Went to check trans level yesterday on my 2004 Holiday Rambler Endeavor (330 Cummins/Allison) and pulled the cap/dip stick...No dip stick, guess it fell off the cap and slid down into the pan. Anyone had this happen? Hoping I can disconnect the tub from the pan and find it sitting there bottomed out in the pan.. Its too long to fall all the way in and go somewhere.

jtad, I thought it happened to me too but I don't think we ever had dip stick for the transmission for ours, just the cap. They say it's best to check the level at the shift-pad.I think I was so used to looking at the oil dip-stick that I subconsciously thought I had one for the tranny too. I looked in there with a flashlight and didn't see anything. MM.On edit: We had a '08 Monaco Dynasty 425 Cummins/AllisonOur Volvo engine has a tranny dip stick.

You do not have one. With it warmed up and engine running (145+) push both arrow keys and it will tell you the level.

When we bought the coach it was missing the cap, the deal ordered a new one and put it on before we picked it up. I have had the coach for two years and have checked the fluid level numerous times.. It had a dip stick..

Find yourself a local Snap-on dealer with a tool truck. On that truck they have two types of magnets on extensible sticks. The size of the magnets vary but you want one that obviousy fits down your dip tube. One of them extends straight like a telescope and will go down straight. The other is on a copper wire about the thickness of a coat hangar and will go down and follow the contour. My guess is that you may be able to retrieve it with one of those. I have both as part of my tool arsenal. They work well.

T18skyguy wrote:Find yourself a local Snap-on dealer with a tool truck. On that truck they have two types of magnets on extensible sticks. The size of the magnets vary but you want one that obviousy fits down your dip tube. One of them extends straight like a telescope and will go down straight. The other is on a copper wire about the thickness of a coat hangar and will go down and follow the contour. My guess is that you may be able to retrieve it with one of those. I have both as part of my tool arsenal. They work well. I had the same first thought. Fish it out with a magnet.

Lost transmission dip stick... | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

Old_Blue
Explorer
Feb 26, 2017
You may have a dip stick under your engine cover at rear of M/H, that is where mine was. Also had a empty stick, pulled trans pan, no stick there, but one in engine compartment. Had all checked by Allison trans shop. Good luck
We have a 07 HR Neptune with 325 cummins/ Allison
Bill
mtrumpet
Explorer
Feb 24, 2017
FWIW..My 350 Cummins ISC has a Tranny dipstick.
jtad
Explorer
Feb 23, 2017
Good ideas all around.. Thanks
Ductape
Explorer
Feb 23, 2017
Just take a length of steel wire and bend the end into a bit of a corkscrew shape. Shove it down the tube while twisting and it'll wrap around the lost dipstick.
DrewE
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2017
One of those mechanical claw grabber thingies might do the trick. The long flexible kind like this would probably be the most suitable. (I'm not suggesting that this particular one is or is not a good deal....)
Gjac
Explorer III
Feb 22, 2017
My tube is curved and there is a lot of friction to pull it out in my case a magnet would not work. If you have a straight run with no friction you have a chance.
sailor_lou
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
On my rig (CAT/Allison on a Spartan chassis) the top 3 feet of the dipstick is made of a stainless steel cable so a magnet will not work. However, the tube can be disconnected at the top of the tranny. Hopefully you have a similar setup. Good luck.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy
jtad
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
Good idea fellas...
mike_brez
Explorer
Feb 22, 2017
Dale.Traveling wrote:
T18skyguy wrote:
Find yourself a local Snap-on dealer with a tool truck. On that truck they have two types of magnets on extensible sticks. The size of the magnets vary but you want one that obviousy fits down your dip tube. One of them extends straight like a telescope and will go down straight. The other is on a copper wire about the thickness of a coat hangar and will go down and follow the contour. My guess is that you may be able to retrieve it with one of those. I have both as part of my tool arsenal. They work well.
I had the same first thought. Fish it out with a magnet.

X3 I have a few of the extensible stick type from Auto Zone they are like two bucks
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Feb 22, 2017
T18skyguy wrote:
Find yourself a local Snap-on dealer with a tool truck. On that truck they have two types of magnets on extensible sticks. The size of the magnets vary but you want one that obviousy fits down your dip tube. One of them extends straight like a telescope and will go down straight. The other is on a copper wire about the thickness of a coat hangar and will go down and follow the contour. My guess is that you may be able to retrieve it with one of those. I have both as part of my tool arsenal. They work well.
I had the same first thought. Fish it out with a magnet.