Transmission Flushing Solvent?

[brian and clare]

Hi folks,

I am just about to purchase a rebuilt Hurth for my Perkins. In teh highly unlikely event that the rebuilt one dies on me (fingers crossed it doesn't) has anyone had any experience with using a solvent to clean a transmission in order to make it perform better?

There was a reference online somewhere about it, but the person who made it could not remember what they used. Anyone done this? Could it be automatic transmission flush like you would use on a car?

I am still buying the rebuilt unit, but wouldnt mind knowing I had two that could get me out of a pinch. Only 2 weeks to seeing the boat again! Then drop the mast (to run wiring inside, wires attached outside the mast through PVC pipe is pretty ghetto), replace the transmission, clean the mold, etc etc.

Thanks,

B

[Chief Engineer]

If you flush a recently rebuilt trans...you will probably void any warranty.

The trans fluid is a lubricant....

Flushing it is not goin to make it perform better. IMHO

[brian and clare]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I was talking about flushing the transmission that we are removing, not the new (rebuilt) one. That I will leave alone. As I read it , the idea is that the transmission flush dissolves varnish and gunk that has formed and helps the plate to not slip.

Im not sure if I am supposed to post others posts, but here goes (sorry if I am not supposed to)

"We then read about and tried a transmission reconditioning effort
that involved flushing the system with a solvent (can't remember what
it was - my mind wants to think it was mineral spirits) and then
exercising tranny by shifting between forward and reverse about 100
times and advancing throttle each time, then flushing, and repeating
whole cycle two more times. The theory was that this would help clean
the clutch plates somehow of the buildup that kept them from
locking. It did help. It stopped slipping. The saga and report from
2003 will be in the Liveaboard Archives."

[Alan Wheeler]

The theory was that this would help clean
the clutch plates somehow

Noooooo no no no, that's a lot of garbage.
First of all, "Proper" Transmission flushing is done by cycling Transmission oil through the trany till the oil coming out is clean. It is a cheap skates way of replacing the fluid without removing the pan. Most Tranys don't have bungs on the end. In fact, GM save 1.2Million dollars a year by not including a drain bung. This "flushing" business is just that. A business where lots of money can be made for very little cure. I doubt very much that the Transmission builders would suggest this method. The Bung is not needed because the pan should actually be removed for one main reason. There is a pick up filter directly inside and this above all things, needs replacing when the oil is discoloured and burnt.
Now OK, I realise the description above is alluding to something quite different again. But "cleaning" the plates of something is not the issue. In fact, the plates being dirty is not really the reason why the tranys stop working anyway.
NEVER ever put any other fluid into a trany. The plates would destroy themselves and will take a partly running transmission to a fully stuffed Transmission in seconds.
It is usually pretty much a case of, if the Trany is worn out, then it is worn out. Cleaning the plates, even if it did clean them, will not solve the issue. The plates are slipping because the plates are worn out, not because they get dirty.

[Steve Pope]

Yup alan sums it up.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Alan Wheeler

Noooooo no no no, that's a lot of garbage ...
... I doubt very much that the Transmission builders would suggest this method ...

This seems like a good research project.
What do the transmission builders recommend?

[brian and clare]

I got my new (rebuilt) transmission this morning and asked the nice gentleman just that. He had not heard of any such thing and pretty much said as Alan did that when its stuffed its stuffed. I suppose if I was in the middle of nowhere and it didnt work at all anyway I would give it a go, but at the moment I am not, and the old one may be rebuildable for the next guy, so I wont screw with it. Wish me luck on dislodging the old rusty one.

Thanks folks

[Ram]

What to do when sea water gets in and the plates are slipping because of this, is there any cure?

[Alan Wheeler]

What to do when sea water gets in

Flush with Trany fluid. Buy a few cans of cheap fluid and flush through. Short term, cheap trany fluid will not cause any issues. If you can assure yourself that all the water has been removed, then you can fill with a good quality oil. If you are sure the plates were in good condition before hand, then chances are they will be still. I am not so sure water is going to cause the plates to slip however. The Oil allows them to slip, but water will most likely cause the plates to grab and the box may get very clunky getting into gear.

[brian and clare]

Saga of the tranny continues our rebuild got aboput 10 shifts and crapped out in pago pago waiting on a rebuild kit will do it myself this time. Taking weeks to get parts and sitting next to a cannery waiting. Not the fun vacation I had hoped for.

[Alan Wheeler]

Oh no!! Was this the new Tranny Brian? or the old one?