Update on my Trans

[oldmansax]

I  towed my bus over to the SUPPOSED Allison shop in Mardela Springs MD. After assuring me they could fix it, they ran a few tests, and said I need a new (rebuilt) transmission. I asked exactly what was wrong and they said they don't know. They don't ACTUALLY  FIX Allisons. They just tell you it's not working and install a rebuilt one! Unbelievable!!!!! 
The only thing the do know is the pressures are good and it's probably a relief valve.

Anyone who knows of a working MT647, please let me know here, or by email  or text or call.

If you call and I don't answer, leave a message. Cell service is terrible here.

443 five too won 77 six ate

Thanks!!

TOM

[muldoonman]

I'd be looking up another Allison Service Center that repairs instead of replace or at least tell me what's wrong and hiring me a wrecker .

[luvrbus]

Penske will have a rebuilt 647 but they are close to 2500 bucks,the 647 core is worth 1500 bucks a highly sought after core.
Find out for sure what is wrong with if the valve body is bad I have one that will only cost you crab cakes ,I am not home so I will PM you my cell number.You are between a rock and a hard spot Allison does not support the 500, 600 or 700 series any longer  

[oldmansax]

I'd be looking up another Allison Service Center that repairs instead of replace or at least tell me what's wrong and hiring me a wrecker .

I have thought about that. The closest one I know of is Johnson & Towers  in Baltimore. that's across the Bay bridge from me which limits the tow companies to choose from. Probably cost $2K to tow it there. The juice may not be worth the squeeze.

TOM

[oldmansax]

Penske will have a rebuilt 647 but they are close to 2500 bucks,the 647 core is worth 1500 bucks a highly sought after core.
Find out for sure what is wrong with if the valve body is bad I have one that will only cost you crab cakes ,I am not home so I will PM you my cell number.You are between a rock and a hard spot Allison does not support the 500, 600 or 700 series any longer  

Thanks Clifford! Crab cakes we got! LOL!  I am going over to the shop today and try to get some more info from the mechanic. The only thing he told me so far is the pressures were good. He said he THINKS  there are 2 relief valves in the trans, one on the 1st gear clutch pack may be stuck. He is young and has never seen a 647. He also said the trans has to come out to repair the valve. I thought the entire valve body came out the bottom but I know less than he does about automatics.

Send your number and I'll call you after I find out something.

TOM

[luvrbus]

Tom, they want it out to use a dyno to set all the trimmer valves and shift points common practice with people they don't like draining the fluid and removing the pan 10 times to get it right lol I don't either 

[bevans6]

When I bought my 647 the shop built it with all new internals (clutches and what-not) using a 644 core housing.  We had a good discussion of what it was going in, the engine torque curve, the governed speed of the engine and shift points.  They dyno'd it to confirm all the settings.  I'm starting to feel like I was lucky with my shop choice.  They charged me $4500 no core, CDN bucks.

Brian

[bigred]

Tom ;This sounds like the run a round I got from WNC Freightliner the time Good Sam had my bus towed to them.I 
got every thing from we don't have a lift to I'm down in my back and can't get up and down like I used to Then their guy Curtis had the audacity to present me a bill for almost a hundred dollars for an "inspection charge". Beats me why Allison would list some outfit as a service center if they don't have the equipment to service their transmissions. If you don't get somthing worked out ,let me know and I will provide you with a number for Clarke Power Systems in Greensboro N C .You would have to get your core to them and back but they really know their Allison stuff.I can't stress this enough,but only deal with their service centers.Do not under any circumstances get involved with one of these little tech school grads they have on their service trucks

[oldmansax]

I haven't had time to post it on here but Friday I got the rest of the story.

First, J. G. Parks in Mardela Springs MD. does not have the special service tools to work on anything internally. They don't want to get into rebuilding transmissions so they just don't, just like the Freightliner place. Allison does have them listed as a full service shop, none the less.

All they have done is check the main pressure while shifting through the gears. Pressure is good. since anything else would require disassembling the trans, they just want to pull mine a replace it. Their estimate for doing that is between $7000 and $8000, "depending on what they run into".

Well, the first thing they are going to "run into" is me! I'm not spending that on this vehicle! I can pull it myself using a lot of time and about $400 worth of pain pills!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I found another company, Transaxel. They have a shop in Easton, MD. They will pull it, ship it to their Allison rebuild shop in NJ, rebuild it, ship it back to MD, and install with a nationwide warranty for $3300-$4100, "depending what they run into". So Tuesday, I'm hooking up the toad to the bus & pushing it to Transaxle. they said they would have it done in a week.

I'll post once I get it back.

Thanks to everybody for the help and tips.

Clifford, I'm planning on a trip to Texas this winter. If you get over that way I'll bring some crab cakes.

TOM

[bigred]

Tom: What is your transmission doing or not doing?? The reason I 'm asking Is this .We were in a camp ground and started to leave .Put the bus in gear and nothing happened .Put it through all the gears and  absolutely nothing happened .At the risk of boring the folks that read this when I posted this ,I'll cut to the chase .Mine either has an electrical problem or an air problem.I'm leaning toward electrical .After the bus has sat a while ,it does not want to go in gear.I found out that when this happens if I kill the motor then restart it ,it will reset and go in gear fine .When the the batteries are good and hot ,no problem starting .Now this was after two tow's and sitting at Ken Wilson Ford for a month .The problem?They could not get the thing to refuse to go in gear.I'm sharing this just on the off chance that it is somthing simple .I really hope that it is!!!!

[oldmansax]

Tom: What is your transmission doing or not doing?? The reason I 'm asking Is this .We were in a camp ground and started to leave .Put the bus in gear and nothing happened .Put it through all the gears and  absolutely nothing happened .At the risk of boring the folks that read this when I posted this ,I'll cut to the chase .Mine either has an electrical problem or an air problem.I'm leaning toward electrical .After the bus has sat a while ,it does not want to go in gear.I found out that when this happens if I kill the motor then restart it ,it will reset and go in gear fine .When the the batteries are good and hot ,no problem starting .Now this was after two tow's and sitting at Ken Wilson Ford for a month .The problem?They could not get the thing to refuse to go in gear.I'm sharing this just on the off chance that it is somthing simple .I really hope that it is!!!!

My trans is all mechanical. The full story is here:

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=32187.0

TOM

[bigred]

My trans is all mechanical. The full story is here:

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=32187.0

TOM

Sorry Tom!!! I had read your post before and even replied to it then!!! One of the perks of old age,,, I get to wake up in a new world every day!!!!!

[oldmansax]

       Sorry Tom!!! I had read your post before and even replied to it then!!! One of the perks of old age,,, I get to wake up in a new world every day!!!!!

I know how you feel.  We could just have a whole 'nother conversation and not realize it!   

TOM