Crating Gertrag 245, how ?

[Flamingo 5]

All suggestions appreciated 

[markmac]

If your 'handy' you can make one with 1/4" ply and 1x material.  Sometimes you see them on ebay (heavy plastic, like engine crates), this could be an option for you....good luck.

 

Wood Shipping Crates, Plywood Shipping Boxes in Stock - ULINE

[7502]

I bought a rebuilt VW transaxle for my Karmann Ghia a year or so ago. It came in a sturdy cardboard box with a couple of structural cardboard reinforcements and of course one holding the output shaft.  Transaxle arrived in perfect condition, rebuilding transaxles is a big part of their business so they know what they are doing.

 

Also have heard of people just buying a suitably heavy plastic tote tote for shipping transmissions.

[Son of Marty]

One thing that I do is to take a 2x4 and drill a 1" hole in the center and bolt it across the bell housing with the input shaft in the hole so if the box is dropped on that end the load is not transferred into the gear train.

[jimk]

Here is how MM packages a 245.  Christmass tree not included.  Rear bolting is thru the output flange.

[jp5Touring]

Lot of places use the box within a box,that and the foam boards work well if packed tight.

Please don't use the plastic tubs. I help a friend that has a transmission shop and those tubs come in shattered more times then coming in one piece. Plus cold weather they get brittle and break in several places.

 

He does heavy duty box and has a spray foam machine.  

MM box ain't bad, I would use a little more wood and more foam.

PIA to box right but worth it.  

[MitchaPaLoOza88]

We shipped some oddly shaped military devices with Insta-Foam packs.

 

You can use a few of them to get full coverage of the transmission, plus they are really lightweight.

 

[jimk]

1 hour ago, jp5Touring said:

MM box ain't bad, I would use a little more wood and more foam.

PIA to box right but worth it.  

MM has been boxing and shipping a long time.  I expect they have confidence in the method to not have to take back damaged units.  This shipment had been hit on one end, see the second photo, top right.  The 3/" plywood stood up well.  Both ends were bolted to the plywood, the trans wasn't going anywhere.

[2002iii]

From the factory Bmw sent transmissions in wooden crates. They were basically a half sized forklift pallet with 2x4s to go around the trans and under the back to keep it level. The top was a wooden box with large pieces of foam cut to the general shape of a transmission. 

 

You can buy plastic transmission crates for shipping. Or if your cheap like me go around the back of dealerships and shops and find ones they've tossed in the trash.

 

If you use a freight shipper you can just wrap it in plastic and strap it to a pallet.

[Flamingo 5]

Thanks for all the replies, the photographs they clearly show best methods. Please indulge me with a Follow up question if you don’t mind.

do any of you care to part with your MM

tranny ?

 

[Preyupy]

Pack it carefully so the shift shaft does not get bent if they drop the crate.  

[Dudeland]

Want to know something funny.  Try using a cooler.   No joke. You can get a cheap coleman cooler, and pack it tight.   When I picked up my car, it came with a 245, and he said he received it in an old cooler.  They are tough and fit the transmission well.

 

 https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/coleman-poly-lite-cooler-45-l-0853435p.html#srp

 

 

Edited March 12, 2021 by Dudeland

[tzei]

 

Any chance it has oil in it...  this might help.

[Flamingo 5]

Igloo cooler was used

thanks

 

[RussTii]

Here's what I do for my differentials. 3/4 inch plywood with 2.5 inch deck screws Be sure to put handles on each end  to facilitate picking it up. Wedge the unit inside to assure it won't move.  All up weight on the order of 75#, G245 should be in that neighborhood. I've had no problems using Fedex Ground with this approach.