Tranny problems - no gears

[Svinesund]

Hi guys,
I’m new to this forum, new to jeeps, as well as new to fixing them. I’ve recently experienced some transmission problems on my 1977 J20, 360,TH400, Qtrac, which I by the way haven’t own for very long. In my search for clues I came across this web site which I find extremely useful. I’ve learned a lot by studying your technical archives, even though I haven’t come across the answer to my specific problem. So here goes, hope you can help me…

When starting up the rig everything works fine for a few minutes, and then suddenly I have no gears. It’s like being in neutral regardless which gear I try to use. When I turn off the engine and let it rest for a few minutes I can again start it up and use it for a few minutes. These problems started to appear when it was cold as hell (-20C). It’s much warmer now but the problems are still here.

I’m thinking tranny-fluid. So I checked it and it looked and smelled ok even though the level was a little low. I put in about 70cl and now the level was fine. When doing this I had it in park and the motor had been running for about 15 min. It didn’t help.

I’m no expert here but I’m thinking, since everything works fine each time I start it up, this is more likely to be a fluid-related problem rather a part being busted. Previous owner informs me that the tranny was flushed and new filter and gasket installed not very long ago. What can I do before towing it to the shop?

[graham]

Svinesund, welcome to the world of IFSJ's. Not much of a tranny man my self, but there are those here whose grey cells are more switch on in this area. Your sure to find all the answers you want....just have to wait for them other grey cells to wake up..:)

[gsmikie]

when its started can you move the truck or does it feel like its going in to gear but it wont move ???? is the transfer case in gear ????? and full of fluid ???? (special fliud) does the shifetr feel loose ?? on the trans ???? / colum ???

[Mikel2]

Has the tranny filter been replaced recently?

[Svinesund]

To answer your questions gsmikie - yes it sometimes but not always does take a second or two before the car starts moving. The transfer case is obviously in gear when the car is moving forward and the low range shifter is where it’s supposed to be. But if it for some reason pops out of gear temporally just pop back in gear next time I start the rig I don’t know. I haven’t checked the fluid level in the transfer case yet. None of the three shifters feel lose and to finally answer you Mikel2, the tranny filter was indeed changed not to long ago according to previous owner.

[gsmikie]

None of the three shifters feel loose ?????? 3 ???? grop the trans pan and make sure the filter tube that goes from the filter to the trans case only has 1 o-ring on it going onto the trans case and that it is seated in the case bore

[Svinesund]

I guess that sounded strange...what I ment was neither the lever for shifting gears, shifting between HI/LO nor for shifting between 2wd/4wd feels loose.

[gsmikie]

you have 2 sticks for your transfer case ????

[Rogue]

wow a newbie that reads the archives before asking a question....
and to 2nd gsmikie...2 levers???on a QTrac???

[Svinesund]

The Qtrac is converted to handle part time 4wd. Emergencydrive switch in glove compartment is no longer in use, I do in fact have 2 levers on the Qtrac. Sorry i didn't mention this earlier, but like you pointed out RogueStar, I'm a newbie...