Just a quick question.
After rebuilding a manual trans, is it ok for it to sit awhile with no fluid in it? Would leaving the trans empty possibly permit moisture in the air to form surface corrosion on the internals (the shifter is off so the trans is sorta open to the air)?
Curious.
-Thanks
Andrew

 

I wouldn't say it's guaranteed to happen, but it can. I had an old Muncie I let sit for quite a few years, and it ended up with pitting on the countergear pin and some slight surface rust on the gears. I live in a quite dry climate too. I would imagine this happens a lot faster if you live in a humid climate. My dad lives in Ohio, and if you leave a bare engine block sitting there for longer than a day, it already has surface rust forming on it due to the humidity. I would recommend putting at least one quart of ATF in it, bolting your shifter back on it, and spinning the input shaft while it's in different gears to rotate the fluid though all the gears, bearings, etc. If you do this every few months, it'll probably be fine. It'd be good insurance anyways. I've seen old 4 speeds for sale on ebay that guys have had sitting in barn or outside for the last 20 years, and they're so rusty inside you'd have to replace all the internals to make them useable. The only thing still useable on them is the case since it's aluminum and doesn't rust!

 

for the insite Pat.
I have the car on jacks and have re-installed the trans, but dont want to put all my weight in the car while it's up to fill the trans through the shifter tunnel.
But I guess I will now, to avoid any potential problems.
-Andrew

 

when i rebuild trannys i use a liberal amount of tranny fluid all over when i'm done. mostly for initial "start-up" on the bearings. even though i use assembly lube anyway...just a thought for next time?

i got a hand pump thing from advance auto for about 10 bucks. works great, just dump 4 or 5 quarts in a 5 quart oil container, or buy a 5 quart thing of tranny fluid, thread it on, and go. works real nice for a cheap tool from a cheap parts store...