M35A3 Transmision question.

[skd_87]

FELLAS! I verified that sure enough, the trans in my pride n joy M35A3 has officially not been able to shift into 4th gear without at least three attempts. (And will not fully engage reverse without slipping until you hit 1200rpm) I now feel your pain MOTOMACGUYVER! Not to change the subject but I have to tell everyone this. I received an "Ordinance Violation" for my M35A3. Now- I have 2) M101A2's, 1) M105A2, 1)M1008, and a 2nd M35A3 parked in storage. When I called the Village of Machesney Park's Asst. Planner/Zoning Inspector to verify my intent of compliance to the complaint this person immediately called my collection "OBNOXIOUS" then went on to say that "I will personally see to it that the POLICE LUTENANT OF MACHESNEY PARK verifies license plate compliance" Now I have a name for my collection, OBNOXIOUS ! (My wife sometimes agrees with that) True to his word, squad cars have passed my house every night since. Let me tell you fellas, I am very proud of my collection! I also have a light on my flag of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, so I can fly OL GLORY 365 days a year. I wonder if either one of them took notice of that? But the transmission is what I wanted to talk about, and that is a bummer.......

Some people collect spoons, some people collect cows, I collect AMERICAN HISTORY, if you don’t like it--- You can KISS MY FLAG..............Jeff Sowle

 

[motomacguyver]

Sorry, to here about your Transmission. The folks at Inland Power group were great to work with.

John Hendrickson is the person you want to talk to about rebuilding your transmission. They will work with you on shipping also. FYI it was less than 70$ each way (for shipping) for my trans to go to Millwaukee.

 

[glcaines]

FELLAS! I verified that sure enough, the trans in my pride n joy M35A3 has officially not been able to shift into 4th gear without at least three attempts.

Sorry to hear about the transmission problems in your A3. Although my transmission is working fine, I'm starting to get nervous.

 

[mktopside]

FELLAS! I verified that sure enough, the trans in my pride n joy M35A3 has officially not been able to shift into 4th gear without at least three attempts. (And will not fully engage reverse without slipping until you hit 1200rpm) I now feel your pain MOTOMACGUYVER! Not to change the subject but I have to tell everyone this. I received an "Ordinance Violation" for my M35A3. Now- I have 2) M101A2's, 1) M105A2, 1)M1008, and a 2nd M35A3 parked in storage. When I called the Village of Machesney Park's Asst. Planner/Zoning Inspector to verify my intent of compliance to the complaint this person immediately called my collection "OBNOXIOUS" then went on to say that "I will personally see to it that the POLICE LUTENANT OF MACHESNEY PARK verifies license plate compliance" Now I have a name for my collection, OBNOXIOUS ! (My wife sometimes agrees with that) True to his word, squad cars have passed my house every night since. Let me tell you fellas, I am very proud of my collection! I also have a light on my flag of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, so I can fly OL GLORY 365 days a year. I wonder if either one of them took notice of that? But the transmission is what I wanted to talk about, and that is a bummer.......

Some people collect spoons, some people collect cows, I collect AMERICAN HISTORY, if you don’t like it--- You can KISS MY FLAG..............Jeff Sowle

Just pull one of the truck in the back yard and pretend to do a lot of welding on it each night. Send the zoning office an anonymous DVD of Marvin Heemeyer's kill dozer rampage in Colorado. Hopefully they will over react and raid your house with the swat team. Then you can call the news and tell your story, and sue the snot out of them......and use the proceeds to move.


......I think it's a winning idea!!



Sorry to hear about the trans. Moto is now the resident expert and didn't have too painful of a time getting it fixed. I'd follow his lead.

 

[skd_87]

That does indeed sound like a winner! Proceeds to move AND fix my trans........ (hhmmm) I will give John @ Inland Power a call, and let him know that he did such a good job on yours that here's another one! I do take classes at night and theres an automotive votec there as well, I'll inquire if they are interested and see what we'll see! As alawys Gents- Thank-you to all!

 

[Hooper]

FELLAS! I verified that sure enough, the trans in my pride n joy M35A3 has officially not been able to shift into 4th gear without at least three attempts. (And will not fully engage reverse without slipping until you hit 1200rpm) I now feel your pain MOTOMACGUYVER! Not to change the subject but I have to tell everyone this. I received an "Ordinance Violation" for my M35A3. Now- I have 2) M101A2's, 1) M105A2, 1)M1008, and a 2nd M35A3 parked in storage. When I called the Village of Machesney Park's Asst. Planner/Zoning Inspector to verify my intent of compliance to the complaint this person immediately called my collection "OBNOXIOUS" then went on to say that "I will personally see to it that the POLICE LUTENANT OF MACHESNEY PARK verifies license plate compliance" Now I have a name for my collection, OBNOXIOUS ! (My wife sometimes agrees with that) True to his word, squad cars have passed my house every night since. Let me tell you fellas, I am very proud of my collection! I also have a light on my flag of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, so I can fly OL GLORY 365 days a year. I wonder if either one of them took notice of that? But the transmission is what I wanted to talk about, and that is a bummer.......

Some people collect spoons, some people collect cows, I collect AMERICAN HISTORY, if you don’t like it--- You can KISS MY FLAG..............Jeff Sowle

How many miles are on the A3?

 

[skd_87]

Hooper!
Please excuse the lapse in my reply. The M35A3 has just 2000 mi on it.
Jeff Sowle

 

[Joaquin Suave]

Just so you guys with Allison issues don't feel alone...Here is the HORROR that i went through with my prototype LMTV,

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/fmtv/11934-help-me-im-going-mad.html

But out of the "dark cloud" came a person that is NOT the silver lining!

When it comes to ANYTHING Allison TED KEATING IS PURE GOLD!

My experience with Allison authorized service shops is that they ARE ALWAYS ON THE UP-SELL, and their concern for your "situation" takes second fiddle to their profit margins!

That is why Ted Keating is the bain of their existence.

ANYTHING Allison...Call Ted first!

TKT Sales
Ted Allison Guru (ted@tktsales.com)
800 997 4858

PO Box 322
Bensalem, PA 19020-0322

BTW: I have no connection to him other than his being INCREDABLEY helpful with Libelula ( my LMTV prototype) and the retrofit of Casa Azuls (my F700 4x4 camper).

 

[glcaines]

Just so you guys with Allison issues don't feel alone...Here is the HORROR that i went through with my prototype LMTV,

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/fmtv/11934-help-me-im-going-mad.html

I really enjoyed reading your posts on your prototype LMTV! Have you posted photos?

 

[Scar59]

Hey Guys,
Found this thread and hope you're still out there. It just happened to me and my M35a3. Changed the trans fluid and filter and on first drive down the highway, no fourth gear and lost reverse by the time I got it home. The truck had ATF in the trans so I just changed the ext. filter and internal filter and added the appropriate amount of fluid, perfilled the ext. filter also. Started truck several times and moved it out of the shop and around the property, reverse was no problem. Down the county road slow, pulled out on highway and it never shifted to fourth, made a funny air release noise and vented some nasty smelling fluid out the vent line. This all happened in less than half mile. Limped it back home and now find fluid real dark and super fine metal in ext filter. I had checked the vent line ,I applied a little suction to it and it vented, any thoughts other that it,s time to call Allison rebuilds-R-Us.
JC

 

[trukhead]

Hi Joe

Hmmm, Oh boy, I guess it's time to fix the tranny. tomcata3 told me had a spare and an extra spare tranny for the M35A3 for sale that he picked up recently. If your mechanically inclined, drop that tranny yourself.

It sounds to me like a clutch pack or band has slipped and burned to the metal substrate.

It sounds like a tranny R & R and a converter and line flush.

You'll have piece of mind with the tranny rebuilt and fresh correct fluid from the start.

Dennis

 

[Scar59]

Hey Dennis,
Man I'm sick... Thought I did everything correct. Typical failure mode; loud squeal noise, trans vented some nasty smelling fluid and then no fourth gear followed by no reverse. Found real fine (powder) metal in the new external filter. I even checked the vent prior to taking it on the road. I'll probably drop the unit myself, don't look to difficult other than a lot of disasembly. Just need to find a good shop to O/H it.
Hope your summer is going good?
Joe C

 

[trukhead]

Hey Dennis,
Man I'm sick... Thought I did everything correct. Typical failure mode; loud squeal noise, trans vented some nasty smelling fluid and then no fourth gear followed by no reverse. Found real fine (powder) metal in the new external filter. I even checked the vent prior to taking it on the road. I'll probably drop the unit myself, don't look to difficult other than a lot of disasembly. Just need to find a good shop to O/H it.
Hope your summer is going good?
Joe C

The summer was ghastly hot for a couple of weeks but it is cooling off now. I am up to my elbows in receipts for expenses and setting up accounting. Excel is less of a mystery and it sure makes adding a snap.
I called and left a message for Tom he may still have a new in the box transmission. He told me he got two and wanted to sell one of them.
Maybe an overhaul by a reputable shop makes more sense due to fresher parts. Starting with Dexron III will be an advantage with the fresh tranny. I have read on another thread that the oil the military varnishes the friction surfaces. I bet the value of your M35A5 will go up with the value of the fresh tranny and just think of the piece of mind.
I've hired some help and am getting projects done around here. I have many projects to go though.
Dennis

 

[Scar59]

Drink lots of water (beer has water in it). Thanks for the call to Tom, we'll see what he has. Headed over to the truck parts house, going to pick their brain on local transmission shop options. There is a Allison factory shop in town, they will be expensive for sure. I was all ready to pull in my "73 M35A2 in the shop and start a restoration on it. A3 is back in that slot. Let me know what you find out.
Thanks
Joe

 

[wb9btz]

Geez... I've been thinking seriously about converting from MO to Dexron III using the 3-4 flush refill method recently...

However... the risk of this kind of transmission failure sure gives me pause !

Maybe the old adage "If it works... don't fix it!" holds true?

 

[wb9btz]

The truck had ATF in the trans so I just changed the ext. filter and internal filter and added the appropriate amount of fluid, perfilled the ext. filter also.
JC

Are you saying that (1) the truck already had ATF in it and not Motor Oil and (2) you did a single drain and refill along with changing both internal and external filters when this happened?

I'm trying to decide whether to change to Dexron III from Motor Oil using the 3-4 flush method and want to be sure this is what you did before having problems.

 

[glcaines]

Are you saying that (1) the truck already had ATF in it and not Motor Oil and (2) you did a single drain and refill along with changing both internal and external filters when this happened?

I'm trying to decide whether to change to Dexron III from Motor Oil using the 3-4 flush method and want to be sure this is what you did before having problems.

The A3 transmission was designed by Allison to use Dexron III, not MO. The military used MO to eliminate the need to support another fluid. However, do not use any Dexron fluids with a number higher than III as it will damage the seals. There are a lot of posts on this topic.

 

[Scar59]

My A3 was recovered early last year from Wright Pat. It had red ATF in the trans from the AF. Truck run fine, shifted a little high in the RPMs, ran 50+ mph. I drained and cleaned the pan, installed new internal filter and replaced ext. filter and refilled it with Shell DexIII. Replaced right at 10 qts. Fluid to the top of full.
Ran engine twice to warm up following work, no leaks. Pulled it out of the shop and around property/drive way. Reverse worked fine. Hooked up an emplty M105 trailer and headed to town for fuel and ice cream. Half mile down the road it never shifted to fourth. Make a squeal noise , vented some nasty fluid out the trans vent. Turned around and limped home. No reverse when we got it to the house. Photo was taked Fri night , 10 mins before the stuff hit the fan. Something must has dislodged and fouled the pressure pump o ring/seals. Fourth and rev. are out for sure, maybe third also. Ihave read other thread , with same senerio has occured to other SS members. I'm still sick, going to pull trans unit and have it rebuilt, it is a AT1545
JC

 

[wb9btz]

The A3 transmission was designed by Allison to use Dexron III, not MO. The military used MO to eliminate the need to support another fluid. However, do not use any Dexron fluids with a number higher than III as it will damage the seals. There are a lot of posts on this topic.

Thanks for the input Gary. I am aware of this info as I have spent much of my free time searching this forum on various topics... this thread included. It is clear to me that your conversion to Dexron III has been a resounding success. Also, you have provided much valuable info from Allison on this subject. Thank you so much for the information.

There have, however, been those who, for whatever reason, are not so fortunate. I am simply asking JC what his situation was so as to determine if there are any aspects of his conversion that may have contributed to the failure.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[wb9btz]

My A3 was recovered early last year from Wright Pat. It had red ATF in the trans from the AF. Truck run fine, shifted a little high in the RPMs, ran 50+ mph. I drained and cleaned the pan, installed new internal filter and replaced ext. filter and refilled it with Shell DexIII. Replaced right at 10 qts. Fluid to the top of full.
JC

OK... so you did NOT convert from motor oil to Dexron III as it already had some kind of red ATF in it when you bought it.

Hmmm... I wonder if this is the A3 Allison Transmission MWO I inquired about in a different post...?

Anyway, you did the logical (in my opinion) PMCS thing since it already had red ATF in it... simply drain, replace filters and refill.

Wow... talk about bad luck! I feel your pain. I assume you followed the instructions in the TM on filling it? As I understand it, over-filling can have catastrophic results.

At his point we can only guess as to what went wrong.

Good luck on your repairs... May your truck be running again soon!