I installed a Hurst on my truck quite a few thousand miles ago, back before christmas. I discovered earlier last week that it was leaking into the Hurst's base and out of the bottom stop for 2nd gear. I pulled it off and found there was no gasket besides the very bottom one, so I retrofitted in a breather gasket using some rubber gasket material from Home Depot. The tutorial I used to do this is on RangerPowerSports.

It's leaking between the top gasket (it's double-layered) and the base of the shifter, on the backside only though.

I went playing in the mud shortly before this was noticed. So I think there's a clogged vent or something.

My question is, is there a vent somewhere on the trans case somewhere, which I have searched and couldn't dig something up. It's gotta be plugged up somehow, then In my logic it would not vent through there and find the next most vunerable spot, aka the shifter. I know for a fact it is coming from the shifter because I can stick my finger there and get fluid on it.

Truck is a 2006 FX4 level II, 4.0 and M5OD 5 speed transmission.

 

the shifter assembly acts as the manual transmission vent.....the Hurst shifter seals the transmission and doesn't allow it to vent which is why it is leaking....the transmission has built up pressure and it is going out the easiest way...

 

I read that it does that, many times before even installing the shifter. I also read that along with that it would blow the rear seal out of the tranny. If I look at it I think it's better that its just coming out on top and not blowing seals out, ya know?

So this must just be a bug I can't fix? And I looked at it this morning again, the gasket seemed a little drier than before. The "breather gasket" has a slot in the front, allowing a vent-like setup. The guy who first did it has had his on for a year or so now or more and has not had any problems.

 

anything can be fixed. its just a matter of how much work you are willing to do to get it done right.

the tranny needs a real vent, not a slot cut in a gasket. while that slotted gasket may work for some, its not a garauntee it will work for every truck.

 

I kind of want it fixed as soon as possible. I don't want to have to worry about it anymore. Even if it means buying a new arm and base (I sold the fx4 arm) and go back to stock. If that's the only way to fix it, then so be it. I refuse to modifiy the transmission case or the Hurst shifter though, unless mods to the Hurst are easy. Which makes it seem like back-to-stock would be the best.

I've asked on RPS and I'll ask here too... How the hell do I fix this? They're less than helpful on this, and I might just be on my own.

 

personally, i would put a real vent in the tranny case. but if you dont wanna mod the case, then back to stock is your only proper option.

 

I hate to inform you guys, but the M5OD does not have a vent from the factory since it's initial use in 89ish... These trannys are designed to be a sealed unit because ATF doesn't expand the way gear oil does. I will agree that yes some pressure builds up because I know for a fact it does in mine, but there are no issues with that and I've actually found my tranny to shift better when it is hot and pressurized. But from Ford when new these transmissions do not have a vent in them, if it is venting from your shifter than the boot/seal is bad. The factory shifter boot/seal is part number 1L2Z*7277*AA and was 39 bucks from my ford dealer.

 

while there is no visible, external vent on the tranny case, it is the general consensus that ford built a vent into the OEM shifter. you can see the groove cut into the factory pivot in this pic



since the hurst does not vent in this manner, many have had issues with fluid workin its way up the speedo cable on older models, out the rear shaft seal, or whatever weak spot the pressure can find.

 

that groove in the ball is not for venting, its the centering groove for the pins to keep it from spinning. That groove sits UNDER the upper boot/seal on the shifter. the upper boot/seal sits on and seals the shaft to the right of the ball in that picture so the groove in the ball means nothing to venting.

Oh and for reference my tranny is a 4x4 M5OD with NPT plugs sealing the shift rail holes and a hurst shifter and I don't have a problem with leaking anywhere. I've been running the hurst now for 36,000 miles. The hurst has the same type of seal on it's shaft that the factory shifter uses at the top. I know my tranny is lightly pressurized because when I pull the fill plug the pressure escapes but in 36,000 miles I havent had a single issue with it.

 

I've noticed the same issue with my hurst leaking out of the drain/fill plugs - as well as the rear seal. I haven't tried the gasket modification yet, but I'm willing to give it a try. Seems like some have luck, and some don't. I hope you and I get this resolved!

 

I havn't had any issues with my hurst. I've been running it for about 15k, and bought it used as well. I have no leaks, and i have a 35+ mile trip to work one way.

I found this over at RPS the other day........might find it helpful.

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/for...d.php?t=216431

 

now, that makes much more sense to me than the "upper boot moves when shifting to allow venting" idea. guess thats what i get for following the masses rather than disassembling a shifter for myself and findin out

whenever i get the HURST i so desperately desire, i will likely add a vent to my tranny anyhow. i guess just cause i can. of the M5's ive owned ive never noticed any difference in shifting, cold or warm, pressure or not.

 

Update on my issue... I've had the gasket on since the post. Now the fluid is sorta dried up where it leaked around the gasket. Still wet right next to the shifter, and the bolts are all tight. The shifter rattles a lot in 3rd gear, and an increase in whine noise is also there in 4th gear. I think both are related to the grease that was in the shifter being diluted and eventually just puking out when I removed the shifter and gasket. I guess I should just top off the ATF too.

I don't know if I just want to wipe it dry, top off the ATF, and try again, or just order a new FX4 arm. I just need the part number for the base with screws and arm. I can take care of the rest. Unless someone wants to sell me an FX4 arm, complete, for a trade for a Hurst that I can't get to mate up with my tranny.

So there are no vents on the outside at all?

 

pm if your guna sell your shifter

 

The wine that your hearing is the gears in the trans. My hurst also rattles.....but usually only in 4th. And I havn't checked all the bolts since the install. lol. This weekend, I'll be replacing the gaskets with some sink gasket rubber material as mentioned in the RPS link i posted above.

 

I know there's tranny whine now, I've known that forever. It's just louder and it sounds like a medium pitched whistling noise. Maybe it's from the vent in the gasket? Or low fluid? It's a little more noticable than the regular tranny whine. I used that same sink gasket rubber too, if I had the receipt somewhere here I'd give you the sku on it. Really easy, took me an hour and that's because I had to make a punch out of brake line, since the auto shop in school doesn't have a hole punch lol. The shifter rattles a lot in 3rd, but if I hold the shifter in a certain position it doesn't. Almost like the stop is not far enough out, which is what I think it is. Or the lack of grease... haha.

Anyone know what type of grease they're made with?

 

I've got the rubber material already.

To everyone who has a hurst..........Does your shifter rattle??? Is this normal??

Matt....have you seen what some folks to do quiet the wine down??

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ead.php?t=8339

If it was leaking pretty bad before, you should go ahead and top off the trans fluid. It uses ATF.

 

It's not really the tranny whine that's bothering me, that I actually like to hear. It didn't do it before the tranny started leaking, so I think they're related. I knew it takes ATF, I had to tell someone on RPS about that. . I also signed up for that AlldataDIY thing, for the TSB's.

 

Apparently now Hurst has revised gasket's for the shifter.

Look here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=62906

 

mine does rattle some, it is the most quiet in 5th. the factory shifter does a good job of sound-deading, the hurst just has that 1 boot. ive heard of some tighting the stops to git rid of the rattle but i think thats a bad idea. they are stops,and you dont want to be preloading them, if you do you are basiclly keeping the trans from being fully in gear. that could lead to later troubles like not being able to stay in gear. all in all i feel the hurst is a great improvement over the stock shifter. i did put a extention on the lever between the **** and shaft. just made things more comfortable for me. its (2) 3/8-16 all thread connector and (2) 3/8-16 cut off bolts. covered it with a peice of 5/8 heater hose.