901 cleanup

[junkyard oval]

I bought a 901 trans almost 4 years ago. I never checked the oil level. It is in my 56 VW Oval hooked to a Subaru engine. After all this time I am almost ready to fire the engine. The trans is locked. It appears to be in two gears. Yesterday I pulled the nose cone off to have a look. The trans has no oil, but lots of crud. Can I pull this apart and clean it without getting myself into trouble putting it back together?

Ernie

[Bug@5speed(US)]

You should be able to do it with out to much trouble..

Check Pelican for a few articles..

If your not taking the gearstack apart, should be ok
Alex

[GS guy]

Here's a basic run-down on pulling the gearstack. The article is for a full synchro replacement, but goes through the basics of pulling it apart, what to watch for, measure, etc.
http://home.san.rr.com/pb914/rebuild/

Jeff

[Bug@5speed(US)]

Yep, that is the article I had in mind..Nice find
A

[junkyard oval]

Thanks guys
I will give it a try. I have nothing to lose.

Ernie

[GS guy]

Just be careful to try and preserve the gasket(s) between the gearstack intermediate plate and main case when you pull it apart. You'll have to measure the gasket thickness and replicate that thickness with the new gaskets during re-assembly. These gaskets determine/set ring and pinion engagement and are critical to get set back up as closely as possible when you put it back together.

Once the gearstack is out, the rest of the case is pretty easy to fully tear down. Might as well plan on replacing all the seals and gaskets while you're in there.

Also, here on the East coast (PA) there's a guy that rebuilds the gearstacks for a very reasonable cost (plus whatever parts you need). It's the parts replacement that'll bite hard though - just rebuilding 1st gear runs over $5 bills... and unfortunately it's the gear that gets the most wear and tear.
Jeff

[junkyard oval]

I don't have much time to play with my car. But, the trans is out and in my garage finally. This week the Chili Bowl comes to Tulsa so I will be there with customers from Tuesday night through Saturday night. The wife wants to go to a winery on Sunday. Another week with no progress. From the looks of things inside the trans it is just gummed up from not being full of oil. Condensation is a bad thing. A little moisture goes a long way inside a trans. When I get it apart I will take a few photos.

Ernie

[junkyard oval]

Finally had time to take it apart. The bearing look pretty bad. A friend has a parts washer large enough to put the whole trans in, so it has been cleaned pretty well. The gear stack is setting in a bath of cleaning fluid. I can get a trans from a 1974 Porsche 914 for a good price. Can I put my nose cone on it and use it in my car? Also how hard is it to flip the ring and pinion? This is all new to me.

Ernie