oil leaking friom shift tower

Bill Goddard

Bill Goddard

Well-known member
I have 600w oil leaking from the little hole in my shift tower. As I recall when I assembled the tower 5 yrs ago the tower is vented under the silver half sphere which is pressed to the shifter. Why can't I plug this little hole and stop the leak? Thanks Bill G
 
That hole is to prevent pressure from building in the transmission. It should be kept clear. Never seen it leak. I am assuming the oil level is at the plug?
 
I would think of two things, some 600w's from my experience foam real bad (I have some of this type in my Warford on my Model T) or it is over filled. Where the shift ball rides is not much of a vent. The ball on the lever rides in a machined area.

I would check the lube level before a drive to see how full the box is and after a drive for foaming. If the lube is wanting to come out the filler hole on the side when you open it before a drive, it's too full and I would suggest lowering the level to about the bottom of the thread.
 
Bill Goddard said:
I have 600w oil leaking from the little hole in my shift tower. As I recall when I assembled the tower 5 yrs ago the tower is vented under the silver half sphere which is pressed to the shifter. Why can't I plug this little hole and stop the leak? Thanks Bill G
Click to expand...

That is your only VENT HOLE and needs to be clean and open..
 
Actually the vent hole is about 3/32nds hole in rear of shift tower.

Remove large floorboard and look where the floorboard contacts or would contact the rear of shift tower.

There might be a leak under silver sphere of tower but vents I have seen are as described above in this post.

Vent is usually plugged with dirt.
 
I don't remember a vent hole "under the little silver sphere" but I do remember slots which match the ball on the shifter lever.

I also remember that one can "pull up and turn" the shifter lever - a feature held in much esteem by period teen-agers looking to go "parking" - and why let a little piece of metal get in the way of "what comes natural."

That said, the seal/seat at the top is less than perfect, and given the spring, is effectively a "pop-relief valve" for any pressure - that is if pressure doesn't squirt out around the two slots.

I go with the actual vent hole (3/32) being covered with paint or grime/dirt or both and now oil is being thrown high either as foam or overfilling.

All previous answers for $200 Alex...

Joe K
 
I can't see how you could overfill the transmission as its full point is when you pour in the lubricant it would run back out of the hole. Unless you fill it from the top before you put the shift tower on. Could be?
Also, the shifter swinging out of the way was nicknamed a "dating stick." You get the message.
Marty
 
RE; Unless you fill it from the top before you put the shift tower on.
That is why I suggested checking out the level, just in case.

I read it as he wanted to plug the hole in the side of the tower and use the area under the bell to vent so that hole is maybe open? Who knows, maybe someone in the past drilled a hole up top as a vent.
 
The oil level is at the bottom of the fill hole. The little hole in the tower is open. The assembly of the shift stick to the tower is a naturally vented assembly. That is, the parts are not pressure tight. I don't see why this natural venting wouldn't be enough. Maybe I could plug the original hole and drill a hole in the top of the tower under the semi-spherical cap? Bill G
 
Unless you parked on a hill and the torque tube seal is shot and the rear end lube drained into the trans. My friend had a lowered front end and it happened to him.
 
How much lube are we talking about here? Drip? Running out in a stream? Can you see the lube come out or how are you telling where it is coming from? ie there is a trail leading from the hole.
 
I'm using an SAE 140 gear oil from an auto supply store. Supposed to be the same as 600W but maybe not. There is a little oil accumulating under gear housing and a small streak of oil running down from the vent hole.
 
Bill Goddard said:
I have 600w oil leaking from the little hole in my shift tower. As I recall when I assembled the tower 5 yrs ago the tower is vented under the silver half sphere which is pressed to the shifter. Why can't I plug this little hole and stop the leak? Thanks Bill G
Click to expand...

So Bill. What has changed? From when you assembled the shift tower 5 years ago until now? BTW, I use SAE 250 in my trans, which I have been told is closer in viscosity to original 600W.
 
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