Gear winding down sound in neutral

[Herb]

Gear winding down sound in neutral....Is this normal?

My clutch fluid is leaking somewhere...can't find the culprit yet. Front driveshaft turns freely, so its not engaged. I locked the hubs a week or so ago and drove in 4wd on a dirt road for about two miles, then unlocked the hubs and took it out of 4wd. The sounds became apparent after this....not immediately though.

Any ideas?

 

[Herb]

Merry Christmas!

 

[kulangot]

Does the gear whine noise start and then wind down to a stop or is it steady? (all this while you are sitting, engine running)

It could the main shaft in the transmission spining the pilot bearing. If the pilot bearing is bad, it will make noise in Nuetral with the engine running. If you get a noise when you press the clutch, it's the throw out bearing.

If could also be a noise in the transmission. If low on fluid, you could hear a bearing in there- have you checked it?

-Stumbaugh

 

[Herb]

Hey John,
the noise starts and then winds down...does not continue when I'm sitting. I'm going to check tranny fluid..but I just filled that badboy a month ago. The noise doesn't appear when I depress the clutch either...it just starts to whine as I slow down to a stop...in neutral and/or with the clutch depressed or not.

Also, I get what I think is belt squeal at about 60 mph. I didn't get a toyota belt... I don't think the two are related.

Thanks for the help man.
Doug

 

[kulangot]

There is a shaft in the transmission that spins down after driving when the tranmission is in Nuetral. On many old trucks with out syncro 1st and reverse, you 'll have a hard time getting into those gears until this shaft stops spinning (if it does at all - read further). On those old trucks that don't want to go into first or reverse with out grinding, an old trick is put the truck in 2nd, then first and finally into reverse. It will pop right in because the syncro's in 2nd will stop the shaft from spinning. On some transmissions, the fluid will slosh around from the main shaft spinning while the clutch is engauged while idleing in neutral. This same trick stops it.

Me thinks you have low oil and or a bearing going bad.

Try the 2nd, 1st, Reverse trick - if the noise goes away, then it's the bearing... but you can probably live it like that for MANY years.

Also, I am not a believer in snake oil type of treatments such as STP or BG stuff, but Lucas Gear Lube additive really worked in my trucks - made stuff run much quieter. They PS stop leak worked for me too.

-Stumbaugh

 

[Herb]

Hey John,
Thanks very much for the suggestions. I checked the fluids....all were full. the tranny and transfer were new oil already. So, I drained and filled both differentials

So, it is probably a bearing going bad...but it really isn't too loud at all so I will live with it for a while. Trans and Tcase are due for a rebuild at some point...or maybe a 4speed conversion. I'll try your trick with first gear and reverse, that will help out a good bit. Until now, I've been just waiting for it to stop spinning at lights and such...then grinding it in to gear. It does wind to a stop and go into gear after about 5 seconds..which aint too bad. People are already honking by then sometimes though.....

If the noise gets annoying or worrisome, I'll give that Lucas stuff a shot.

Many thanks for the insight.

Doug

 

[kulangot]

Herb,

To get it into 1st gear with out any grinding, go 3rd, 2nd and then 1st - it will slide in like butter.

-Stumbaugh

 

[Herb]

The folks behind me at the lights will greatly appreciate this new trick!

 

[greytandy]

Herb,

To get it into 1st gear with out any grinding, go 3rd, 2nd and then 1st - it will slide in like butter.

-Stumbaugh

This should be the first item in a FAQ!!!

 

[kulangot]

This should be the first item in a FAQ!!!

Another one that is more well known but still handy is the reverse and roll backwards in gear if the truck won't come out of 4x4. While the truck is about to come to a stop, gently pull back on the transfercase shifter and it will slide right out of gear.

This problem of not coming out of gear is especially noticable when you've had the truck in 4x4 while on pavement/firm ground that does not allow the front and rear to differentiate - causing some binding.

The best trans trick is to double clutch down shift while hard on the brakes. Makes a heavy truck stop a lot faster. On the old three speed trucks it can great to get back into 1st while still going about 15 MPH - handy if you need to get rolling before you can stop or if you want the added aid in braking force.

-Stumbaugh

 

[Felix]

The best trans trick is to double clutch down shift while hard on the brakes. Makes a heavy truck stop a lot faster. On the old three speed trucks it can great to get back into 1st while still going about 15 MPH - handy if you need to get rolling before you can stop or if you want the added aid in braking force.

-Stumbaugh

To tie this into another thread, I'm trying to get Aubrey to learn how to do this now. It makes you feel so much more in control when you're coming to a stop from cruising speed.

 

[kulangot]

Tell her to press the brake with her toe and then blip the gas with her heel ("heel and toe" with foot sideways) Press clutch with left foot while pressing brake with right toe, pull into nuetral then release clutch, blip gas with heel, when rev's match up, pop right into the lower gear (syncro or not).

All this while you modulate the brakes just the point where they get squirrelly...

Takes some practice but works like a charm.

Next you can teach her to trail brake around turns. I once followed Donny Figliozzi in his FJ40 while driving a S2000 Honda. He trailed braked around a turn in his 40 at speeds I did not think were possible. Trail braking errors often lead to crashes so try at your own risks. He was getting one of the rear wheels just off the ground so not a very wise safe driving manuever, but fun none the less.

-Stumbaugh