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Help: Drippy BW DG250 Auto Transmission!


RoadsterRich

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I have a Borg Warner DG-250 Automatic Transmission with a leak issue. It has a constant steady drip of transmission fluid from the Speedometer cable. The outer cable housing is cracked about 6" from the transmission and it drips very steadily there, this is a serious drip, not an ocassional drip. Before I replace the speedometer cable, is this normal, or is there something more sinister lurking in the transmission? Also is there a seal or something I will need in addition to the cable to prevent this? Any advice is appreciated.

The transmission seems to operate fine (at least at low speeds and reverse) as long as the fluid is topped off. As I have a brake issue I'm waiting for parts on I haven't hit 3rd yet.

Thanks,

Rich

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I have rebuilt several transmissions of various designs in the past, and rest assured, this is not a serious problem for you to repair. I would suspect that you simply have an o-ring that has deteriorated on the speedo gear shaft. I have located a website that has technical illustrations for your unit as well as a supplier of rebuild kits in N.J. with a toll free number. Hope this helps!

Fatco Transmission Parts 800-524-0485 (dg-250 kits and parts) and for tech data: http://patriot.net/~jonroq/BWtrans.html

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Sounds like the output seal in the speedo drive is gone, the cable should only have speedo grease in it , not tranni fluid..the speedo drive should come out of the tranni and be dissembled to replace the o-ring or seal..

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Thanks so far.

Here is a scan from the 'parts' manual for the car. It is not very detailed with regards to the speedometer . Part #49 "Speedometer Drive Gear" for the speedometer cable. Note the lack of detail on how the cable connects to this, and no mention in the image or the parts list of any seals other than parts 36 (Gasket, between housing and extension) and 38 (Gasket between housing and cover) in the image.

spdrv1.gif

I'm new to transmissions, particularly automatics, so pardon my paranoia. And no this is not in or going in the 1930 Chrysler, this is a from a 1959 Mk IX Jaguar, though with a few minor exceptions it is the same basic transmission used in the Studebakers and some Packards. The Jaguar is basically a driver, if I can get its leaks sealed up, it won't be a restoration project until the Roadster has been on the road awhile and the bank account recovered from that.

Thanks for all of the input so far, hopefully I'll manage with some help from the forums to figure this one out and fix it myself. Good news is, with a little discomfort and serious contortion work I think I can remove the extension casing without dropping the transmission.

Rich

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After looking at your illustration, your soultion to the leak is not in what you have shown, but what is not shown. Take a look at the opening for the speedometer drive gear. Notice the threaded hole below it. TYhere is obviously a housing that holds it with only one bolt, that runs parallel to the transmission, therefore much easier to remove with limited side-t-side space in the tunnel. If you want to make it a lot easeir, I'd recommend lowering the rear crossmember for access, if quarters are really tight. That housing will encase the gear and hold the defective seals. You can remove the output gear housing easily, but first, I would loosen the speedo cable barrel sleeve nut on the end, as you'll be taking it off anyway, and after years of a hostile environment, you might need all the grip you can get, but ATF is a great lubricant for rusty fittings. You will find that there was probably either a hard fiber washer behind the flat of the drive gear that would serve several purposes, a primary seal, also as a wearable friction surface and engagement spacer for the gear. Looking at the indentation of the drive gear, a rubber o-ring may be there as well. I'd call Fatsco, and tell them what you need after you take it off, you're probably looking at 1 hour total and $20 in parts, with gaskets, tops. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Note that the gearing is counter-clockwise, and the spirals on the shaft are the opposite, that's meant to return the oil, not pump it out, lol <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> By the way, I looked at the same transmission in the Jag sedans, and they are identical, except for the part you'll be taking off, because it's a Lucas drive cable, the drive cable nut is different than the US models.

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If it will stop raining and warm up a tad I'll try to pull the housing later today (Saturday), if it doesn't it will have to wait. Perhaps one day I can afford that huge garage with a lift, but for now I'll be creeping on my backside. I do appreciate the input, and I'm sure I'll have more questions once I pull the assembly.

Rich

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Well weather and family issues have stalled the progress. In the meantime I poured over the transmission service manual. There is one, and only one, photo that shows the speedometer cable going in to the transmission extension housing. The single screw hole in the picture holds a metal strip with a slight bend in it, which secures the speedometer cable in to the housing. That is the only image I have found of it. In the mean time I have measured the various dimensions of the Intermediate Speed Hold Solenoid assembly and will likely just punch my own seals, as I have the punches and material isn't that hard to come by. Hopefully when I pull the speedometer cable it will be something simple, if not well then I'll learn more as I go.

PS: Still working on the Chrysler too, it is just a slower more tedious job with fewer visible progress marks.

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Guest imported_oldmitchell

This is a common problem on Jags. There is no seal to prevent this except on the cable. Service bulletins were issued concerning the fact that fluid had come out the top side of the cable housing and dripped on the carpet. Mk IXs did not ususally have that happen though. Replace the cable housing. Problem solved.

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