Spitty2Dream4 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Hi Guys,I've noticed that my diff is leaking a little oil and when I was inspecting it after a 20 minute drive it felt hot to the touch. Is this normal? I'll have to check the oil level sooner rather than later. Do I have to do this via the inspection hatch behind the back seat and can the diff oil be topped-up here also?In the mean time I have tightened the 3 lower bolts on the diff and managed to get a few extra turns of tightness.. I hope this will solve the leak.I'll look forward to any help and adsvice you can give. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Have you got a workshop manual ?If you have, read it !The diff has a small breather hole on the top, and when blocked it causes the diff to leak oil because it heats up and the air has nowhere to expand to so it pushes oil out through the seals and joints.The Diff is toped up via the hole in the SIDE that has a square headed plug the same as a sump plug, but mid way up the diff. You cannot drain the diff unless you remove it from the car and turn it on its side.Of course if you read the workshop manual you would know this already. :X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkuser Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Normal to run warm to touch.Plugs are accessed from below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 979 wrote:Hi Guys,I've noticed that my diff is leaking a little oil and when I was inspecting it after a 20 minute drive it felt hot to the touch. Is this normal? I'll have to check the oil level sooner rather than later. Do I have to do this via the inspection hatch behind the back seat and can the diff oil be topped-up here also?In the mean time I have tightened the 3 lower bolts on the diff and managed to get a few extra turns of tightness.. I hope this will solve the leak.I'll look forward to any help and adsvice you can give. :)Small chassis diffs do run hot and they do leak. Try doing 150 miles on the motorway, then immediatly jack up the car and grab hold of the diff to haul yourself under the car (to look at UJs that just started ticking) and you will find that the hot diff burns your hand and the dripping hot oil lands on your inner wrist causing you to vigourously shake your hand all around the hot, dirty and hard rear transmission - now you have burns, scalds and bruises. It's a Triumph feature :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitty2Dream4 Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 Thanks Guys, Great Help!Kevin: Yes, I have a Haynes Manual, but this Forum is Grrrreat! Most of you have experienced what I'm now seeing for the first time. So, thanks again.Jason: That's about as hot as mine was... luckily I didn't have your exact experience.Just another question. When the roof is up and I can hear more of whats going on inside the car, I notice that I can hear the Diff working. I wouldn't say it's whining or rumbling noisily, but you just know that there are metal cogs turning around in there. How noisy are Diff's meant to be? Could this just be low oil level.I will check the manual, but do I presume the oil plug is accessed from underneath and not from the inspection hatch at the top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 "Spitty2Dream4" - that's the last time I type that! Please give us a real name to call you by!And see Canley's 'Information database', that distills their knowledge and the inherited knowledge of John Kipping for advice on 'Rear End Noises': http://www.canleyclassics.com/infodatabase.asp?article=noisesYes, get to the filler plug from underneath (see junkusers post)And think about it! The "inspection hatch" needs all the rear seating to be removed, a number of selftappers to be undone and a waterproof seal to broken for the 'hatch' to be removed. The 'hatch' is to access the studs that hold the spring to the diff. You can get at the plug from below, anytime, easiest with the car raised up. But in the enthusiasm of new ownership, please remember;NEVER, EVER get under the car unless it is supported on axle stands.We need new Triumph owners - don't do a Darwin and remove yourself from the Triumphpool when the car falls on you.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JensH Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 ... and get your self a copy of the original factory workshop manual. Haynes Manuals might be good for the pictures (...) and for supporting the table...Go flebay - or try to find it as downloads on the tinternet... 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitty2Dream4 Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 JohnD wrote:"Spitty2Dream4" - that's the last time I type that! Please give us a real name to call you by!And see Canley's 'Information database', that distills their knowledge and the inherited knowledge of John Kipping for advice on 'Rear End Noises': http://www.canleyclassics.com/infodatabase.asp?article=noisesJohnThanks John,I gave Canley's a call and they could only presume that lack of maintenance could mean that the oil level is low and it's worth checking or it could be the pinion bearing..just hope no damage is done.The previous owner had said the Diff was a recent reconditioned one (although not used much for YEARS).Thanks,BTW.. my name is Neil, but S2D4 would be acceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky_spit Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 979 wrote: but S2D4 would be acceptable.Are you by any chance R2D2's brother? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitty2Dream4 Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 sparky_spit wrote:Are you by any chance R2D2's brother? :)No, but I know his retarded cousin - C.R.4.P. ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 979 wrote:Just another question. When the roof is up and I can hear more of whats going on inside the car, ?Yes I have the same, the top reflects sounds that normally escape out of the top of the car!Spitfire's were designed to drive witht the top down!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 979 wrote:No, but I know his retarded cousin - C.R.4.P. ;DAnd his incontinent uncle, IP3LEE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 back to the plot, how hot ,just think that this has to transmit all the power you are usingif its glowing red in the dark you have a problem, frying eggs or heating pasties is normal, as said you would not put your hands on it , so definition < Bl**dy hot > is quite normal Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Craig Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Quote:if its glowing red in the dark you have a problem, frying eggs or heating pasties is normal,I didnt actually think of it like that, a bit of tinfoil and you could cook a pretty impressive meal.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkuser Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 The early diffs with the rigid spacer between the pinion bearings had a habit of loosening the pinion nut. Worth getting this checked. Loctite seems to overcome the problem.A loose pinion nut will cause noise which starts as a hissing but progresses to a whine if left.In good condition these diffs are noise free so any noise should be looked into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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