Repeat rebuild of Allison Gear Box

My friend
I don't have one of those red flags, please accept my raspberry as the next best thing from south Georgia;
SSPPLLLLLLPPPLLLLS.

There are two oil hoses. Two ports on the oil cooler. Very (VERY) short water (coolant) path thru the oil cores so water direction would not really mater. There is no wrong way. Your picture was correct, no other way. Even if the lines were installed in figure 8s, it still does not explain where the oil went.
If the oil lines from the pump to the cooler were messed up, say the high side after the pump, then you could (could) blow the cooler, but no oil in the coolant.
Again, where did the oil go?

As someone totally non mechanical, sounds to me like they're making guesses and first they told you wrong filter, which they installed, and then the hoses were installed wrong, which they installed.

The one thing that makes complete sense to me is that you must find where the oil went. It didn't just launch into space. My fear is that if they don't figure out the true cause, next time the damage might be more severe. Again, I'm just typing as an observer and reader and in no way purport to know the problem or solution. Just not feeling comfortable that they do.

Ooopps, somebody messed up on that one. Still don't know where the lost oil is.
If I recall, your 12v71 Naturals. Nothing exotic. There is nothing connected to the sea water system so the clutch oil did not go overboard.
It's either in the coolant, bilge or thru the crank end & in the sump.

I'm sorry I keep harping on this, I think it is very important.

I don't want to curse your trial tomorrow, (well today, your in the other side of the world). I will cross my fingers for you and hope it turns well.

best,
rc

Hi,

Good luck with your sea trial.

I am in agreement with Ralph, for peace of mind you ned to knowwhere your gearbox oil went.

If due to some wrong pipe conections there was really no relief valve in the filter supply circuit how high did the presure get?

A gear pump running against a closed valve ( relief valve in backwards) does not run for very long, breaking the drive shaft is a lucky escape.

Hopefully they pressure tested the pilot shaft seal on the gear before reassembling. It is a lip seal and easy to install backwards allowing the higher oil pressure in the gear to push oil through the engine's crankshaft lip seal.

I've seen many cases where that seal failed (installed correctly) and dumped all the gear oil into the engine, very common actually.

Thx Bill106. I knew there had to be something like that, but I did not have enough hands on to quote anything. I don't know how that seal can be tested. I would think for a few fat pennies it should be replaced every time it's apart.


And a secret; Yes, even I have installed a lip seal backwards. Now I have to kill U.

Do I see a Sportfishing Charter Business in your future?

Sorry to hear that.......I don't think you should have to pay in this situation given the information. If it's a pass through oil cooler, it really shouldn't matter "too much" which was the hoses are routed, unless it has a check valve in it. But I've never seen a checkvalve in an oil cooler.

Nothing new, character-wise, in this post - same old. same old.

Check post # 10.

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/t...peat-rebuild-allison-gear-box.html#post188474

Hi,

I feel really bad! I was telling you about a month ago how I was following last year's rebuild and enjoying it. What a shame you are going through this again, with the added litigation!

Now it is a matter of whom will loose more, not who will win since that word sighs farewell when lawyers are involved! Those guys are obviously trying to dodge a bullet THEY fired, this is bad.

Hopefully mediation will resolve the issue early for it to be history, and most importantly, I wish the boat runs stable and safely for you and the family to enjoy.

Best of luck, may you have the upper hand.

Alf

Who has the old sock filter? I'm not sure how the sock filters were rated micron-wise but trying to push 40wt gear oil through a filter made for diesel didn't work too well. I was always taught to install the oil lines so that the oil would flow in the opposite direction of the water in the cooler. Like J stated the way that cooler is made I can't see how it would make a bit of difference. That gear may have just pumped itself dry if the oil couldn't get through the filter and back to the gear sump. You would have to see how it was routed first. Did it run long enough to turn any of the internal parts blue or do you know?

Actually the sock filters are/were used by DD on the crankcase breather filter on motors prior or without airseps. The sock would allow the crankcase gases to pass through it and the oil wouldn't pass through it and would collect in the filter housing. Then when the housing got full it would leak into the bilge......LOL I really don't think it should be used to filter gearbox oil, nor fuel.....

Anyways it's pretty shady for them to want to go to court over a $10,000 bill which really resulted in faulty workmanship.

George, you want to send the photo's to DD allison of the sock filter, hoses going to the cooler, and other stuff you posted and get statements from the manufacturer. A statement from the manufacturer in court, and they won't be able to say anything.