leak+hard to move shifter

[the butcher]

I decided to do some work on my truck which was above my pay grade. I pulled the tranny, took the top cover off and everything looked great. I had a broken clutch plate,probally because I didn't have a pilot bearing left. So I fixed stuff, put it all back together, and I now have a leak on the top of the transmission, and the stick is difficult to move in first and second, works great in third and forth, and difficult in fifth and reverse. the gears shift smooth, it just hard to pull it in and out of the outside gears. I was told not to tighten the bolts on the top cover too tight, and am worried I left them too loose? And can I drop the back end of the tranny enough to get a wrench on them without taking the whole transmission out? Or is there something else up there that could leak? Thanks for any input. bob

 

[adsm08]

Sounds to me like you left the top cover too loose.

You can try dropping the rear of the trans and slipping a wrench up there. A flex head ratchet wrench probably has the best chance of working (Yes, I am telling you to go buy one if you are going to try this).

You want the bolts to be a hair past snug. Basically tight enough is tight enough, too tight is broke.