So I think the A518 met its maker this am, but I wanted to run it by you guys to see if its time for a total rebuild or needs the bands adjusted.

Backstory, the truck is a 92W250, 3.55 gears, stock motor other than a lp piston pump. Has been a plow truck it's entire life, had a v plow on it when I bought it, I changed it out for a 7.5ft straight blade.
Early last summer, tps went out, so I installed the pressure switch conversion, and flip the switch for od.


Noticed lately truck just doesn't go like it should, especially in 4wd. Past few days noticed a whine, like a hyd pump whine, mainly in reverse, but today was in forward gears as well.


While driving home, was going along at 30 or so, in 3rd gear, floored it to get it to down shift, it down shifted, then surged, like a motor hitting a rev limiter. Got out of it and chugged the rest of the hill. Got home and checked the tv adjustment, was out, so I adjusted it per the stickey.


Went out and plowed, always in 4 lo, and noticed that as I went, it was taking longer and longer for the reverse gear to engage when shifted, and forward gear was taking its time. Now, I have barely any reverse, and that's only on flat ground, any load and it revs, if it does engage, it shudders. Same for forward, it does move forward, but any load and it shudders , but still moves.


What's up? Does it need the bands adjusted, or is it time for a rebuild? Fluid level is proper, but the fluid does smell burnt and like clutch/brake material, however has always smelled that way the entire time I've owned it. There is no extra cooler other than the one in the rad, and no, I don't have a temp gauge, so no temp readings.


Sorry for the long post, but I figure more info the better. I have a second 1st gen I dug out and driving now, so I parked it until I can figure this out.


Thanks guys/gals,


Matthews

 

With the trucks history and from what you are describing, I would put my money on the rebuild. There are a lot of upgrades you can do to that trans. I have done almost all of them to my truck.

 

That whining sound you heard was the trans pump crying. I bet the filter is pluged up and you smoked the trans.

I can't even guess the number of Dodge trans I have found with pluged up filters due to lack of regular maint.

 

I called a trans guy used with success in the past, and he seems to think its a plugged filter as well. He's gonna drop the pan and check things out.

Thanks guys, I'll post an update when I hear back

 

I changed the filter when I bought the truck 2 years ago, and I know there isn't 30,000 miles since I did that. Now I didn't flush the system, so I wonder if there was junk in the lines/cooler.


Either way, just tried to drive it down the rd, and I didn't make it very far before it started dropping out of 3 rd gear.


Looks like its gonna get a rebuild

 

X2

Had you done a fluid filter and band adjustment this spring you might have made it plowing this season. With your prior history of the burnt smell and what has happened now it is time for you to start shopping for rebuild parts.

You can do it yourself the only "special tools" you need are for the clutch pack compression but a hydraulic press will work with a little thought and fabrication. If you were closer i would say bring them over and we would use my clutch pack tool it only takes a short time to R+R them.

Warm enough here for you 2 MI guys this week ??

 

Don't drive it and ruin any hard parts or it will cost you much more, the basic rebuild of the soft parts is cheap.

 

You stated that this was a plow truck. That is the most severe duty you can put on an auto trans. Constant starting/stoping and lots of backing up. On a plow mule I would be doing a fluid/filter and band adjustment at least once a season.

I would have upgraded coolers on it also.

Remember a Dodge auto runs double the line pressures in reverse. Double the line pressure normaly means double the heat. Every time you push forward in a plow rig. You spend the same amount of time in reverse getting ready for the next push.

 

Thats good to know, for future trucks at least, I was gonna do a filter and check into the band adjustment this spring, before I put it up till next winter.

May have to tear into this and learn my way threw. I know there are some good write-ups about rebuilding these units, just going to have to sit down and do the research. I'm sure more questions will come



As I typed the original question this morning, the thermometer read -10

 

Well it is the big goose egg = zero here right now and -4 at my place up north to the east of you.

Not great weather for pulling a tranny

 

Yeah, it sucks for doing anything outside, or in the unheated shop. I dug out the '93 W350 and been driving it. Hated to do so, since its a low mileage non rust truck, but gotta get to work.

I'll probably wait till it warms up to pull it, give me some time to do research and learn some about these old units

 

Park the truck in a sunny spot, cover the whole truck w/ a piece of clear plastic. On a 10* day with the sun shinning, it will be 50* under that plastic.

 

Yes that really hurts that you had to drag the good one out to drive in this salt slop. I park mine and drive my sacrificial vehicle == a ferd

Let us know when you get the tranny out if you need some help, also their is a great thread on this site with excellent pictures of the entire rebuild just can't remember who it was right now.

 

Doesn't the 92 come with the heat exchanger for the ATF?

Either a Plow or Tow Truck I would overkill on the coolers and include a thermostatic bypass, the cooler could sit inside the bed.

Has anyone ever set up a Military Tug as a plow vehicle?
Seems there would be a lot less strain on the transmission and driveline especially for parking structures.

 

Yeah, I've read threw BC847's thread in the sticky, but I'm not sure if I can follow his build to the t, or? Would like to build the trans up, just not sure where to start.

I've often wondered how the dodge tug trucks would do as a plow truck. Other than being 2wd, they are heavy as heck, and short/handy. I imagine a set of chains on the back and it would be like plowing with a tractor. If I had one, I would try it.