Transmission Leak, Shifting Problems

I recently cleaned the clutch plates and installed a Dave seal on my 74 Commando (owned for a year). I also did my first oil change around the same time. I began noticing an unusual oil drip on the right leg of the center stand which I figured at the time was from the oil change, maybe an overfill or untighted lines.

Yesterday when I took a ride, I began to experience hard shifting. Before yesterday the shifting has always been easy and flawless. It eventually got so hard that I couldn't shift into neutral. The shifter would just pop from 1st to 2nd. I made it home and found streaks of oil on the transmission case coming from the shifting arm. I removed the inspection cover and found that the oil level was very low. I drained the remaining oil from the trans and will replace today. I did try to shift through the gears while spinning the rear wheel with the engine off and it shifted fine through all the gears and went into neutral fine.

I'm thinking now that the strange oil leak was from the transmission, but I am unable to see where it comes from. Is the hard shifting caused by the low oil or is the shifting problem and low oil symptoms of a bigger problem? Could I have possibly done something wrong on the primary side when I cleaned the plates that effected the trans, such as improper clutch adjustment? Any advice would be appreciated.

Low transmission oil will defiantly lead to hard shifting - top it up and it should work fine - unless there is another problem. :shock:

Probably too late now, but it's usually easy to tell gearbox leaks from engine leaks, since hypoid (gearbox) oil stinks. Of course, if you use it in your primary too, as I do, that could also be a source of hypoid oil leak.

Good luck.

Yep, shifts a lot better with oil in it. Found a drip this morning, so maybe I can trace the leak. Thanks!

BrianK said:

Probably too late now, but it's usually easy to tell gearbox leaks from engine leaks, since hypoid (gearbox) oil stinks. Of course, if you use it in your primary too, as I do, that could also be a source of hypoid oil leak.

Good luck.

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What weight do you use, I'd expect a lot of clutch problems with gear oil in the primary, obviously you've got is sussed, what's the trick?

Recommend also checking the fastness of the outer case srews / bolts. Recently experienced this on a rebuilt Combat, leaked and difficult shifting.

Mick