As some of you may remember, the transmission on my SV Alpine broke earlier this summer. The main shaft of the transmission sheared and the output shaft of the OD (overdrive) was slightly twisted. I'm told that this is not unheard of in these cars. (Any comments?).
I finally got the tranny+OD back from the shop and I'm ready to put it on the car. While the shop seemed to have done a good job on the tranny, the output shaft of the OD appears to be slightly bent (as well as twisted). This was not apparent until everything was reassembled (with tranny + OD + the casing that covers the outputshaft of the OD). The shop said that it was only a few thousandths of an inch off - and there should be no problem.
If I turn the tranny input shaft in the bellhousing with the tranny in gear, I can easily see that the output shaft of the OD is offcenter. I'm sure that my eye is not sensitive enough to see "a few thousandths" and maybe it is more like 0.030 out (only a guess).
I am able to get the outer sleave of the driveshaft yoke onto the OD shaft, and I can insert it 1.5 inches into the casing that covers the shaft so that it is engaged on the shaft splines.
Here is the problem: I have to apply a reasonable amount of force to go any further (1/4 inch more). I have not gone any further, because I am not sure how much pressure is required to do the job. (I had a garage remove the tranny/OD/drive shaft from the car).
Please not that the 'twist' in the OD shaft is slight (3-4 degrees) and occurs on 2-3 cm distance on the tranny end of the output shaft. By this I mean that the output end (the drive shaft end) is straight - at least I think its completely straight.
Here are my questions:
1- How much pressure should I have to apply to the yoke to get it on the shaft? What lubricant should be used?
2- Once it is on the shaft, the yoke should be able to move in and out. How freely should it move?
3- Should I even try to install this tranny/OD if the OD shaft is off center? will I shread the oil seal at the end of the OD?
4- Can any of you think of how the OD shaft could get bent? Can it bend while it under normal use? Hard use? I can see how it could twist with hard acceleration/abuse. But how can it bend? Since the bend is slight, and since I never had problems with the tranny (no vibrations) when driving, is it possible that the shaft was bent when taking the tranny out of the car? The garage claimed they had difficulty getting the tranny and overdrive off the car. I hope that something can be done without a large cash outlay. I'm feeling a bit shafted (pardon the pun) - I've been charged $1350 for repairs on a tranny that I might not be able to use.
Thanks in advance!
Louis
~~~ Louis Collins, PhD Research Associate McConnell Brain Imaging Center, WB-201 NeuroImaging Laboratory Montreal Neurological Institute 3801 University St. Montreal, Quebec. H3A 2B4
tel:(514)-398-4227,1996 Fax:(514)-398-8948
e-mail: louis(at)bic.mni.mcgill.ca