312-8 transmission with water in it....

[Duff 206]

Hi, guys!

When I got 312-8 #2, I drained the tranny and got about a pint of clear water (no oil or dirt) followed by about two pints of oil. No visible rust or grit in it.

Last night I finished tearing the machine down to the bare frame and took the tranny off it. This allowed me to tip the tranny up and drain the last of the fluid - again, about a half cup of clear water and about the same amount of oil. Still no rust, dirt or metal shavings visible. Everthing turns over without grinding or grating, and the shifters seem to work smoothly.

Somewhere a while back I think I read that a tranny that has taken on water may still have damage to the bearings and gears. I don't know much about the history of this machine except it sat outside a very long time with no shifter boot, thus the water. I don't think it was run after the water got in, but I don't know for sure.

So....should I tear it down and rebuild it, or take my chances by flushing it out with kero then adding oil and hope for the best?

If I should tear it down, does anyone have a decent manual or link to one? The one I have is for trannies that pre-date the one I have.

Thanks much for any replies and advice!

Duff :omg:

[Buzz 502]

I would fill it with kerosene, ride it around a little while, then flush it. Do it several times and you should be okay. It might be good the rest of the time you own it or might start making noises this year.

As far as a manual for your transmission, go to Toro's MPV and put your tractor's model number in:

https://lookup3.toro.com/partdex/index.cfm?xCaller=Toro

Take a look at the transmission breakdown and compare it with the latest 8-speed in the transmission manual you have. If you don't have one you can download the manual here:

https://lookup3.toro.com/request/getpub1.cf...&PubType=9&rev=

They look almost the same so the basics of rebuilding it should be the same too. There might be a few parts different but between the manual and the parts breakdown you should be okay. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

[Teddy da Bear 11]

Yes Duff...

I would not tear it down. Sounds like a good idea with the kerosene or something like a drying agent. Drive it around and drain it out.

Fill it with the "good stuff" as recommended in the manuals.

[sorekiwi 761]

I'd just flush it like Buzz said, refill it with oil and try it.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,497]

Duff,

it would be good if you could somehow pressure test the unit to see if there were any cracks but not sure how to do that. this is what is done on inboard/outboard drives that have taken on water but not winterized. good luck-

[Cody 277]

Ya i would run some kero in it then flush it. I bought a 414-8 a few years ago for $75 with a deck and plow. It was winter when i bought it and the tranny was froze solid due to water in it, we pulled it out of the guys yard with a jeep because the wheels wouldnt spin. I got it home, put it in the heated garage for a few hours, it thawed out and was free. I just drained the oil and water out of it and put new gear oil in it and have never had a problem, and no noise at all. Its one of the best running tractors i have

[Docwheelhorse 2,739]

I guess I would flush it and run it as is..... But most of the transmissions I have had that where wrecked by H2O where as you described with the water and the oil seperate. When you find them like that it also indicates that they WHERE NOT run after the water got in----transmissions that are run after the water got in will have oil that resembles a milky vanilla shake or coffee drain out. Oil that is mixed with water under the pressure of operating the unit will still protect the bearings etc.... pure water will sit on top of the oil and any bearing or gear that is submerged in pure water will suffer. Eight speed Uni-Drives are plentiful and easy to fix--so if you manage to wreck this unit it won't be a big problem to fix it.

Tony

[Stigian 1,234]

I found the same thing with my Raider 10 Duff.

Don't worry a flush out and fresh oil will sort it :hide:

[MaineDad 87]

I agree with all above. Flush and fill.

[sorekiwi 761]

pure water will sit on top of the oil and any bearing or gear that is submerged in pure water will suffer.

Actually oil floats on water.

I may be wrong but my theory is that the trans fills up with water and floats all the oil out past the seals, leaving the box filled with water. I've had 2 transmissions like this - the water was crystal clear, with just a few globs of oil. One box was perfect inside - no signs of rust at all - and one was FUBAR'ed.

Flush it and try it!!

[linen beige 15]

Actually oil floats on water.

I may be wrong but my theory is that the trans fills up with water and floats all the oil out past the seals, leaving the box filled with water. I've had 2 transmissions like this - the water was crystal clear, with just a few globs of oil. One box was perfect inside - no signs of rust at all - and one was FUBAR'ed.

Flush it and try it!!

A few weeks ago I had my 702 sitting right outside my back door for a couple days. When I went to move it I found the tranny was frozen solid. I thawed the ice out with a heat gun and the gallon or more of water that ran out was CHRYSTAL CLEAR! It also had about a pint of goopy lube left in it. No signs of rust or metal in either the water or the lube.

I drained it and refilled it with GL-5 lube and it shifts and sounds just fine. I won't put but a couple hours on it before spring and plan to drain it and refill it again then. It also has a new shifter boot on it now. :hide:

[Docwheelhorse 2,739]

ooooooppppps---yah your right the water would be on the bottom. I had the theory right just upside down..... :imstupid:

Tony

[HORSEOFCOURSE 0]

yeah flush and go. i have a r/f horse and same thing happened. water in tranny drained it and refilled it and drove it around some. it seemed to be ok at first but wouldn;t move in reverse sometimes and made a little noise when it did. then it happened it started jumping into two gears at once. simple enough. took the shifter out and straightned eveyrthing out. drove it for about no more than 5 minutes later and it did it again. then i went to take out the jam bolt and it broke off in the tranny and i havent messed with it since. i should have known something was up when i got the tractor it was stuck in two gears then someone suggested that the bearings were turning to mush and everything was getting out of align and the shift ball and springs were to be replaced. here is the link the the thread you were probaly thinking of. http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=7260

[Brian1045 28]

When I started my resto, I flipped the chassis (tranny intact) upside down. I had close to a half a quart of water run out of the shifter hole. Mostly from condensation I'd say, considering the tractor has never been left outside or in the rain preriod.

I let it drip for like 2 days. the tranny and gears always worked fine and never had any trouble with it. My luck after I refilled it with lube it will start acting up.

I guess I'll find out when I remount the engine.

[Duff 206]

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

***OK, let's try this again - I had it all ready to post then hit the wrong button and lost the whole works into cyberspace. D*mned fumble-fingers! ***

So.... first off, very, very much for your advice, suggestions and support! This place is great!

Here's the plan based on what I've read mixed with a little [hopefully successful!] Yankee ingenuity....

Since the tranny is already off the tractor and the machine is completely in pieces I can't drive it around. So I'm going to strap it onto my B&D Workmate bench then fill it with kerosene. Then I plan on putting a few wraps of duct tape around the outer rim of the main drive pulley to protect it. To "drive" the pulley I'll put an old, worn out belt on my belt sander and use this to spin the pulley. :horseplay:

I plan on running it for a few minutes in every gear, both Hi and Lo ranges, then draining the kero into a clear glass jug to see what kind of crap has been loosened up and washed out. I figure on doing this a couple times unless the first "flush" spits out gunk suggesting there may be some real damage inside (large chunks of rust, metal shavings, etc.).

If the final flush comes clear and if the tranny spins over quietly in all gears by hand (since I'll never hear anything above the howl of the sander!), I'll refill it with 90 weight to spec and put it aside until time to reinstall. Otherwise, I'll be doing a tear-down......

If anyone sees any flaws in this plan, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll report back next week on how it went!

Again,

Duff :omg:

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,910]

We definitely want a picture of this one Duff!

Mike..........

[Buzz 502]

We definitely want a picture of this one Duff!

Mike..........

Yeah, what he said :horseplay: