Transmission pan leaks

T

tom geiger

New member
Dec 31, 2006
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So its been awhile since I last dealt with this and so I’m still experiencing leaking occurring at I believe the back portion of the transmission
pan. I had flatten the flange with a hammer and dowel. I also used a cork gasket and Permatex Form A Gasket all around. So I’ve done that all. So
here comes the dumb question. Is there a thicker gasket to seal this up with much like the thicker exhaust gaskets for the header pipes you guys
recommended awhile back? Those gaskets sealed up the exhaust leaks perfectly. I also recall a few bolts that might be causing potential leaks
because they penetrate the oil reservoir. I also am restoring a TR6, the leak master, or some call it its rust prevention system. But they have
right ups on sealing the bolt threads for some bolts that also penetrate the oil reservior as well. Just wondering about taking another swing at
this.

Thanks,
Tom
--
Tom Geiger
76 Eleganza II
KCMO
 
Here are a couple other leak locations that can be hard to find. The fluid moves along the housing to the lowest point where it drips.

-Manual shifter shaft. When the coach is sitting and the transmission fluid leaks down, the fluid level is higher than the shifter shaft. So it
leaks when sitting. Most Turbo-Hydramatics have a seal on the outside of the housing, but the TH425 has an O-Ring on the shifter shaft. Its a bit of
a pain to change, but the O-ring is a cheap common part.

-Support welds on the dipstick tubes. There is a brace on the dipstick tube which was spot welded in place. My brace was broken off and left a hole
in the tube where the spot weld was. I used a piece of Cold-Shrink tubing to seal the dipstick, then a hose clamp to fast the support to the
dipstick. Replace the O-ring seal where the dipstick tube enters the transmission housing.

Just a couple of leak points that dripped off my pan.


--
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
 
If yoo did the gasket and sealant correctly and wait for15 minutes then put
in fluid,it should not leak fron the pan.
Look to see if it can be from the rear chain cover.

On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 7:08 AM Bruce Hislop via Gmclist <

> Here are a couple other leak locations that can be hard to find. The
> fluid moves along the housing to the lowest point where it drips.
>
> -Manual shifter shaft. When the coach is sitting and the transmission
> fluid leaks down, the fluid level is higher than the shifter shaft. So it
> leaks when sitting. Most Turbo-Hydramatics have a seal on the outside of
> the housing, but the TH425 has an O-Ring on the shifter shaft. Its a bit of
> a pain to change, but the O-ring is a cheap common part.
>
> -Support welds on the dipstick tubes. There is a brace on the dipstick
> tube which was spot welded in place. My brace was broken off and left a
> hole
> in the tube where the spot weld was. I used a piece of Cold-Shrink tubing
> to seal the dipstick, then a hose clamp to fast the support to the
> dipstick. Replace the O-ring seal where the dipstick tube enters the
> transmission housing.
>
> Just a couple of leak points that dripped off my pan.
>
>
>
> --
> Bruce Hislop
> ON Canada
> 77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
> My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Someone was telling me that putting o-ring’s on the transmission bolts was very helpful.

Thoughts?

Dolph Santorine

DE AD0LF

Wheeling, West Virginia

1977 ex-Palm Beach TZE167V100820
Howell EFI/EBL , Reaction Arms, Manny Transmission

>
> If yoo did the gasket and sealant correctly and wait for15 minutes then put
> in fluid,it should not leak fron the pan.
> Look to see if it can be from the rear chain cover.
>
>> On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 7:08 AM Bruce Hislop via Gmclist <

>>
>> Here are a couple other leak locations that can be hard to find. The
>> fluid moves along the housing to the lowest point where it drips.
>>
>> -Manual shifter shaft. When the coach is sitting and the transmission
>> fluid leaks down, the fluid level is higher than the shifter shaft. So it
>> leaks when sitting. Most Turbo-Hydramatics have a seal on the outside of
>> the housing, but the TH425 has an O-Ring on the shifter shaft. Its a bit of
>> a pain to change, but the O-ring is a cheap common part.
>>
>> -Support welds on the dipstick tubes. There is a brace on the dipstick
>> tube which was spot welded in place. My brace was broken off and left a
>> hole
>> in the tube where the spot weld was. I used a piece of Cold-Shrink tubing
>> to seal the dipstick, then a hose clamp to fast the support to the
>> dipstick. Replace the O-ring seal where the dipstick tube enters the
>> transmission housing.
>>
>> Just a couple of leak points that dripped off my pan.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bruce Hislop
>> ON Canada
>> 77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
>> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
>> My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
If yoo did the gasket and sealant correctly and wait for15 minutes then put
in fluid,it should not leak fron the pan.
Look to see if it can be from the rear chain cover.
 
It didn't help me at all. After sealing the inside of the pan, slightly
chamfering the bolt holes for O-rings, RTV on the gasket, and great
assembly care, I STILL have drips from my Rockwell pan.

Ken H.

On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 1:10 PM Adolph Santorine via Gmclist <

> Someone was telling me that putting o-ring’s on the transmission bolts was
> very helpful.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Dolph Santorine
>
> DE AD0LF
>
> Wheeling, West Virginia
>
> 1977 ex-Palm Beach TZE167V100820
> Howell EFI/EBL , Reaction Arms, Manny Transmission
>
>
> > On Sep 12, 2020, at 11:24 AM, Jim Kanomata via Gmclist <

> >
> > If yoo did the gasket and sealant correctly and wait for15 minutes then
> put
> > in fluid,it should not leak fron the pan.
> > Look to see if it can be from the rear chain cover.
> >
> >> On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 7:08 AM Bruce Hislop via Gmclist <

> >>
> >> Here are a couple other leak locations that can be hard to find. The
> >> fluid moves along the housing to the lowest point where it drips.
> >>
> >> -Manual shifter shaft. When the coach is sitting and the transmission
> >> fluid leaks down, the fluid level is higher than the shifter shaft. So
> it
> >> leaks when sitting. Most Turbo-Hydramatics have a seal on the outside
> of
> >> the housing, but the TH425 has an O-Ring on the shifter shaft. Its a
> bit of
> >> a pain to change, but the O-ring is a cheap common part.
> >>
> >> -Support welds on the dipstick tubes. There is a brace on the dipstick
> >> tube which was spot welded in place. My brace was broken off and left a
> >> hole
> >> in the tube where the spot weld was. I used a piece of Cold-Shrink
> tubing
> >> to seal the dipstick, then a hose clamp to fast the support to the
> >> dipstick. Replace the O-ring seal where the dipstick tube enters the
> >> transmission housing.
> >>
> >> Just a couple of leak points that dripped off my pan.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Bruce Hislop
> >> ON Canada
> >> 77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
> >> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
> >> My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> GMCnet mailing list
> >> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jim Kanomata
> > Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> > jimk
> > http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> > 1-800-752-7502
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
I have had the same experience as Ken, only with a Ragusa pan (maybe they are the same). Did it all and it still seeps, leaves a dollar sized spot if
parked a couple of weeks, but doesn't embarrass me at a lunch stop, so I am starting to live with it.

JohnS
--
John Shutzbaugh, Vacaville, CA, ncserv;
77 Eleganza, bought it new, can't blame PO; and
78 Buskirk stretch, "What were we thinking?"
 
My Ragusa Cast Aluminum Ribbed increased volume transmission pan seeped ATF
after I carefully installed it. So, I drained it, and removed it. I have a
friend who has a transmission shop, and he has a high-zoot parts cleaner.
It uses several steps, but the final wash uses dishwasher detergents, and a
very hot rinse. Parts come out cleaner than when they were new. I had him
clean my pan. Then, I sprayed the inside with an insulating varnish used to
coat transformer coils, field windings, etc. It is a product sold by
Eastwood Company. The product name escapes me, and the smoke here is too
thick for me to venture out to the shop due to the wildfires.
Anyway, I sprayed several coats on the inside of the pan, then baked
it for 12 hours at 200° in my powder coat oven. It feels like a hard
coating when cured. I bolted it back on with a new black gasket, and no
more leaks.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 4:39 PM John Shutzbaugh via Gmclist <

> I have had the same experience as Ken, only with a Ragusa pan (maybe they
> are the same). Did it all and it still seeps, leaves a dollar sized spot if
> parked a couple of weeks, but doesn't embarrass me at a lunch stop, so I
> am starting to live with it.
>
> JohnS
> --
> John Shutzbaugh, Vacaville, CA, ncserv;
> 77 Eleganza, bought it new, can't blame PO; and
> 78 Buskirk stretch, "What were we thinking?"
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
My bad! It's that other "R" -- Ragusa, not Rockwell! :-(

Ken H.

On Sat, Sep 12, 2020 at 7:39 PM John Shutzbaugh via Gmclist <

> I have had the same experience as Ken, only with a Ragusa pan (maybe they
> are the same). Did it all and it still seeps, leaves a dollar sized spot if
> parked a couple of weeks, but doesn't embarrass me at a lunch stop, so I
> am starting to live with it.
>
> JohnS
> --
> John Shutzbaugh, Vacaville, CA, ncserv;
> 77 Eleganza, bought it new, can't blame PO; and
> 78 Buskirk stretch, "What were we thinking?"
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
I remember the name. Glyptal insulating varnish.
Judy says that our brains are like a Rolodex. We just have to whirl it
around until we come to the information we seek.Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

> My Ragusa Cast Aluminum Ribbed increased volume transmission pan seeped
> ATF after I carefully installed it. So, I drained it, and removed it. I
> have a friend who has a transmission shop, and he has a high-zoot parts
> cleaner. It uses several steps, but the final wash uses dishwasher
> detergents, and a very hot rinse. Parts come out cleaner than when they
> were new. I had him clean my pan. Then, I sprayed the inside with an
> insulating varnish used to coat transformer coils, field windings, etc. It
> is a product sold by Eastwood Company. The product name escapes me, and the
> smoke here is too thick for me to venture out to the shop due to the
> wildfires.
> Anyway, I sprayed several coats on the inside of the pan, then baked
> it for 12 hours at 200° in my powder coat oven. It feels like a hard
> coating when cured. I bolted it back on with a new black gasket, and no
> more leaks.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Oregon
>
> On Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 4:39 PM John Shutzbaugh via Gmclist <

>
>> I have had the same experience as Ken, only with a Ragusa pan (maybe they
>> are the same). Did it all and it still seeps, leaves a dollar sized spot if
>> parked a couple of weeks, but doesn't embarrass me at a lunch stop, so I
>> am starting to live with it.
>>
>> JohnS
>> --
>> John Shutzbaugh, Vacaville, CA, ncserv;
>> 77 Eleganza, bought it new, can't blame PO; and
>> 78 Buskirk stretch, "What were we thinking?"
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>
 
So all good ideas here. Anyone want to comment on the thick gasket idea? Even if it required longer pan bolts? Or is not possible?

TG
--
Tom Geiger
76 Eleganza II
KCMO
 
Another suggestion. You can sometimes get a very small leak from one of the transmission cooler tubes at the top of the transmission. It will run down the top of the transmission and to the rim of the pan. It then looks exactly like a pan leak.
You can use a little baby powder to help find this leak. I could not tighten it enough with my tubing wrench. I finally used a crows foot at the end of a socket extension and it turned a half turn and sealed. No more pan drip.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick CO

>
> So all good ideas here. Anyone want to comment on the thick gasket idea? Even if it required longer pan bolts? Or is not possible?
>
> TG
> --
> Tom Geiger
> 76 Eleganza II
> KCMO
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
And it has a drain plug!

Larry Davick
‘76 Palm Beach

>
> Same shape. Different materials.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Oregon
>
>> On Wed, Sep 16, 2020, 11:35 AM willie heater via Gmclist <

>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from Mailhttps://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986 for
>> Windows 10
>> Does the Ragusa pan use a different gasket than the original pan?
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
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> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Manny had me use black RTV and no gasket with the Ragusa pan. 10 years later when I had to open it up again I used RTV again a second time. Still no
leaks.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Most of the dismantlers just poke a hole in the pan to drain the fluid.
I also get alot of pans so bent up or damaged that I would have to spend
alot of time straightening.
Good thing Ragusa made these pans and they look good specially with the
final drive cover.
Sealing the aluminum pans has been challenging. Chuck Stoddard liked the
aluminum pans and had some success sealing them with a grey RTV made in
Cincinnati but it was hard to find. I started coating the side of the
gasket against the case with Aviation gasket sealer and putting o-rings on
the bolts with some success. The bolts are only tightened to 11ftlbs so
over tightening will create leaks.
--
Manny Trovao
mannystrans
Manny's Transmission
San Jose, California
408-937-1583
 
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