Transmission rebuild w/Sherman

I have some questions...

Since the Oil seal is in the Sherman and there is no longer a Bearing Retainer Shaft, should I bother to tear apart the Sherman to replace the oil seal if it's not leaking?

Should I worry about checking the Oil/fluid level of the Sherman while I've got it sitting in the floor, and if so, how?

How does one go about checking the Preload of the Main shaft? The counter shaft has a bolt that I can put the torque wrench on... but not on the main.

In Smith's Sherman Install instructions it talks about preloading the Sherman... it seems to me that this would be redundant since I'm going to be preloading the main shaft... should I just use a gasket between the transmission housing and the Sherman Adapter plate, then use the shims that were previously there to preload the main from the rear bearing retainer?

And, What's with the goofy tab on the Sherman adapter plate that prevents me from removing the lower front bearing retainer... Does anyone grind those off to prevent having to remove the adapter plate?

As always, I appreciate you guys' input.

Robert

• Chipped tooth on 2nd gear.

I haven"t seen a Sherman combo, but me thinks the tab you"d like to grind is what holds the countershaft of the Sherman in place. You"ll need to pull the adapter plate to R&R the bearings of the mainshaft, especially the little one on the end of the mainshaft that runs inside the output shaft of the Sherman. Check the race ground in the Sherman output shaft for wear. That little bearing has quite a job, but it must be the right design as we don"t hear of them failing.

FYI - I think the output shaft for the Sherman combo is available from New Holland. The price was set due to a limited run of them being built by hand in Sweden from steel aged in deep, cold caves. The machining was by a disgruntled watch maker who has never let go of his bitterness over digital watches. $$

• Smith 8N

Sherman trannys were shipped "dry" and needed to be "filled" before installation. During operation, the tranny oil-slinger "PUMPS" tranny oil thru the input bearing cage INTO the Sherman and actually "overfills" the Sherman. When you turn yer tractor "off", the OVERFILLED Sherman drains back thru the main tranny bearing cage, thus "flushing" the Sherman tranny oil overnite.

So yes, you can physically drain yer Sherman and refill with what ever yer using for hydro-tranny oil (some of that 5-gals) Its NOT NECESSARY, but what ever makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

I can't comment on yer pre-load questions or Sherman adapter tab, 'cuz I don't know..... .Dell