Ken Young Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 I recently removed the engine from my gt6. It went well although I had to jack the gearbox up to allow me to tilt the engine and get it out. Now its back in and working fine but I have noticed a leak of oil underneath the gearbox area. Has anyone got any experience of this? Is it possible to damage some gearbox seal if you tilt the engine in this way? Are thereamy known weakpoints? Thanks.Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 I presume you seperated the bell housing from the rear engine plate.Where did you place the jack to lift the 'box?Wood pad between?Any sign of damage there?Is the leak from the small drain hole in the bell?There's an oil seal around the input shaft. Strain on the shaft could damage that and lead to a leak into the bell.The bell is fastened to the 'box casting by six bolts - I doubt if that joint could leak unless by gross damage.The 'box housing is a solid, cast-iron lump. The next joint is to either the rear extension around the output shaft, or to the overdrive.I think you need to identify exactly where the leak is.And take the radiator out to remove the engine - that should allow you space to lift it. Me, I alwas remove engine and gearbox in one piece using a "LoadLeveller" on my hoist to tilt the mass in a controlled way.John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Young Posted June 15, 2014 Author Share Posted June 15, 2014 Hi John.Many thanks for your response. I have had a good look at it tonight and as far as I can tell the oil is coming from the hole in the bell housing. Next question is whether the oil is from engine or gearbox side? I filled the gearbox with oil and it took a lot to fill which makes me pretty certain the leak must be from the gearbox side (I topped it up in Jan so it should be full). When I think back to the engine removal, I think the bell housing was a bit wet with oil which I didn't bother about at the time.. more's the pity! Maybe the jiggling to get the engine back in made an existing problem worse. I can see on the Hayne's manual the oil seal you are talking about. Is it an easy job to replace without having to disturb the rest of the gearbox? I am not really keen on doing that.ThanksKen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancepar Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 The engine and gearbox use different types of oil. Take a sample on your finger and smell it, then compare this to the smell from the cans used to top up the engine and gearbox. Hypoid gear oil has a distinct odour. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Did you check the bolts on the bell housing to the gearbox? Were they tight before refitting engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Does the bottom bell-bolt need/have a copper washer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 6797 wrote:Does the bottom bell-bolt need/have a copper washer?Does on a Spit cant remember about GT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Thanks, Lancepar! Yes, distinctly different smells.If it's enegine oil, did you put a copper washer on the TOP bolt of the rear engine seal housing?And did you "centralise" the seal and housing? Loosely do up, turnover the engine a few times, fully tighten.Aha! Some (early?) Spitfires have a scroll seal at that point. You need a Spitfire expert, not me.John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTeesside Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Mine was leaking from the join to the prop, from inside the gearbox flange, because I hadn't tightened the flange bolt up properly.Boy did I feel stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cook1e Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 1704 wrote:The engine and gearbox use different types of oil. Take a sample on your finger and smell it, then compare this to the smell from the cans used to top up the engine and gearbox. Hypoid gear oil has a distinct odour. 8)Yeah, Hypoid oil smells like cat p1ss :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I can still smell it on my overalls from a spill and many washes from about 3 years ago.(ok)Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTeesside Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 cook1e wrote:Yeah, Hypoid oil smells like cat p1ss :-)I must be an oddball.. I think it smells like beef and I absolutely love it. ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepy Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 8778 wrote:I must be an oddball.. I think it smells like beef and I absolutely love it. ;D ;D ;D you need to take that beef back to the shop!I don't mind the smell of new gear oil, it's when it's old and used when it really wiffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I agree. Old cat piss isn't anywhere near as pleasant as brand new stuff. I have a tap on mine, for that straight-from-the-cat freshness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Young Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 The oil does smell like gear oil. BY the way I'm with cook1e. I love the smell as well. The older the better. I reckon I know what the problem is. I had a tough time jiggling the engine back in and I thin that unseated the seal on the input shaft. Back to the original question. Is this easy to replace or do I need special tooling. K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpeg.b15b81ef10abeea1c3039ae03c4a9f3a.jpeg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.