[paddywagon]

I have a 1975 Bertram with 1988 351 ford windsors built by mercrusier. The port transmission is making a clanking sound when put into gear. The transmission will go into neutral, forward, and reverse just fine. I pulled the dipstick to the trany and the seal around the stick had pink milky fluid on it. I figured the trany oil coller sprung a leak. I think I cought it in time and was able to limp back on one engine.

My question is
Can I just empty the oil, replace the cooler, and refil the oil in the transmission to fix the problem?
If not do I have to pull the transmission and have it rebuilt? If so is this something that is easy and who would you all recommend to do this?

thanks

 

[captkw]

What kind of transmissions are they? Do you mean "1978" Ford Windsors? Mercruiser used Chevy's in 88. If they are Fords from 78 then your should have Borg Warner Velvet Drives, possibly with the reduction gears on the rear. Did the clanking noise start after the milky oil problem? If you caught it in time, try a new cooler ,fill & flush it twice, and try it under a load, it may be OK. I use TECO in Chesapeake for replacement parts (757) 487-5539. Once you correctly identify the trans make, model and gear ratio, the web is a good start.
If in Va. Beach, I can help.

 

[paddywagon]

thanks capt for the info. The engines are 1988 fords built by mercruiser or at least that is what the previous owner said. As for the transmissions I do not know what the model is. The clanking began toward the end of the day and that is when I checked the oil and saw the pink oil around the seal. I am not that mechanically inclined but I know that means that there is water in the oil. I did not use the transmission on the return trip back to the dock but did use it to dock the boat.

Do i need to just drain the transmission fluid from it or do i need to somehow pressureize the opening to get all the fluid out?
thanks again. the boat is at East beach marine in little creek.

 

[trnsmaster]

is this ed ? if so call donald. do yuo have a strawberry mlkshake when you stick the fluid? or red fluid and pink at the seal? just pink at the seal would just be condensationat the top of stick but if you have a milkshake when sticking it your screwed. if the unit has paper lined friction plates the water will unglue the linings and friction material will come off on sheete. if you have bronxe cluth discs then you could keep flushing till clear. the clanging could be anything from loose coupling at propr shaft to blown planetary in trany .disconnect at coupler and run see what you hear. mis alignment will cause problems at rear of trans also....

 

[paddywagon]

No this is Joe, Ed's son. Thanks for the info. We changed the oil in the trans and it was red and pretty so I checked the oil in the engine and that was grey and milky. According to a mechanic we know if the engine is not idling properly sometimes this will cause the trans to rattle when put into gear at idle speed.

We tore the risers and manifolds off and found one of the risers had water in the exahust port and the sparkplug was very wet. We put new risers and exahust manifolds on it and took it for a test run today and it seems to run just fine and the oil is clear. We will check and change it when we get it back to deltaville.

I will tell dad to give you a call, I am sure he will tell u he did all the work