The input bearing on my 81 5 speed has been deteriorating rapidly, so I had to park it a few weeks ago. I finally got the parts to fix it from Marlin Crawler, but I am not sure exactly what I am getting into haha.

I have a newer a FSM, but I haven't found one specifically for an 81 with the L50. I was wondering if anyone knows of a digital copy, or has a hard copy they could scan the transmission overhaul section from. Really looking for torque specs and an order of operations.

 

this might help.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f114...ission-241408/

 

Yes, that does help, thank you. They are pretty similar i believe.

 

got to here, started comparing the kit bearing with the old one. Discovered they were not the same bearing, as mine definitely has a larger race. You can wiggled the input shaft by hand easily quite a lot. I can see the bearing internal race shift around. Hopefully nothing else is wrong.

Called Marlin Crawler, spoke to Zack, who helped me confirm I did in fact have an L52, not an L50. I know it's the original tranny, so I guess some 81s came with the L52. They will be replacing my kit and hopefully I will be able to get her running again soon. When you turn the input shaft by hand you can hear some nasty noises, hopefully nothing else is wrong in there. Once I get this bearing replaced, if it still sounds like that I will have to revaluate things.

 

You should at least pull the top cover and take a look inside to try and determine whats making the nasty noise. I just did a full rebuild on my L52 with new bearings and synchros. It wasn't all that hard...take your time, label everything, take pics along the way for reference during re-assembly. A good quality bearing puller and a shop press are very helpful as well.

I bought my kit from a source on Ebay and it is nice quality...NSK and Nachi bearings. $160 bucks and shipped free. Had it in 3 days from west coast. Here's a link if you're interested:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170548787327...84.m1423.l2648

Prior to finding this kit I had called Marlin with some basic questions and they weren't willing to help me on the phone...so they obviously didn't need my business. Worked out for the best.

 

is the top input bearing pressed in,or is it retained by a c-clip?

 

It has 2 c clips. One around the OD that prevents it from being pressed further in, one on the shaft that prevents it from slipping out. From what i can tell the bearing is a press fit on the shaft, but just slips into the housing. I need to get a 2-jaw puller to get it off the shaft.
Thanks for the tip govt. too bad i already ordered the kit from marlin. I will have a look through the top plate to see how the gears are.

 

I already removed the clips in that picture cman. I can put them where they go if you'd like to see.

 

nope,i get it now,it always helps to have a visual! thanx!

 

the gears and synchros look pretty good to me

Should I replace the clutch while its out? I don't know how much meat was on it when it was new, so I am not sure where in its life span it is.

 

The pilot bearing was worked, so I definitely need a new one of those.

 

If you read his website in the rebuild kit section, it states: that they are not able to offer technical help on tranny rebuild

I run into this problem at work, and all of a sudden I've spent 1 hour on the phone talking about something I can do in 10 minutes. Why should they spend time/money when you are not even buying parts from them.

 

id definantly replace the clutch,ive had really good luck with marlins clutches.

 

I ordered a clutch kit from marlin and a new shift boot.
All the gears and syncros and gears look fine to me, considering breaking it apart to replace the other bearings though. Any insight on the difficulty of that?

 

If it shifted good. Didnt whine. And was only a bearing growl....do the input and leave it alone.

Rebuilding a manual the first time is a nerve wracking chore.

Have a press and bearing seprators? Gear pullers?

 

I've got a press, but i need the rest of the specialty tools.

 

I wasn't ASKING for "tranny rebuild" help. I merely had questions pertaining to IDENTIFYING whether MY trans was an L50 or L52 based on a few things I had read on this website AND the Marlin website. CLARIFICATION was all I was looking for. The Marlin rep I spoke with WASN'T willing to even do that. So, my business goes elsewhere. I WAS planning on buying THEIR rebuild kit, but the rep not even taking the time to clarify a few things PRIOR to me placing an order with them was a DEAL BREAKER. I live on the other side of the country from Marlin and I certainly didn't have time to dick around with RETURNING a kit if it was the wrong one. "Customer service" is obviously a dying concept in today's business world.

 

When measuring the input bearing is it the outside diameter that determines the size?

 

The L52 has a larger OD bearing than the L50.
Also a different number stamped into it.

 

well twice the tool slipped off the bearing lip, then it stripped out the threads

Having a hard time even finding a puller with enough reach to get to the bearing, I had to modify this one to do it.