Breather For Trans/Differential On 440IC

[hunter41mag]

Hi,

Does anyone know where the trans/differnetial is supposed to breath through?
While I have my finals off I pulled the shift cover and small cover off above ring gear to inspect gears, replace gaskets, shifter boot and shifter wear ring/seal due to water getting in when its left outside in rain. But I did not see any type of breather to let air in and out as tempature changes.
The only place I can see it able to get any air in and out would be by the shifter socket.
I am almost tempted to drill a hole in small cover above the ring gear and add one there? Has anyone done this before or am I missing something?

Don
Eastern PA
440IC

[JimAnderson]

Don,
I think you found the only place that these transmissions breath from,
the shifter socket.I never thought about it until your post but from the 40
series on up to the 440s no breather.I guess it gets enough air through the
shifter area.Drilling a hole in the small cover on the late 440s wouldn't
hurt as long as no water gets in there but I dont think it would help much.
JMHO.JimAnderson

[hunter41mag]

Jim,

Thanks for the feedback. But I would drill a hole and tap it to 1/8" pipe and than thread an axle breather in from a rear truck axle. That would keep dirt and water out unless it is submerged to that level and if that happens I have alot more other problems to worry about.

Don
Eastern PA
440IC

[ggfossen]

Don,

I was just in the top of my 420 transmission. There is a mysterious groove about 3/8 wide that runs up the side of the shift lever tower. It is covered by the boot. It may be there, in part, to let the box breath??

Gary

[hunter41mag]

Gary,

Thanks, yeah I saw it too but when packed with grease in winter I doubt if the grease would give enough for it to breath through?

Don
Eastern PA
440IC

[ggfossen]

I didn't think about packing it with grease. Probably not a bad idea. I did simply spray it with a thinner lithium grease. I wonder, though, if whatever expansion and contraction that occurs would simply keep a hole open through the grease?

Then again, if the grease were to seal it solidly, no moisture could enter...

Gary

[Lavoy]

There should be plenty of air space around the shifter as far as breathing. They seem to have no trouble getting water in them if left out, I would have to believe that air would be no problem.
Lavoy