I got an M47 to replace my noisy m47 and of course I want to re-seal it before I install the trans. I was surprised to see the stupid design stupid design of the location of the shift shaft seal. I checked Bently, and Haynes and did some searches but would like a blow by blow on this job. I foolishly ordered some individual input and output seals, thinking the seals would all be accessible from the outside of the trans.so, I didn't order the gaskets needed for the job. I can't imagine why the engineers would not make that seal replaceable from the outside of the trans, like a motorcycle shift shaft seal or 99 percent of the car seals in the world! Part#'s would help too for the seals and gaskets. Thanks!

pittroj wrote--" I foolishly ordered some individual input and output seals, thinking the seals would all be accessible from the outside of the trans.so, I didn't order the gaskets needed for the job."
If you have a mind to change out the front seal -- A while back I ordered a bellhousing to transmission gasket for an M46. Then the fellow decided not to go ahead with the transmission swap. The gasket was a special order part from Volvo--not returnable. I don't know if it's the same for an M47 - but likely - and if it is the same I'd sell you mine for $20 including postage -- paid over $30 for it. -- Dave

Doh!! Sorry for the stupid double post. I don't know how that happened. Anyway...

I have the rear cover off and was expecting the seal to be right there , easily accessible, after first wondering why it isn't in the back cover. Now, I see that it is even deeper, inside what I think is the 5th, gear section of the back of the back of the trans. The trans mount on this doner trans is dry (like seal not leaking), and I am now considering not replacing that shift shaft seal, because its looking like a pain in the arse . If I put it back together, and flip it on it's back end and it doesn't leak out of that seal, I may not replace.

However, I am gonna be ticked if I don't replace it and it starts leaking in a few K miles. Really surprised that for such a well engineered car, they didn't make this seal easy to reach. Thanks

Wow, this must be a bear of a job, everyone is avoiding it like the plague! I have decided not to change the seal. A guy that I bought the m47 from sent me some links I checked out including the green book on the shift shaft seal. I am not pulling that 5th gear end off the trans. That has to be one of the stupidest things the engineers did besides burying the heater motor down in the center of the dash! I have ridden and maintained dirt bikes for ever and what's wrong with having the seal on the outside of the case where you just pop it out and tap a new one in!?!?! DAMN, they made this way too hard!
Thanks for the responses. If you do a search, very little comes up......

You may want to look at that again. The seal is in the rear cover where the selector shaft comes thru and gets connected to the gear selector bracket.

You may have to pull the rear cover to replace the seal.

why would you think you had to pull the 5th???

The 5th gear housing is filled with tranny fluid. The seal is in the back cover.
If you are replacing the Rear Main Seal on the tranny, you prob will have the cover off.

In the Green Books,M-46, M47 Tranns. look at Sec C C 8, C9,

Sec D D 63-68

you might try getting in touch with TonyH who posted this in response.

https://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1566898/220/240/260/280/m47_ii_leaks_gear_selector_shaft_hole_transmission_rear.html

Please post how you did it, it you do it, as I've got one that leaks. Mine leaks way way more on long highway drives, around town not so much.

See page 30 and page 51 of the linked manual. They don't talk about the o-ring much..but it seems like you just need to remove the rear cover. Others will comment in a bit (hopefully). I have the same leak on my M47. Kills trans mounts...


http://www.volvowiringdiagrams.com/volvo/-%20Service%20Manuals/TP30941-1%20M46%2C%20M47%2C%20M47II%20and%20Overdrives.pdf