Unusual transmission question

[DaHose]

As part of a larger project, I would like to get some feedback from knowledgeable transmission folks.  The input shaft of the transmission has an outer cover with a flat, 3 bolt flange.  It covers the input bearing, and has a seal to keep in transmission fluid.

 

If one were to remove the ball bearing that is in the transmission, and replace it with a sealed bearing, is there still a need for the front cover?  Does the tube serve to hold the throwout bearing in place?  Or is the purpose only to hold in the bearing, and prevent oil leakage?

 

Thanks for any feedback on this question.

 

Jose

[Mike Self]

I'm certainly no expert on transmission design, but since sealed bearings existed when this tranny was designed, if the factory could have saved some $$ by using a sealed bearing vs an open one (little difference in cost) and thus saved the cost of casting/machining that outer cover, doncha think they would have?  

 

It's there for a reason or the factory wouldn't have put it there...just not sure what!

 

mike

 

 

[jimk]

Shaft speed is too high for a greased, sealed bearing.

Put one in, be a martyr.  Make a decision, be brave!

[Healey3000]

I don't believe "sealed" bearings are designed to seal the same way a radial lip seal is.  The seal is to keep contaminants out and the lubricant in.  Oil will quickly make its way past those seals.  Don't ask how I know :-)

[Schnellvintage]

That bearing supports the clutch and load from the engine to the trans. Trans oil needs to pass through this bearing as it also gets cooled by the trans oil. Also I never seen steel a steel race on a shaft seal any oil.



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[kbmb02]

6 hours ago, DaHose said:

Does the tube serve to hold the throwout bearing in place?

 

Yes.

[flagoworld]

Also... there's an oil channel in that front cover designed to fill the front side of the bearing with oil during operation, I am pretty sure. It seems a lot wiser to me to utilize that flowing oil to keep things lubricated than to rely on a sealed bearing.

[DaHose]

Some great feedback here, and I got to learn some stuff.  I will take all this in and report back in my build thread as to why this question was important for my project.

 

Thanks all!

 

Jose