Transmission Dipstick Problem

[Eric Johnson]

I've had a series of problems with the Allison MT643 tranmission dipstick as
follows:

Noticed about 5 yrs ago that cap and stopper were loose on the dipstick. Had a
mechanic
spot weld the cap in place.

Noticed about 3 yrs ago that the handle had fallen off above the spot weld so I
ordered a new
dipstick assembly from Blue Bird and installed it.

Today I pulled on the dipstick to check transmission level and found the
dipstick had broken
off just below the cap and stopper assembly. I was able to fish the rest of the
dipstick out. I
could see some metal dust around the top of the dipstick tube.

I think the problem is vibration related. I talked with Bennie Collier about
the problem and it
was new to him. Has anybody had a similar problem? Know of any fixes?

Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

[erniecarpet@...]

Eric- just me wondering here- if you have metal shavings and have gone
through 2 dipsticks, would a change in transmission fluid and filter be in
order?

Ernie Ekberg
83 PT40
Livingston, Montana



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[davidkerryedwards]

I thought the cap/stopper were supposed to be loose. It seems that
all GM cars I've ever owned had a loose cap/stopper. I'd speculate
that the weld caused the failure.

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver-

-- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson" wrote:
>
> I've had a series of problems with the Allison MT643 tranmission
dipstick as follows:
>
> Noticed about 5 yrs ago that cap and stopper were loose on the
dipstick. Had a mechanic
> spot weld the cap in place.
>
> Noticed about 3 yrs ago that the handle had fallen off above the
spot weld so I ordered a new
> dipstick assembly from Blue Bird and installed it.
>
> Today I pulled on the dipstick to check transmission level and found
the dipstick had broken
> off just below the cap and stopper assembly. I was able to fish the
rest of the dipstick out. I
> could see some metal dust around the top of the dipstick tube.
>
> I think the problem is vibration related. I talked with Bennie
Collier about the problem and it
> was new to him. Has anybody had a similar problem? Know of any fixes?
>
> Eric in San Antonio
> 84FC35SBWL2
>

[Eric Johnson]

Hi Kerry,

I agree with you on the weld as responsible for the first dipstick break. I am
really puzzled
by the latest break of the 3 year old dipstick supplied by Blue Bird. It didn't
have any
welding done on it. I have another dipstick on order but doesn't feel like I'm
fixing the
root cause.

Thanks, Eric
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> I thought the cap/stopper were supposed to be loose. It seems that
> all GM cars I've ever owned had a loose cap/stopper. I'd speculate
> that the weld caused the failure.
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver-
>
> -- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson" wrote:
> >
> > I've had a series of problems with the Allison MT643 tranmission
> dipstick as follows:
> >
> > Noticed about 5 yrs ago that cap and stopper were loose on the
> dipstick. Had a mechanic
> > spot weld the cap in place.
> >
> > Noticed about 3 yrs ago that the handle had fallen off above the
> spot weld so I ordered a new
> > dipstick assembly from Blue Bird and installed it.
> >
> > Today I pulled on the dipstick to check transmission level and found
> the dipstick had broken
> > off just below the cap and stopper assembly. I was able to fish the
> rest of the dipstick out. I
> > could see some metal dust around the top of the dipstick tube.
> >
> > I think the problem is vibration related. I talked with Bennie
> Collier about the problem and it
> > was new to him. Has anybody had a similar problem? Know of any fixes?
> >
> > Eric in San Antonio
> > 84FC35SBWL2
> >
>

[Eric Johnson]

Hi Ernie,
For sure. I'm in the process of changing out belts, hoses, etc. When I get
coach back
together will head to Allison shop for transmission service.
Thanks, Eric
84FC35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, erniecarpet@... wrote:
>
> Eric- just me wondering here- if you have metal shavings and have gone
> through 2 dipsticks, would a change in transmission fluid and filter be in
order?
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83 PT40
> Livingston, Montana
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[Gregory OConnor]

Eric, one other part that fatiques often in the 3208 is the oil
pickup in the sump. I was surprised when Cat had the part instock.
The clerk said it was a high failure item. The truck had 300,000+
miles whin it failed on me but record from the previous owner showed
it was repalced twice prior when the pan was dropped.
Gregory
94ptRomolandCa--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
wrote:
>
> Hi Kerry,
>
> I agree with you on the weld as responsible for the first dipstick
break. I am really puzzled
> by the latest break of the 3 year old dipstick supplied by Blue
Bird. It didn't have any
> welding done on it. I have another dipstick on order but doesn't
feel like I'm fixing the
> root cause.
>
> Thanks, Eric
> 84FC35SBWL2
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"

> wrote:
> >
> > I thought the cap/stopper were supposed to be loose. It seems
that
> > all GM cars I've ever owned had a loose cap/stopper. I'd
speculate
> > that the weld caused the failure.
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 FC 35
> > Denver-
> >
> > -- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
wrote:
> > >
> > > I've had a series of problems with the Allison MT643 tranmission
> > dipstick as follows:
> > >
> > > Noticed about 5 yrs ago that cap and stopper were loose on the
> > dipstick. Had a mechanic
> > > spot weld the cap in place.
> > >
> > > Noticed about 3 yrs ago that the handle had fallen off above the
> > spot weld so I ordered a new
> > > dipstick assembly from Blue Bird and installed it.
> > >
> > > Today I pulled on the dipstick to check transmission level and
found
> > the dipstick had broken
> > > off just below the cap and stopper assembly. I was able to
fish the
> > rest of the dipstick out. I
> > > could see some metal dust around the top of the dipstick tube.
> > >
> > > I think the problem is vibration related. I talked with Bennie
> > Collier about the problem and it
> > > was new to him. Has anybody had a similar problem? Know of
any fixes?
> > >
> > > Eric in San Antonio
> > > 84FC35SBWL2
> > >
> >
>

[Howard O. Truitt]

Eric,
It's my understanding that there is a magnet in the bottom pan of the Allison
Transmission to catch any metal in the fluid. If this is correct just draining
the fluid would not flush out the metal shavings attached to the magnet.
Howard Truitt
Camilla, Ga.
86 PT40

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Eric Johnson]

Thanks Howard,
My plan is to head to the nearest Allison authorized shop to let a professional
take care of
the transmission service. I'll tell him about the metal from the dipstick and
see what he
wants to do.
Regards, Eric
84FCS35SBWL2

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Howard O. Truitt" wrote:
>
> Eric,
> It's my understanding that there is a magnet in the bottom pan of the Allison
Transmission
to catch any metal in the fluid. If this is correct just draining the fluid
would not flush out the
metal shavings attached to the magnet.
> Howard Truitt
> Camilla, Ga.
> 86 PT40
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>