H55F removal question

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FJBen

FJBen

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So crosspost, but thought it would get more traffic here.

My h55f is leaking at the bell housing :mad: When I put the engine in I used a gasket, and seal on the input along with sealing the threads.
It's leaking, I didn't use FIPG so I'm hoping thats just the problem. However, I have a question about removing tranny/tcase.

Can you remove the transmission and leave the bell housing?

Or do you have to remove the bellhousing/tranny/t-case together. Trying to save a little time as those bolts are a pain, and the starter is definitely a pain.
 
You have to remove the bell housing. The trans is bolted to it inside the bellhousing.

I am not real familiar with the 13bt, rear main seal changed out when rebuild was done?

Can you tell, does it look like Diesel engine oil or gear oil?

Cheers
 
From my experience removing a 13bt/h55 combo in and out of my truck. The bellhousing is definitely bolted through the front into the trans. If you remove the transmission and bell housing is going to leave the motor really tilty when its supported by only the front two mounts. You can just hook up the engine to support it from the top. Best thing to do is just pull it all. Easier to get bolts in and out.
 
You can put a ratchet strap across the bottom back of the engine and the frame rails to hold it and not trash the engine mounts. Or you can just use an adjustable RV jack stand.

I recently changed the same seal on the front of the trans, kind of hard to screw it up. I also just replaced a rear main seal, also kind of hard to screw up but more likely in my opinion. Maybe he knocked the spring off the rear main when installing it?

Also just for anyone out there, the spring side of your seal always goes towards what you are trying to seal.

Cheers
 
It really smells like gear oil. The tranny was leaking/messy bell housing when I got it and the rear/main clutch looked good and not greasy.
I replaced the rear main on the rebuild and placed it correctly.

I will probably do the ratchet strap across the frame rails, I was thinking of using a jack but the ratchet strap seem like a good idea. Will probably use a jack stand for backup/safety.

pulling the whole combo is a last ditch effort for me. I literally just got this in and running lol, I do not want to pull that engine out again.

It's possible the rear main is leaking but I don't think so. Smells like gear oil. It also was darker oil when the engine oil was brand new looking still. (possible clutch dust making it darker) The engine oil level hasn't seem to lower either. Hard to tell exactly as not a ton of oil is leaking.

I looked at this picture and it looks like the tranny is bolted from the backside?

bellhousing2.jpg
 
Yup I could totally be wrong. Looks to be bolted from the backside. I have not pulled an h55 yet. The vast majority of manual trans though it bolts from inside.

I don’t think you want to leave the bell housing in place even if you can. It may reinstall a serious pain.

Cheers
 
Here's another view.

h55f.jpg



I'm just not sure if like you said, there is enough room back it out or how much of a pain is lining it up going to be?

I might try it just to see. If I can't get it lined back up right, the bell housing will be pretty easy to get out at that point.
 
FJBen said:
I'm just not sure if like you said, there is enough room back it out or how much of a pain is lining it up going to be?

I might try it just to see. If I can't get it lined back up right, the bell housing will be pretty easy to get out at that point.
Click to expand...


I agree ,although I have always removed the H55 with the bell housing attached because I wanted to get to the flywheel and clutch.
I cant see a problem lining the shaft up with the clutch splines, just make sure the gearbox and t/case are well supported.
 
With oil flying around in there you really should pull the bellhousing as well to make sure there is no oil on the clutch. You really aren't saving that much time and if there is oil on the clutch you will be doing the job a third time by the time you find out.
 
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