Topic: AX5 Rebuild questions...

[FourbangerYJ]

Bummer on the breakage.
If  your gonna toss those gears I'll take em. I'll find a use for them in some sorta art project.

[TahoeYJ]

Bummer on the breakage.
If  your gonna toss those gears I'll take em. I'll find a use for them in some sorta art project.

Sure thing  Better than throwing them away! Sometimes I swear us Four Wheelers are greener than the "greenies" themselves 

When they're out and ready I'll let you know!

[FourbangerYJ]

Couldn't agree more!

Thanks!

[conifergreen]

I am pretty upset at what happened to me today with my 1990 YJ Wrangler with a 2.5 litre engine and AX-5 tranny. I was going to change the transmission gear oil myself but because of a bad neck and because it`s such a hassle I opted to take it to a quick lube shop. When the guy doing the work was ready to refill, he removed the plug that says"DO NOT REMOVE" instead of the actual fill plug. I was horrified because I had read that this should never be removed. He quickly figured out this was not the correct hole and put the plug back in. He commented that it was really hard to get out which really upset me. I left the place after he was done and the Jeep drives ok and now it shifts easier with the new oil. However, it really bothered me about what he had done. When I got home I did some more research on the net and found out that this "plug" is actually like a set screw that keeps the internal parts of the tranny in alignment. Now I was really mad. So I called the place and they promised to make things right and are going to send me to a mechanic they deal with to have a look at it. But I don`t think there is really anything that he can do. Now I am worried that the tranny gears inside might not be in proper alignment and will not be meshing properly, causing premature wear on the shoulders of the teeth. A few months from now I could be facing a major repair. Does anyone have any knowledge on this subject and has the removal of this "plug" caused the parts inside to shift out of alignment? Is there any way to check? Is this really what this "plug" does? The vehicle never moved when the oil was being replaces and I believe it was in first gear. I am hoping having it in gear may have kept the tranny tight and that nothing moved inside. Thanks.

[TahoeYJ]

I am pretty upset at what happened to me today with my 1990 YJ Wrangler with a 2.5 litre engine and AX-5 tranny. I was going to change the transmission gear oil myself but because of a bad neck and because it`s such a hassle I opted to take it to a quick lube shop. When the guy doing the work was ready to refill, he removed the plug that says"DO NOT REMOVE" instead of the actual fill plug. I was horrified because I had read that this should never be removed. He quickly figured out this was not the correct hole and put the plug back in. He commented that it was really hard to get out which really upset me. I left the place after he was done and the Jeep drives ok and now it shifts easier with the new oil. However, it really bothered me about what he had done. When I got home I did some more research on the net and found out that this "plug" is actually like a set screw that keeps the internal parts of the tranny in alignment. Now I was really mad. So I called the place and they promised to make things right and are going to send me to a mechanic they deal with to have a look at it. But I don`t think there is really anything that he can do. Now I am worried that the tranny gears inside might not be in proper alignment and will not be meshing properly, causing premature wear on the shoulders of the teeth. A few months from now I could be facing a major repair. Does anyone have any knowledge on this subject and has the removal of this "plug" caused the parts inside to shift out of alignment? Is there any way to check? Is this really what this "plug" does? The vehicle never moved when the oil was being replaces and I believe it was in first gear. I am hoping having it in gear may have kept the tranny tight and that nothing moved inside. Thanks.

I believe I read that those plugs just keep the gears aligned, so that the transmission will only go into one gear at a time. If it still feels fine, I'd assume everything is OK. Might as well let the mechanic check it anyway. As long as you feel comfortable with him and his decision...

[TahoeYJ]

Still haven't even ordered parts.... I haven't pressured my dad because I feel fortunate that he's paying for them, but I've been without a vehicle for over 2 weeks now and NEEEEEEEED to find work. And he won't let me us his truck, so I'm SOL...

But- I'm FINALLY taking the tranny down to a friends shop so he can look at it and make sure we get the right gear and shaft, will be doing that at some point today. Hopefully I can get my dad to order everything today or tomorrow... Parts should only take a day or two to come in, and hopefully after that I can get it back together in 3-4 days of working on it.

Gonna pull the Jeep behind the fence later today and start tearing out the old tranny, hopefully will pick my clutch up tomorrow or the next day and slap it in so I've got that much less work to do when it comes time to put the rebuilt unit it...

[conifergreen]

I believe I read that those plugs just keep the gears aligned, so that the transmission will only go into one gear at a time. If it still feels fine, I'd assume everything is OK. Might as well let the mechanic check it anyway. As long as you feel comfortable with him and his decision...

Thanks for the reply TahoeYJ.I talked to a lot of people about this and another mechanic  told me that he believes it keeps the reverse fork in alignment and that if there was no auible clunk when it was removed, I got lucky. I also called a tranny place here in town and the tech there told me that the transmission parts are kept in alignment by the case and not by this plug.Nobody seems to really know for sure. But I have been driving it for a few weeks now and there doesn`t seem to be any problem. So I am keeping my fingers crossed!

[TahoeYJ]

This absolutely sucks...

I've called/stopped by a handful of shops, and it's going to be pricey regardless of where I go and all tell me I'm better off getting a used one, which is IMPOSSIBLE to find. I'm getting the feeling my dad isn't going to help me with this like he says he is too, we could have ordered parts 3 weeks ago, and he seems in no hurry to buy the parts (I don't mean to bitch, I just think it's up to me to fix it). I called a few other people looking for a used working AX5 and have had very little luck. I called a shop about 30 minutes from here and he said to check back next Wednesday as he's got a 4 cyl rig coming in and he should have a transmission for me. The rig it's coming from must be getting a 6 cyl or Hemi conversion.

It's very discouraging though... I haven't driven my rig in over 3 weeks now and have nothing else to drive, there's 3 trucks at my dads and he won't let me use any of them even when I've got detailing work to do... I go back and forth every day about selling it for cheap just to get a cheap beater. Then I realize it's not costing me anything to keep it, just to fix it. And as much of a PITA it is NOT having a car, I just want to tear the whole thing down and fix every little thing wrong with it and just let it sit till I'm done. Might as well at this point...

I guess I'll see what's going to happen this next week or so...

[Bounty Hunter]

Check out local jeep forums and Craigslist for a used AX5.  I always search all the different craigslists by using google and searching "ax5 site:craigslist.org" .

I had 5th gear go bad in mine, dropped the tranny myself and delivered it to a transmission shop.  They charged me for the clip that holds 5th on the shaft and for minimal labor.  You save a bundle doing this because a big part of the labor is removing and installing the transmission.  You run the risk of breaking the clip again if you shift aggressively and the synchronizers are not replaced.

Regardless of what ax5 you use, or even an AX15 conversion, be sure to use the proper fluid like Redline MT90.

[TahoeYJ]

Check out local jeep forums and Craigslist for a used AX5.  I always search all the different craigslists by using google and searching "ax5 site:craigslist.org" .

I had 5th gear go bad in mine, dropped the tranny myself and delivered it to a transmission shop.  They charged me for the clip that holds 5th on the shaft and for minimal labor.  You save a bundle doing this because a big part of the labor is removing and installing the transmission.  You run the risk of breaking the clip again if you shift aggressively and the synchronizers are not replaced.

Regardless of what ax5 you use, or even an AX15 conversion, be sure to use the proper fluid like Redline MT90.

Well, I don't have to worry now... I guess I was just feeling a little discouraged... 

Because I'm picking up an AX5 from a '98 with 88K on it Wednesday afternoon! 

And the best part... Well if I can score one in time... It's only going to cost me a 2" BL for his rig!  I'm going to call 4WP here in town and see if they have one or can get one by Wednesday morning 

I didn't even spot the tranny, my dad did, on CL. I somehow passes over it and he found it after I had looked. I'm STOKED!

As for this rebuild... The parts are simply getting JUNNNKKKEEEDDD!