Can't find manual gearbox breather

by **lewis** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:15 am

Hey guys

After changing my transfer case and gearbox oils last weekend (there was water in the gearbox oil) I went looking for the breathers to extend. The transfer case one is really obvious - right beside the shifter, but I can't find the gearbox one. I have considered it may be the two metal caps I can see on either side of the bottom of the shifter.

Also is there much point actually extending these breathers - will water just seep in around the shifters? My transfer case rubber sealing boot is in good condition but the gearbox one is munted and certainly does not seal around the shifter any more.

Thanks

by **mudslinger** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 2:45 pm

yes the gearbox is a cap, the system is a good idea however the flaw with the caps is when they are underwater the caps float allowing water to enter. i am in the process of extending mine. the gearbox shifter is a wierd set up mine had water sitting under shifter but it cant get into box i dont think.

perhaps someone could post a picture for him?

by **lewis** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 4:03 pm

yeah a pic would be great, I can probably take one and point out what I think it might be if no one has one handy though. There are 2 metal caps on on either side of the shifter - completely covered in grease and dirt at the moment though.
Or does it look the same as the transfer case one - in which case I havent found it yet

by **geeves** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:02 pm

Mu is slightly different in that the shifter is on an extension which the bighorn isnt

by **lewis** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:41 pm

Do you know where the gearbox breather is alan? I can see the t-case one its really obvious but the gearbox one isnt. I might take a pic tomorrow

by **geeves** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:49 pm

Never done mine sorry

by **mudslinger** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:03 pm

it should be another cap, one cap on pass side and one on drivers side right by gear lever just past transfer lever

by **lewis** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:14 pm

Yeah thats what I was thinking was probably it the two metal caps. I am yet to pop the caps off and look at what is underneath and they are totally covered in grease and baked on mud, fun fun!
Thanks

by **geeves** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:49 am

Thats the joy of owning a 4wd.
You could leave the job for the weekend.

by **lewis** » Mon May 30, 2011 10:51 am

Anyone know if these caps pop or screw off? I have had no luck with prying or twisting forces, but they aren't the easiest to get at. I am reluctant to use excessive force, in the event I pop off a cap and see that putting a tube over it and running a breather to the engine bay is not possible and then I have to reuse the munted cap.

Shifting is getting harder so I suspect there is lots of water in the box.

Cheers

by **mudslinger** » Mon May 30, 2011 4:08 pm

cap comes off with pliers and plenty of twisting etc. running pipe is easy make sure you get hose that is a big diameter as i brought stuff too dskinny and ended up filing the breather to make it fit. works a treat now

by **geeves** » Mon May 30, 2011 5:16 pm

If you suspect water in the box dont leave it in there. Rusted gears dont work so well.
you can take a small sample from the drain after it has sat overnight and drop it on a hotish stove element. If it hisses there was water in it.

by **4x4SWANNY** » Mon May 30, 2011 5:26 pm

And if it comes out all grey and yucky its has water in it too..

by **4x4SWANNY** » Mon May 30, 2011 5:30 pm

If i get time tommorrow i will take a pic of my spare gear box. from the 3.1 motor..And the gear box from a 2.8..
....Just to show the differences...and the breathers..

by **lewis** » Mon May 30, 2011 7:20 pm

Thanks guys, yeah will give it a go with some more force haha. Yeah last time the bottom few hundred ml came out milky, and I have been through lots of rivers and bogs and sometimes its quite hard to get into first so I do want to get the breathers sorted and change the oil again.

by **lewis** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:52 pm

Ok. I have popped off the passenger side one (drivers side one is bloody hard to get at with pliers at the right angle and if I am sure about what im goign to ask next then I might just dremel it off).

So they are spring loaded. I put my finger in the hole and it appears that it doesn't open. Moving the shifter around there maybe a small gap? but I dont have fingernails so I cant catch an edge to tell.

Mudslinger, do you understand how this works? If I get a large enough tube (havent measured but probably 15mm) and put it over the opening is it still going to breathe properly without the spring loaded thing in there?

Thanks!

by **mudslinger** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:49 pm

there is no spring the cap just lifts up with pressure and underwater the cap floats hence why water gets in. with the cap off its just a hole into the gearbox

by **lewis** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:55 am

There is a spring under the cap though? And if I put my finger into the hole it is solid metal at the end...

by **mudslinger** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 4:20 pm

when i took my caps off no spring flew out

by **lewis** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 4:26 pm

I wouldnt say it flew out, but there were springs behind the caps. Did you put your finger in the hole? I swear it feels just like a dead end...

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