I put over 75 thousand miles driving M-211s in the US Army from 1955 to
1961. (Even drove one to my wedding in August of 1958-assigned to a Nike
Missile Site in Pittsburgh). The transmissions were always going out. I
think these same transmissions were originally used in the M-59 (if I
remember correctly) and they were always having problems too. Even though
they were automatics, we were always having to play with the shifting lever.
Denver Farley
-----Original Message-----
From: Bobby Joe Pendleton II [mailto:bobbyjoe@chartertn.net]
Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2001 5:29 PM
To: mil-veh@mil-veh.org
Subject: Re: [MV] M211 transmission question
How many automatic transmissions built in the 50s have not been rebuilt? I
would guess none. The data plate on my m211 transmission stated it was
rebuilt in 1968. I replaced it in 1999. I have talked to most of the owners
of it after it left the military. Everyone says it had never been rebuilt
till I replaced it after it lost low range. My Chevrolet blazer was made it
85. it has been rebuilt once. My wife's Chevrolet S-10 is a 86 and it has
been rebuilt twice.
Bobby Joe Pendleton II
MVPA#17657
----- Original Message -----
From: <DDoyle9570@aol.com>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Sunday, 04 February, 2001 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: [MV] M211 transmission question
> In a message dated 2/4/01 11:10:37 AM Central Standard Time,
> Hummer1234@aol.com writes:
>
> << Someone I know has had many of these trucks go through his hands from a
> DRMO
> auction and the subsequent owners have experienced a 100% failure rate of
> the
> transmissions. >>
>
> According to the information I have, DRMO disposed of the M211 trucks in
the
> 1970's (if I am wrong someone please let me know, I'd very much like to ad
> information to the article on these I'm writing). I am not surprised that
> over a 25 to 30 year period of time there would be a failure rate of near
> 100% of trucks in everyday civilian usage. The pick up I drive everyday
is
> only 18 years old, has lead a fairly sheltered life, yet it has had to
have a
> transmission overhaul too.
>
> To keep it running I suggest that the user get the operators manual and
read
> and follow it.
>
> Despite its size, this is a 2 1/2 ton off-road, 5 ton on road truck. The
> truck LOOKS like it could haul more, and the frame and springs will
probably
> support more, but the drive-line is that of a 2 1/2 ton truck.
>
> The transmission was built for non-detergent crankcase oil, not ATF fluid.
> The weight of this oil varies with the climate, as specified in the
MANUAL.
> The data plate on dash is a little misleading here. What I have read/heard
> from other (non-GM, non-military) sources indicates that ATF will work OK,
so
> long as the transmission is COMPLETELY drained of motor oil first. DO NOT
> mix ATF and engine oil.
>
> Service the transmission as specified in the manual (something most folks
> don't do, even in the cars they drive everyday).
>
> Drive the truck as the manual states, each gear and range has a function,
and
> I suspect the GM engineers that designed this knew more about transmission
> and vehicle design than "Bubba, the log truck driver" does.
>
> Avoid the use of high range, reverse, when loaded.
>
> my .02,
> David Doyle
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Mar 05 2001 - 07:58:29 PST