ftpiercecracker1 Posted March 5, 2017 Author Share Posted March 5, 2017 PeteM: "What about just rebuilding yours? I've read it's pretty easy as transmissions go. it might just need new synchros." Its my only means of transport so I have to have it back on the road as quickly as possible. No time for my f**k ups. I've never opened up a trans before much less rebuilt one, nor do I have the (special) tools or space to take on such a task. I've watched a ton of videos on rebuilding an ax15 over the years and it's not simple. If this was a toy I would give it a go, but in my situation I can't afford to. This needs to be as quick a turn around as possible. Tex06: "The AX-15 is pretty easy to rebuild although personally it sounds like your clutch isn't fully disengaging anymore. I would recommend swapping to a new external slave and see if it fixes the issue before investing in a new tranny." With the truck in gear and the clutch disengaged (pedal pressed down) the truck doesnt move and doesn't try to move. Doesnt that mean the clutch is close to if not 100% disengaged? As far as internal vs external slave. I know the external is easier to replace, but isn't the internal slave better in terms of mechanical advantage? Pushing straight vs using a pivoting arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex06 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 PeteM: "What about just rebuilding yours? I've read it's pretty easy as transmissions go. it might just need new synchros." Its my only means of transport so I have to have it back on the road as quickly as possible. No time for my f**k ups. I've never opened up a trans before much less rebuilt one, nor do I have the (special) tools or space to take on such a task. I've watched a ton of videos on rebuilding an ax15 over the years and it's not simple. If this was a toy I would give it a go, but in my situation I can't afford to. This needs to be as quick a turn around as possible. Tex06: "The AX-15 is pretty easy to rebuild although personally it sounds like your clutch isn't fully disengaging anymore. I would recommend swapping to a new external slave and see if it fixes the issue before investing in a new tranny." With the truck in gear and the clutch disengaged (pedal pressed down) the truck doesnt move and doesn't try to move. Doesnt that mean the clutch is close to if not 100% disengaged? As far as internal vs external slave. I know the external is easier to replace, but isn't the internal slave better in terms of mechanical advantage? Pushing straight vs using a pivoting arm. Means it is close. If you really want to check, find a *slight* incline and put the truck on it and do the same test. My clutch currently isn't fully disengaging (because I'm an idiot and misinstalled it) and I have to put it on an incline to get any movement. Also, note where the clutch "grabs". Is it near the top of the pedal movement or in the bottom? A worn clutch that isn't fully disengaging, imo, could be the culprit. And no, there is zero advantage to internal slave except more complicated and potential for problems down the road. Whoever told you that line let you far astray. If there are any issues with the external, not only is it easier/cheaper to replace and troubleshoot, it also won't potentially leave you with fluid on your clutch disc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne Janitor Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Flushed it twice with motor oil, then filed it up with Redline MT. I give 100% credit to redline for extending the life of the transmission this long and will definitely be using it on my next trans. Are you using Redline MT-90 in your AX-15? Have you heard about the issues regarding GL4 vs GL5 and eating the synchros? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ftpiercecracker1 Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 Tex06: What would sitting on an incline tell me that flat ground wouldn't? In that case I suppose I would go with an external slave, that is so long as the conversion is to much extra. Airborne: Yes, Redline MT-90. I've known about the syncro issue for a while. Unfortunately my trans was headed south long before hand, adding mt-90 was just a last ditch effort to squeeze a few more miles out of it. I will definitely be using MT-90 in my next trans whatever it is. Update: 3rd gear has become a liability overnight, it gets stuck in gear almost every time I try to use it. Have to skip from 2nd to 4th now, which results in grinding. Everytime if the rpms aren't below 1k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex06 Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Tex06: What would sitting on an incline tell me that flat ground wouldn't? In that case I suppose I would go with an external slave, that is so long as the conversion is to much extra. Airborne: Yes, Redline MT-90. I've known about the syncro issue for a while. Unfortunately my trans was headed south long before hand, adding mt-90 was just a last ditch effort to squeeze a few more miles out of it. I will definitely be using MT-90 in my next trans whatever it is. Update: 3rd gear has become a liability overnight, it gets stuck in gear almost every time I try to use it. Have to skip from 2nd to 4th now, which results in grinding. Everytime if the rpms aren't below 1k. Your driveline has inherent friction in it. The slight incline is to give the possibly worn and not fully disengaging clutch a chance to overcome those friction forces. The surface you do it on matters too, put your truck in neutral on a smooth concrete surface (like a finished garage) and crawl underneath, spin the driveshaft by hand and see if the truck moves. Then do the same thing on asphalt or dirt. The point I'm trying to make is you want the truck to roll as freely as possible so you can be 100% sure it's not a clutch issue. Another thing is, I don't know your driving style, but make sure you are pressing the clutch in to the same level when shifting as you are in this test. If you fully depress the clutch while testing but don't quite push it in all the way in day to day driving, that could also lead to the gears grinding from a non-fully disengaged clutch. Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex06 Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Also, I think the conversion to external cost me about $100 for the slave/master (bought if off Amazon if I remember correctly) and the transmission pieces were free from pull-a-part (paid $79.95 + $25 core charge for tranny and transfer case. Left them bolted together and they only charged me for a tranny, sold the NP321 for $100 locally, kept the transmission pieces I needed and sold my old AX-15 for $150). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Tex06: What would sitting on an incline tell me that flat ground wouldn't? In that case I suppose I would go with an external slave, that is so long as the conversion is to much extra. Airborne: Yes, Redline MT-90. I've known about the syncro issue for a while. Unfortunately my trans was headed south long before hand, adding mt-90 was just a last ditch effort to squeeze a few more miles out of it. I will definitely be using MT-90 in my next trans whatever it is. Update: 3rd gear has become a liability overnight, it gets stuck in gear almost every time I try to use it. Have to skip from 2nd to 4th now, which results in grinding. Everytime if the rpms aren't below 1k. Precisely what happened to my last AX5. I was told by a mechanic at a Jeep shop that the countershaft bearing had let loose allowing the gears to bind. I had to drive home on a Friday night 2 hours away with only 3rd gear..........quite an experience. When I goes.......it's gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 does pumping the clutch pedal twice change anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ftpiercecracker1 Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 Jeep driver: You mean opposite? 3rd gear IS the problem with mine. Amongst other things. PeteM: I sometimes do it compulsively and it does bring the engagement point up higher in the clutch travel, but it doesn't seem to effect shifting. Some info that may be of interest. If I keep the rpms super low (1100) it shifts much nicer, although 3rd has still gotten stuck a couple times. Even if there is a problem with the clutch not fully disengaging, I feel there is a deeper issue with the trans and it is just being exacerbated by a partially functioning clutch. Plus the fact that my pilot bearing is nonexistent, it just needs to be pulled and given a refresh. The clutch itself easily has 100k on it, so it's getting due too. FPC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ftpiercecracker1 Posted May 3, 2017 Author Share Posted May 3, 2017 So with the ax15 on life support, it's grinding sitting there in neutral, I decided to park it. Thankfully my brother has a spare truck, (Toyota yuck, jk I love Toyotas) that he gave to me to drive until I get the jeep fixed. Now that I have a reliable vehicle to drive while the Jeep is parked I think I will take a crack at rebuilding the transmission myself. I know I can Google "ax-15 master rebuild kit" and get a hundred different options, but I wanted to know if there is one in particular you guys would recommend. I need/want the most complete kit I can get my hands on. Gears, sycros, bearings, etc everything. Thanks, FPC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex06 Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Best deal I found last year for a master kit:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BZ9OP3W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1$150 shipped. Rebuilt mine and going strong 3000+ miles later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omega_rugal Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 As master Yoda would say "use the CLUTCH luke, use the CLUTCH" seriously how come many of you eat the transmissions that fast? i have never break a tranny... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex06 Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 Got the truck with 207k on it and a first gear that didn't like to stay in. Drove it 5,000 miles like that before I had enough of having to start in 2nd. My last truck was an '05 GMC Canyon that at 143,000 miles when sold still had the original clutch in it. Grabbed about halfway up too, no slipping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ftpiercecracker1 Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 As master Yoda would say "use the CLUTCH luke, use the CLUTCH" seriously how come many of you eat the transmissions that fast? i have never break a tranny... I suppose i should mention that it has over 250k miles and has been used extensively off-road as well as used to pull excessively heavy loads dozens of times. It's been submerged in water/mud countless times and has only had the oil changed once in its life that i am aware and that was only in the last 20k miles. A properly maintained and lightly used ax-15 probably should last forever, but as I've pointed out mine hasn't had it easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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