The Ford Barn

19Fordy · 03-08-2015, 11:05 AM

The car is a 1940 Ford. I bought one of those little hand pumps from Harbor Freight and they are "marginal" at best and messy. Would it be possible to fill a standard hand pump grease gun with gear oil and hand pump it into the transmission? Does anyone make a hand pump gear oil gun? I have a pneumatic grease gun and am wondering if that will work with gear oil. All ideas are welcome.

Oh, FYI: A 17 mm 12 point socket fits the fill and drain plugs of a 40-48 transmission perfectly. Lot easier than using a Crescent wrench or 9/16 open end wrench.

trainguy · 03-08-2015, 11:21 AM

I bought a old service station hand pump which holds about 2 gallons of gear oil,works great.Paid about $35 plus shipping,found it in E!!!y.Phil

rich b · 03-08-2015, 12:00 PM

Ya; but a crescent wrench is traditional, besides I really, really hate using metric tools.

Anyway, I have used a gear oil pump from the auto parts store that screws directly on the plastic lube bottles, worked good for me. Not sure what brand the pump is; but it was about $10 at O'Reilly's.

scooder · 03-08-2015, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich b

Ya; but a crescent wrench is traditional, besides I really, really hate using metric tools.

Anyway, I have used a gear oil pump from the auto parts store that screws directly on the plastic lube bottles, worked good for me. Not sure what brand the pump is; but it was about $10 at O'Reilly's.

So use an 11/16" socket.
Martin.

Old Henry · 03-08-2015, 03:28 PM

I put it in straight from the 1 quart container by cutting off the nozzle enough for the oil to flow out (not so far that the cap won't snap back on), putting my thumb over the end of it, putting the container upside down up into the space next to the filler hole, then quickly removing my thumb as the nozzle is inserted in the hole and squeezing it in. Much easier, cheaper, and quicker than trying to pump it in. Wish I could show a picture but have never photographed that process. Hopefully you can understand it and its ease and simplicity.

30-9 · 03-08-2015, 03:33 PM

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I use a turkey Baster

jimvette59 · 03-08-2015, 04:10 PM

I use the pump for my lower unit on my outboard motor. Jim.T.

JSeery · 03-08-2015, 04:13 PM

A pump should not be a problem, most modern transmissions and rear axles are filled using them (and as jim pointed out, outboard units!).

cmbrucew · 03-08-2015, 04:51 PM

I do the same as the Prof. Very little mess.
Bruce

TonyM · 03-08-2015, 06:01 PM

I used a hose with a funnel attached. Hose into the side of the trans, then up through engine compartment with funnel. Took a little while but was simple and did the job.

Teich · 03-08-2015, 06:50 PM

Do what Old Henry does, but add a short piece of rubber hose, then you don't need the finger insert hose squeeze the bottle ( rotate the bottle up first) Laurie

D. Jones · 03-09-2015, 09:03 AM

I use one of the pumps that go on a gallon 90 W jug. I bought mine when I bought the gear oil at the auto parts. It was only a couple of bucks. Much easier than trying to pour it in.

JM 35 Sedan · 03-09-2015, 10:06 AM

I once needed to find a quick way to top off the gear lube in my '35 transmission and rear. My wife had an empty liquid hand soap plastic bottle with pump that I thought might work for something quick and inexpensive. I filled the bottle with gear oil and gave it a try. Worked like a champ. I now carry this bottle, filled with gear oil, with me in my bag of tricks for servicing my car on long trips.

funrunr · 03-09-2015, 10:19 AM

I used the 1 quart bottles, it wasn't the easiest method but worked. Next time I will pull the cover/trans tunnel and use rubber hose along with a helping hand. I don't have carpet in my car, just a mat.

ponymare · 03-09-2015, 10:53 AM

I use a suction gun, looks like a grease gun, just suck it full of oil, insert hose into trans fill hole, and push the plunger in. Only end up with a few drops of oil on the floor.

V8COOPMAN · 03-09-2015, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponymare

I use a suction gun, looks like a grease gun, just suck it full of oil, insert hose into trans fill hole, and push the plunger in. Only end up with a few drops of oil on the floor.

I agree.......doesn't get much easier. DD

FireEngineMike · 03-09-2015, 02:01 PM

Have any of you filled a crashbox 4-speed with PTO installed? The PTO shift mechanism sits less than an inch from the fill port. I had trouble trying to touch the fill plug, much less get a wrench on it or insert a filler tube or bottle. I'll have to look at it from above once winter leaves.

36coupe · 03-09-2015, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

I agree.......doesn't get much easier. DD

A must have! Cheap and effective.

john worden · 03-09-2015, 03:34 PM

I made a hole in the floor above the fill hole closed with a tight fitting plug. Pump or funnel/tube etc. would work just fine.

Merc Cruzer · 03-09-2015, 04:57 PM

Too bad they don't make a small canister that you could pressurize with you compressor and then just shoot it in. Like they do at the lube stations. That would be good for rear axles too.

03-08-2015, 11:05 AM	#1
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	How do you fill your transmission with gear oil The car is a 1940 Ford. I bought one of those little hand pumps from Harbor Freight and they are "marginal" at best and messy. Would it be possible to fill a standard hand pump grease gun with gear oil and hand pump it into the transmission? Does anyone make a hand pump gear oil gun? I have a pneumatic grease gun and am wondering if that will work with gear oil. All ideas are welcome. Oh, FYI: A 17 mm 12 point socket fits the fill and drain plugs of a 40-48 transmission perfectly. Lot easier than using a Crescent wrench or 9/16 open end wrench.

03-08-2015, 11:21 AM	#2
trainguy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lehighton Pa Posts: 1,085	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I bought a old service station hand pump which holds about 2 gallons of gear oil,works great.Paid about $35 plus shipping,found it in E!!!y.Phil

03-08-2015, 12:00 PM	#3
rich b Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,827	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil Ya; but a crescent wrench is traditional, besides I really, really hate using metric tools. Anyway, I have used a gear oil pump from the auto parts store that screws directly on the plastic lube bottles, worked good for me. Not sure what brand the pump is; but it was about $10 at O'Reilly's.

03-08-2015, 03:28 PM	#5
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I put it in straight from the 1 quart container by cutting off the nozzle enough for the oil to flow out (not so far that the cap won't snap back on), putting my thumb over the end of it, putting the container upside down up into the space next to the filler hole, then quickly removing my thumb as the nozzle is inserted in the hole and squeezing it in. Much easier, cheaper, and quicker than trying to pump it in. Wish I could show a picture but have never photographed that process. Hopefully you can understand it and its ease and simplicity. __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” *Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness

03-08-2015, 03:33 PM	#6
30-9 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: MA Posts: 888	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I use a turkey Baster __________________ Thanks - 30-9 1939, 1940

03-08-2015, 04:10 PM	#7
jimvette59 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Perry OH Posts: 1,330	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I use the pump for my lower unit on my outboard motor. Jim.T.

03-08-2015, 04:13 PM	#8
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil A pump should not be a problem, most modern transmissions and rear axles are filled using them (and as jim pointed out, outboard units!).

03-08-2015, 04:51 PM	#9
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,064	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I do the same as the Prof. Very little mess. Bruce __________________ Works good Lasts long time

03-08-2015, 06:01 PM	#10
TonyM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: West Hammond, Illinois Posts: 2,793	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I used a hose with a funnel attached. Hose into the side of the trans, then up through engine compartment with funnel. Took a little while but was simple and did the job.

03-08-2015, 06:50 PM	#11
Teich Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Brandon Mb Canada Posts: 133	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil Do what Old Henry does, but add a short piece of rubber hose, then you don't need the finger insert hose squeeze the bottle ( rotate the bottle up first) Laurie

03-09-2015, 09:03 AM	#12
D. Jones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 514	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I use one of the pumps that go on a gallon 90 W jug. I bought mine when I bought the gear oil at the auto parts. It was only a couple of bucks. Much easier than trying to pour it in.

03-09-2015, 10:06 AM	#13
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I once needed to find a quick way to top off the gear lube in my '35 transmission and rear. My wife had an empty liquid hand soap plastic bottle with pump that I thought might work for something quick and inexpensive. I filled the bottle with gear oil and gave it a try. Worked like a champ. I now carry this bottle, filled with gear oil, with me in my bag of tricks for servicing my car on long trips. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

03-09-2015, 10:19 AM	#14
funrunr Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belleville,MI Posts: 1,427	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I used the 1 quart bottles, it wasn't the easiest method but worked. Next time I will pull the cover/trans tunnel and use rubber hose along with a helping hand. I don't have carpet in my car, just a mat. __________________ Thank God this is only a hobby!

03-09-2015, 10:53 AM	#15
ponymare Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 160	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I use a suction gun, looks like a grease gun, just suck it full of oil, insert hose into trans fill hole, and push the plunger in. Only end up with a few drops of oil on the floor.

03-09-2015, 02:01 PM	#17
FireEngineMike Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Webster, NY Posts: 215	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil Have any of you filled a crashbox 4-speed with PTO installed? The PTO shift mechanism sits less than an inch from the fill port. I had trouble trying to touch the fill plug, much less get a wrench on it or insert a filler tube or bottle. I'll have to look at it from above once winter leaves.

03-09-2015, 03:34 PM	#19
john worden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: central Iowa Posts: 484	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil I made a hole in the floor above the fill hole closed with a tight fitting plug. Pump or funnel/tube etc. would work just fine. __________________ Louvering, bias ply tire-truing, metal shaping and forming, lathe and mill work, member shop HAGERTY Ins. expert repair network. High quality paint work in Iowa.

03-09-2015, 04:57 PM	#20
Merc Cruzer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Conifer, Colorado Posts: 2,431	Re: How do you fill your transmission with gear oil Too bad they don't make a small canister that you could pressurize with you compressor and then just shoot it in. Like they do at the lube stations. That would be good for rear axles too.