Propshaft/gearbox oil leak

[davidpidge]

Just changed my gearbox and when I put the prop back on I thought it was strange that the collar that fits on the rear of the box didnt slide all the way up. Now, oil leaks like a waterfall out of this connection! Is my prop to short? Is the 1098 box shorter than the 800 box it replaced? Any ideas? I'll put a photo up if it makes it clearer.

Any ideas what the problem is?

[bmcecosse]

No - should be same length overall. And same prop. Are you sure the rear seal is present on the new box ?

[davidpidge]

Not sure if it is!

If the seal is missing then it was also missing off the old box because I used to have the same problem. Oil streams out and then the spinning prop sends the oil at high speed everywhere!

Is this the seal I need if it is indeed missing?

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 68955169d5

[PSL184]

Yes it is. There is a whole thread on the seal here http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=33353

[davidpidge]

Excellent, thanks for the link.

[davidpidge]

The new oil seal for the back of the box arrived but my gearbox already has one and it appears to be in ok condition.

Could someone please post a photo of the gearbox/prop link so I can compare it to mine. It'd be a big help. I still dont think my prop is sliding far enough onto the rear of the box and this is causing the leak.

[bmcecosse]

Surely it was possible to see if the box had a seal before ??? This problem has occurred with others - when there is a problem with the rear axle location - check the perches.........

[davidpidge]

Success!!! No oil leak, oil is staying where it should be...in the box. Driving like a new car! (a new car in 1955 anyway)

[PSL184]

and the problem was....................?????

[bmcecosse]

[davidpidge]

I replaced the oil seal and it appears to be working. But....I just went for a drive and it no longer changes gear smoothly.
I'll start from the beginning...

I had a clutch problem so replaced the clutch and clutch linkage. This appeared to solve the problem. The gear changes were nice and smooth, no crunch, no noise. Only problem was oil was pouring out the rear of the box so I replaced the oil seal and filled it back up with oil but now its a struggle to engage 1st and 2nd and it's back to its noisy self. I can't think of anything I did whilst changing the oil seal that would effect the clutch/gears.

Is it possible that whilst the gearbox was out of oil and I was driving i've damaged something thats now causing problems? I'll try adjusting the linkage in the morning incase something has happened there otherwise, i'm stumped.

[bmcecosse]

I doubt it.......

[katy]

Your new clutch and linkage may have just "settled in" and needs a small adjustment to bring things back to normal.
Also, check that nothing has come loose.
How much free play at the top of the pedal? At the bottom?

[davidpidge]

How much free play at the top of the pedal? At the bottom?

Well the pedal goes all the way to the floor and the biting point used to be just before it hit the floor but now its not dis-engaging properly and I have to slip it into 2nd, 1st and reverse. I still haven't had a chance to fiddle with the linkage but i'm sure that'll sort it.

I worry that not having the linkage adjusted properly will damage or prematurely wear my clutch.

[bmcecosse]

Indeed it will - if the carbon thrust is rubbing on the clutch all the time........ Do you have some 'free play' at the pedal ?

[davidpidge]

By 'free play' do you mean is there movement in the pedal before the biting point? If so, there is. Although, the fork (attatched to the thrust bearing) doesn't travel fully forwards which would mean the bearing is touching or at least very near to touching the clutch all the time. (Does this make any sense at all?!) I had to adjust the clutch linkage to its current set up as any less movement wouldn't dis-engage the clutch.

[MarkyB]

'free play' doesn't refer to the biting point directly.
It means a bit of movement that does nothing, but means that there isn't pressure on the thrust bearing all the time.

Don't worry about exactly where the biting point is as long as there is one.