Allison 2000MH in shop

[mking]

Went for service before next trip and local Allison shop found code, fluid smells toastie. Indications are that cable linkage and shifter have been keeping positioning just out of whack. In shop now for complete review, at minimum new shifter, cable and positioner on side of tranny. I only felt it shudder one time on the way out of driveway going to Cummins the same day for engine service, then saw light and after service went directly to Allison.
Question - rebuild, buy remanu replace, or newer replace model if works
This is on a 2001 W Journey 275 cummins with 45k. Very clean MH

Suggestions - can't seem to get $ on web
Trans being diag tomorrow morning 9/30 AM

[Skip426]

You'll realy have to get prices from the dealer, then look into all you options.
Price of rebuilt, length of warrenty, where warrenty service would be available( nationwide prefered). VS same for factory reman.
Due to the electronics involved a newer model trans may not retro fit but a heavy duty one of the same vintage might. 3060? There may be mount / drive shaft issues too. Then ask yourself if the price makes sense for the length of time you plan to keep the coach.
Overall not a good situation. Good luck.

[mking]

Thanks Skip426,

I seem to have a decent technician at a Detroit Allison shop here in S. Orlando. Upon inspection and test drive, could not replicate the slippage. Did find that the shifter and cable were so stiff that positioning was difficult. Found that the cable was rusted and a cable bracket was damaged near the transmission shifter. The threaded end of the cable was frozen adding more stiffness and broke off during the attempt to loosen. Appears that the transmission slippage condition was recent and not historical. Stiffness was not putting transmission in neutral detent consistently; therefore shifting positioning suspect.

Present solution: Based on no strong evidence in pan of damage, flush and service, replace cable(another story) and shifter.
THE CABLE - none available( local RV dealers or Freightliner warehouses(4). Double checked myself. Therefore local custom build being done to get me on the road. If this works enought to get me on the road safely without damage will return later to replace the shifter. Can't find theat part number on that thing either yet!
I do trust that this technician will properly advise if I need to wait on the shifter. He has been keeping me informed each step.
Will see what happens Monday.
Thanks again for reply and I hope this may help others.

[Skip426]

Good to hear that the condition appers not to be terminal. Now if the good parts fairy will only visit with the parts you need .
Hope your mobile soon .

[mking]

Skip426,

Good parts fairy just left town :-(, Shifter is not feasible to put on road. Been trying to help shop find one. It is a Felstad FLDNFC005 - Not a part on anyones shelf and Freightliner may take up to six months. Looking now for a salvage part.

[Skip426]

mking, I, ( owning an older coach myself ) , hate hearing about parts availability issues. Do you have a good list of RV salvage yards in your area ? If not maybe post on the Class A Discussion forum for help. Maybe even post a picture, someone may know of another application for the part. Hope you have better luck , real soon.

[mking]

Skip426 ,

Update, think we have a new replacement. Blind Luck does work. Here goes my Mtale. Googled all I could and called salvage after salvage across country, no avail. My son is a Ford Senior Master and have been keeping him in the loop. He recalled a supplier named Orscheln Products. I called them, turns out they bought Felstad last year and moved its operations to theirs, so they knew the part number, but did not have any and required minimum of 10 order to have them built by the supplier. BY LUCK, I asked when was the last shipment you made of that part number, answer July 8th, 2010 to DETROIT DEISEL in Reno NV!! I am in a DD in Orlando. I passed this back to the local and ask why they did not see that info on their internal search. To continue, had them check with the specific location I had gotten from ORSCHELM as my take is that no one needs five(old Felstad minimum) of these things!! The answer was they had parsed them out to local buddies and knew who to call. A Reno Freightliner shop had one. Hope is is what it is proported to be. It is the same number. On its way to Orlando. Whow

[Skip426]

Fantastic; how's production of the replacement cable coming.

[mking]

Cable done yesterday. 3 feet longer than existing! Expecting finishing repair tomorrow.

[mking]

Here is the final. Cable, new shifter, new detent switch and full service with pan dropped and all filters. FYI $2450 This local DDA kept me informed every step, made me feel I got only what was needed and no sales pitches.

[Skip426]

Ouch on the $ total, But I guess considering, the worst case possible ; an on the road mid holiday; breakdown, acceptable. Sounds like the DDA Shop was good to you and hope that if you do need them again that the same tech is still there. Did they give you any hints, on how to prolong the life of the new shifter and cable, could be a case of 15 min. extra maintenance a year may stop problem from re-occouring. MHO, worth asking about. Safe Travels. Skip