Car: 83 RX-7, manual tranny.
Me: Clueless about transmissions.

Is the transmission a "closed" system? By that I mean, we drained the tranny and removed it to replace the clutch and pilot bearing and seals. The tranny is sitting on the back patio and since it's apparently somewhat of a pain to fill once installed...can I fill the tranny fluid before I reinstall the tranny??? So by "closed" system I mean will the fluid be contained (or will it leak out all over the place if it's replenished off the vehicle)?

(Flame suit ON).

Thanks,

DD

 

its really eseay to fill the tranny

undo the fill bolt run a hose to the tranny through the engine bay with a funeal on the top of the hose really simple just check it a few times

 

being a noob as well..I'll take a crack at this
the fluid is for the synchros..not the clutch
did you notice any fluid leaking out, after you removed the tranny to get to the clutch? meaning at the bell housing....
that should answer your question
and if you have the right tools..filling the tranny after install is a breeze..but, I know what you mean..trying to fill it with just the bottle, is a pain in the ****

 

OK. Thanks for the quick reply, guys! I'll use the funnel/hose trick or buy a hycar plunger (after we reinstall).

DD

 

Did the same thing and filled mine from the engine bay, really simple. Don't even need the plunger.

 

Hey, waaaaaaiiiiiiit a minute. I just reread this and I don't want to beat a dead horse here but the "closed system" question wasn't directly answered. And so now I think it IS closed (again).

"the fluid is for the synchros": means to me that it IS a "closed" system because the synchros are in the tranny.

"did you notice any fluid leaking out, after you removed the tranny to get to the clutch? meaning at the bell housing....": no I didn't but since the fluid was already drained....

"that should answer your question": actually, that's what RAISED the question. In my mind that meant no fluid to the bell housing which meant no harm in filling the tranny uninstalled.

Rotary Weasel (seldawg, and blwfly) I'm honestly not trying to be a PITA and I appreciate your responses. I just need to fully understand as I learn each new procedure (it's a curse) and why things are done a certain way (and why they can't be done a different way).

So what I'm asking is that even if it's not "standard procedure" to do so, what's the only/biggest/best/main reason NOT to fill the tranny fluid before reinstallation. Is it just because "that's how we always do it" ??? Or did I misunderstand again and in fact the fluid will leak out all over the place?

(I'll have a floor jack and a tranny jack so I'm not worried about the added weight of the tranny fluid, just in case that's one of the reasons.)

Thanks again,

DD

 

It's a closed system..you can fill it

 

closed as the weasel put it. As long as your seals are good it should not leak.

 

have fun

 

The fluid will leak out of the tailshaft of the tranny while installing it if you don't have some thing inplace of the driveshaft.I would fill it after you install it as it is way easier to do the install without any fliud in it to worry about leaking.Good luck.


Chris
79 GS
83 LE parts car
74 RE/PU

 

Just wanted to say again, no, it is not a closed system. Once the yoke is out fluid can/will leak.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Install, then fill. Will do.

DD

 

You can fill it from where the shifter goes in. It takes longer but it can be done.

 

filling from the shifter is the ez'est way to do it..(seeing as you already have the shifter out)...you can site in your nice soft rx7 seat and poor it in..just have some1 else laying under the car to watch the sight plug .. or you will have to poor it slow and keep checking it.........either way make sure that your car is leavel so you do not over fill it...

and it was said but if you dont not putthe yoke in it will drain out and make a mess/waste of money.. if you have a extra drive shaft layin around you can take the yoke off and use it as a plug if you want to fill it out side of the car

cheers PaTricK

 

Not sure about the SA tranny,but the later boxes cannot be filled from the shifter box.Some transmissions like the Borg-Warner T-5 can be filled directly that way,but the RX-7's is not meant to be filled from there.

In fact,the shifter box has its own oil supply and drain plug to lubricate the shifter.Its not connected to main transmission case except through the selector shaft tube,which is not intended to be an oil passage.If oil does go into the tranny from the box,then youve got a worn selector shaft or housing.
BTW,filling the shifter box with grease instead of gear oil works great to quiet a buzzing shifter or stop a leaking shifter box.

Fill your tranny after its installed.......if you really want to fill it before hand,then install the driveshaft into the rear of the trans before you lift it up into place.That will prevent the oil from draining out the tailcone,as stated before.Ive done it several times with my heavier TII trans/driveline and its not that difficult.

 

I thought that it was stated in the riginal manual I have that you can fill it from the top. Could be wrong though I guess.

 

This is a good use for a trashed drive shaft. Cut the yoke off and plug the back of the gearbox while you put it in the car after filling. I also have a input shaft that was removed from a trashed gearbox for new clutch installs.

-billy

 

78-85 trans can be filled thru the shifter on the top of the trans....SA and FB so you are wright IanS