Gear change fail

[Njlarry]

Zf Hurth irm 220 A1 gearbox.
Have twice tried to suction gear oil out of dipstick fill, once with a manual pump, once with an electric pump. Each time get more air than oil. Tried defferent lenghts of draw, no change.
Can feel something soft at bottom and also feel and hear a break of suction when removing the dipstick.
Any suggestions welcome.

 

[bobeast]

Sounds like there may be a narrowing at the bottom of the dipstick tube. Have you tried a smaller diameter suction hose? At the very least measure how far down your hose goes and compare it with the length of your dipstick.

 

[my3sons]

Years ago I bought a Jabsco drill pump and adapted it to garden hose fitting to pump oil out of mercruiser dip stick tubes that had a garden hose thread at the top. When I got the 400db, I made up a short (15” +/-) 3/8” reinforced semi rigid hose with a garden hose fitting to attach to the jabsco. I stick it down into the dip stick hole on the trannys, it works fine.
When I’m done, I put a small drain pan under the tranny and pull the plug to get the last little bit out, that last little bit usually has the non magnetic sediment that doesn’t stick to the magnet on the filter plug. You could check to see if you have clearance to put a drain hose on your transmissions to make life easier in the future. I don’t have the clearance on mine to do that unfortunately, the shaft coupling is too close.