11 replies to this topic

[minikidx14]

Model: Elf
Year: 1969
Description of problem :

my car currently had a remote change gearbox with rubber drive couplings. Can i change the gearbox to rod change and keep the same driveshafts? ill the rod change gear changer bit mount to the same place as the remote change changer?

[Guess-Works.com]

You can but you will need to make room in the tunnel for the rod change and housing...

to be honest for the amount of work vs the difference between a rod and remote 4 sychro gearbox, it's not worth it...

FYI, I can do all sorts of things to a remote gearbox, including fitting longer final drives ( 3.2,3.1,2.9 and 2.7) also I can fit A+ gears into a remote boxes for quieter running, additional strength etc etc.

[minikidx14]

well the problem is that i am geting no drive in any gear, and as i have a few rod change gearbox's i could just change them over. What would cause the no drive problem? i can put it in gear with the clutch up and down with the engine on or off. when its in gear with the clutch down thr speedo stays at zero but when you let the clutch out the speedo moves round.

[dklawson]

. when its in gear with the clutch down thr speedo stays at zero but when you let the clutch out the speedo moves round.

That says that something involving the final drive gears or output/drive shafts are bad. Have you looked under the car to see if the driveshafts are both still connected? I assume this would have the yoke type outputs with rubber crosses. One could have failed/disintegrated. If the driveshafts and couplers are OK, it could be the final drive gears have failed.

[minikidx14]

. when its in gear with the clutch down thr speedo stays at zero but when you let the clutch out the speedo moves round.

That says that something involving the final drive gears or output/drive shafts are bad. Have you looked under the car to see if the driveshafts are both still connected? I assume this would have the yoke type outputs with rubber crosses. One could have failed/disintegrated. If the driveshafts and couplers are OK, it could be the final drive gears have failed.

Yes, both driveshafts are connected.
Yes, it has the rubber crosses, replaced with "upgraded" nylon ones about 3000 miles ago and they look fine.

Is the final drive/differental unit the same in all gearboxes exept the ratio?

Does anyone have a picture of how the drive gets from the flywheel, through the gears then to the driveshafts?

[Guess-Works.com]

Not unheard of before but the pinion nut may have undone itself and because of the helical nature of the final drive the pinion the shoots off the end ( do you hear any rattling in the box )

The other option is the diff pin has snapped and the diff is just rotating and not driving the wheels.. ( usually if this happens there's a big hole in the bottom of the diff housing )

[Ivor Badger]

Is one of the shafts pulled out of the outer CV joint, but held in place by the drive shaft boot?

[minikidx14]

Not unheard of before but the pinion nut may have undone itself and because of the helical nature of the final drive the pinion the shoots off the end (do you hear any rattling in the box)

The other option is the diff pin has snapped and the diff is just rotating and not driving the wheels.. (usually if this happens there's a big hole in the bottom of the diff housing)

I havent heard any rattling. Can you see the pinion by removing the diff' or do you have to split the box from the engine?

Theres no holes in the housing and no (extra) oil leaks.

Are the differential units the same in all mini gearboxs?

Is one of the shafts pulled out of the outer CV joint, but held in place by the drive shaft boot?

The drive isnt geting to the driveshafts.

[zef]

Bit of a hijack but what's the difference between rod and remote change. Can a remote change be put on a rod box? Only asking as remote boxes seem hard to find.

[Guess-Works.com]

I havent heard any rattling. Can you see the pinion by removing the diff' or do you have to split the box from the engine?

Are the differential units the same in all mini gearboxs?

I assume the engine is already out of the car, then yes removing the diff housing would be my first action... Basically if the speedo is reading then the mainshaft is rotating as this drives the speedo worm.

If the engine is still in the car then one thing you can try ( with an assistant ), get the front wheels off the ground, engine off put into 4th gear and rotate both front wheels forward at the same time ( hence the assistant ) if you feel no resistance then the diff is no longer connected to the gearbox through the final drive.. if it were then you would be turning then engine.

The actual diff unit changed very little over the years, with the only change being two slots in the cage which locate tabs on the bronze thrusts... all other parts are interchangeable.

[Guess-Works.com]

Bit of a hijack but what's the difference between rod and remote change. Can a remote change be put on a rod box? Only asking as remote boxes seem hard to find.

Yes it is, and no a remote change ( as in what's connected to a remote gearbox ) cannot be connected to a rod change. The selector mechanisms are totally different, the remote has more in common with the magic wand than it does the rod change.

[minikidx14]

I havent heard any rattling. Can you see the pinion by removing the diff' or do you have to split the box from the engine?

Are the differential units the same in all mini gearboxs?

I assume the engine is already out of the car, then yes removing the diff housing would be my first action... Basically if the speedo is reading then the mainshaft is rotating as this drives the speedo worm.

If the engine is still in the car then one thing you can try ( with an assistant ), get the front wheels off the ground, engine off put into 4th gear and rotate both front wheels forward at the same time ( hence the assistant ) if you feel no resistance then the diff is no longer connected to the gearbox through the final drive.. if it were then you would be turning then engine.

The actual diff unit changed very little over the years, with the only change being two slots in the cage which locate tabs on the bronze thrusts... all other parts are interchangeable.

No, The engine is still in the car. it will be coming out wednesday when i get it to my workshop.

If it is the diff' that has broke, would one from a mk4/5 fit straight in?

Can you see the pinion when the diff is removed?