a deal/know someone). Your current tranny may or may not be rebuildable depending on how much metal has been pumped through it. You won't know that until it gets opened up. Good luck with your search, at least you're not in a hurry so you have time to look for a good deal.

alanhege · 05-31-2009, 07:09 PM

It has a lot of metal in it. I pulled the dip stick and there were piece's all over it. My company has an account with Ford, so I should be able to do well that way. I do believe I will change the oil cooler lines and the cooler also that way every thing is new. Of coarse what ever Ford needs done to warranty the tranny. If it comes from ford I assume it will have all the updates? I thank ya'll for your answers back.

Fozz · 06-01-2009, 03:35 AM

The Ford trannies have all the updated parts in them already. It will also come with a little rinky-dink cooler and a magna filter (needed for the warranty). I bought another big cooler and plumbed it in line with the rinky-dink one. My temps haven't gone above 165 unloaded and 170 with the 5'r, but I haven't pulled any long grades loaded yet. My old tranny ran at 190 unloaded and 205 loaded (the extra cooler helps a lot!!). If you do the install yourself, make sure your plumbing flows well (cleaned out).

alanhege · 06-01-2009, 01:02 PM

I just got a price of $2400 with a 3 year 50,000 mile warranty, through a place that my company uses. They will install and all for that price. My best re manufactured price from Ford is $2028 with a 3yr 100,000 mile warranty that I would install. Now I just have to decide which is best. The 3 years will run out before I would even put 50,000 miles on it.
any input to help the decision is appreciated! I was told I would need to have the fly-wheel checked out before I install myself, But is a 300 and some dollar difference worth the trouble of Just because I like to turn wrench's? If I do do it myself is there any way the shrapnel could get into the tranfer case? just wondering

chuckster57 · 06-01-2009, 01:39 PM

I'm a cheapo so I would save the $300 and do the install myself. Automatics don't have a flywheel they have a flexplate, and that needs to be checked for cracks. As long as you have a good tranny jack or an adaptor that fits a floor jack, I say go for it. Should take 1 day and the $300 will buy a LOT of other things.....

Fozz · 06-02-2009, 12:43 AM

Those are both really good prices. If the $300 isn't going to set you back too much, I'd let them do it. That way if there are any problems down the road, all liability is with Ford since they did the work (no questions asked). More on my story; I replaced my tranny myself, hooked up the 5r got 20 miles out of town and the tranny gave out. Had to get towed home. Towed the truck to Ford and they questioned my install specifically my cooling system. They got their engineers involved over the phone, etc. I ended up winning them over and they honored the warranty (and installed it). They did want me to buy a new radiator because the cooling lines go through it (to ensure no cooling obstructions), and I went along with that. So, my entire tranny/cooling system (lines also) is new per Ford, so any issue I'm just going to them. This second tranny has been fine. I am considering a Transgo Tugger shift kit (read good things about them), but I am kinda hesitant to void my warranty, etc.