Allison Transmission Rebuild

[ron6785]

Finally got around to disconnecting prop shaft coupling from Transmission output shaft and coupling. I have about a 1/4" play in the Trans. output shaft and also some lateral play as well. The most play I should have would be a couple of thousands and I have more than that . Several Questions. 1-I'm assuming I have to pull the Transmission< how hard is it on a 53 MY?? Can you get it out of engine room without going thru the salon floor??? 2- If I have to pull the trans (Allison M gear ) I might as well have it rebuilt. Anyone have an idea of what that would cost??? Thanks for any imput .Ron

 

[JLR]

Had my Allsion MH rebuilt in the engine room on my 56 MY a few years ago for 5K. It was way too heavy to move around easily.

 

[Genesis]

It is extremely heavy but the removal is straightforward.

Talk to Acadian in LA. They're the "go to" place for rebuilds/overhauls on these.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I've had my Allison disconnected to put a new clutch in, but I have not removed one. The mechanic that I used told me that he has removed them from a 53MY and carried them up the stairs (with 3 guys and a dolly). I believe that he was telling me straight and that they will fit out the ER doors so that you don't have to pull up the hatches.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

The MH weighs in at right around 800 PLUS another 100 for the flywheel. Pull that and do a rear main seal at the same time!.
Build yourself an A frame with a beam and trolley. We lifted mine outa the ER after I cut a big enough hole in the floor. Got it onto a 2 X 12 and a piece of sheet GREASED metal and slid it all the way forward to the V berth hatch and out with a crane. Kalamazoo Gear in K-town, Mi. did mine for 3500. The rear main seal is about $50 and a new set of flywheel bolts from DD was $60
( which they recommend changing whenever removed ((one time stretch!!)) )
Be prepared to go through all the associated BS at the tail end of the engine while youre in there... OOOORRRRR get bubba down there to change the bearing and seals and hope for the best.
BUBBA did do my rear main BTW and it was a GUSHER JED !! ;-)) ws

 

[captddis]

I had both of my MH's out and had Acadian go through them. I believe they are in the 500lb area. I hauled the port gear up the dock and back with a handcart. With two people it was not too bad. The stbd gear came on and off the boat with a crane on a barge as the engine came out at the same time.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

You might be right Dave... lets split the difference to be on the safe side... just plain damn heavy anyway... I laughed when I thought about bubba doing the rear main in place on mine... any wonder it leaked? It was full of hammer marks... ws

 

[captddis]

You might be right Dave... lets split the difference to be on the safe side... just plain damn heavy anyway... I laughed when I thought about bubba doing the rear main in place on mine... any wonder it leaked? It was full of hammer marks... ws

Agreed it is friggin heavy! Nice job on the seal, I see you measured the depth.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

That was strictly by the book!! Also put a wear sleeve on the crank. Bubba did that too... kinda. I think he did it with a center punch tho... LOL ws

 

[mike]

FWIW, personally pulled both transmissions out of our 53MY. Did not want to remove the engine room hatches, so we hand lifted them out of the engine rooms, transferred to a dolly on a plywood covered deck, then forward up the stairs and through the galley, and then up through the fwd hatch. Had to remove the hatch trim, to get about an inch of clearance on the sides. Two people can hand lift and drag them, not easy but doable. Used a boom truck to lift them up through the hatch. Have some pics if interested.

 

[MikeP]

The Ms weigh 350; the MHs weigh 480. Judge your need for number/size of helpers accordingly!

 

[ron6785]

Had my Allsion MH rebuilt in the engine room on my 56 MY a few years ago for 5K. It was way too heavy to move around easily.

Is the engine room significantly bigger on the 56 compared to the 53????

 

[ron6785]

Hey thanks for the imput everyone, I really appreciate it. Don't really care if the rebuild is on board or has to be pulled but don't want to tear up salon floor as the Admiral has put down some expensive tile and I will be definitely sleeping in the dink if I have to tear it up.

 

[ron6785]

The MH weighs in at right around 800 PLUS another 100 for the flywheel. Pull that and do a rear main seal at the same time!.
Build yourself an A frame with a beam and trolley. We lifted mine outa the ER after I cut a big enough hole in the floor. Got it onto a 2 X 12 and a piece of sheet GREASED metal and slid it all the way forward to the V berth hatch and out with a crane. Kalamazoo Gear in K-town, Mi. did mine for 3500. The rear main seal is about $50 and a new set of flywheel bolts from DD was $60
( which they recommend changing whenever removed ((one time stretch!!)) )
Be prepared to go through all the associated BS at the tail end of the engine while youre in there... OOOORRRRR get bubba down there to change the bearing and seals and hope for the best.
BUBBA did do my rear main BTW and it was a GUSHER JED !! ;-)) ws

Hey thanks for the pictures!!! Ron

 

[ron6785]

The Ms weigh 350; the MHs weigh 480. Judge your need for number/size of helpers accordingly!

Mike, thanks for the information. The guys doing the work are old S&S guys may need some pictures if they can't visualise how you described the removal. Ron

 

[Walter P]

Ron,

Yes the 56 engine rooms are substantially larger than the 53.

Walt

 

[Bob Scivicque]

Don't know your location, but Acadian in Broussard, La. is definitely the place to deal with. Family owned and operated. Great people. Their telephone number is: 337-837-3633.

 

[mike]

Don't know your location, but Acadian in Broussard, La. is definitely the place to deal with. Family owned and operated. Great people. Their telephone number is: 337-837-3633.

I agree with Bob, have had the same experience with these folks over the years. Ask for Brian, he knows it all about the Allison's, and he’ll take the time to talk you through any problems you may have.

 

[saltshaker]

Acadian is the way to go if you have the time. http://acadianmarinetransmission.com/site2.php
I had my M20 rebuilt and used Acadian for the parts. They quoted me a great price to rebuild mine. They also had a good price for a core swap. I didn't want to wait for the trans to be shipped from NJ and then back from LA so I had a local mechanic do the work. In the end it cost me about $1,200 more and we only replaced the output bearing, clutches and seals. Is your bad gear the port gear? The M's port gears output bearings are a known problem. Once fixed you will be OK. BTW when we pulled my gear it was blowing 25kts and the yard didn't want to take a chance putting the boom through the salon door to lift the gear. My mechanic and his worker carried the gear to the cockpit. The helper, a huge guy, lifted the gear off the boat and onto a cart on the dock!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Acadian is the way to go if you have the time. http://acadianmarinetransmission.com/site2.php
I had my M20 rebuilt and used Acadian for the parts. They quoted me a great price to rebuild mine. They also had a good price for a core swap. I didn't want to wait for the trans to be shipped from NJ and then back from LA so I had a local mechanic do the work. In the end it cost me about $1,200 more and we only replaced the output bearing, clutches and seals. Is your bad gear the port gear? The M's port gears output bearings are a known problem. Once fixed you will be OK. BTW when we pulled my gear it was blowing 25kts and the yard didn't want to take a chance putting the boom through the salon door to lift the gear. My mechanic and his worker carried the gear to the cockpit. The helper, a huge guy, lifted the gear off the boat and onto a cart on the dock!

Hey Jack... I hope you called him SIR... lol ws