241 replies to this topic

[samsfern]

I was chasing a friend in his honda civic on some country lanes, when there was a bit of smoke and the clutch started slipping like hell, I think I've broke the gearbox, there's a lot of oil leaking around the gearbox area.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

clutch was slipping pretty bad before wasnt it mate? VVC time then? ...

[valve bounce]

if theres oil leaking around the gearbox area could it not be the crankshaft oil seal has gone dumping oil all over the clutch making it slip?

[samsfern]

Clutch was slipping slightly before when changing up gear with throttle on, but now it slips going up tiny hills. I just went and smelt the oil, it doesn't smell of gearoil actually, if it is the crankshaft oil seal, how big a job is it to replace it, once the gearbox is out?

[valve bounce]

in most cars there's usually about 6 or 8 bolts to remove the flywheel off the end of the crank then pull the old seal out and tap the new one in. top tip to remove the seal, drill a small hole in the seal(3mm) then screw a self tapping screw about half way into the hole then grab a hold the the screw with some mole grips and pull. a clutch and crank seal should be an easy job, i did one in a peugeot 4007 jeep last week under warranty (59 plate, 21,000 miles) and on them its a 11hour job on a good day

[samsfern]

Thanks for the advice, I'll be taking the gearbox out today then, starting now.

[minisi35]

have you done any events yet?

[samsfern]

nope not done any events yet.

well, got the gearbox off yesterday, took the clutch and flywheel off, clutch is saturated in oil, and looks like the only place oil can be leaking onto it is via the crankshaft oil seal, had a nightt mare sourcing a new oil seal, eurocarparts were quite amusing and told me to go see a main dealer, rover main dealer? yeah right, lol! anyway found one eventually, seal cost £21 with a trade discount! i was going to be tight and clean the clutch plate up and reuse it, but its not a job i fancy doing again anytime soon, so bought a new genuine mg/rover clutch kit.

[samsfern]

Lol, new seal and clutch on, gearbox back on, all went together surprisingly easily, considering I used my eyes as a clutch alignment tool, all was going well, until I ******* the windscreen, *******!

[samsfern]

oops!

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

You knob!!! how? !!

[samsfern]

:toss: well, i was refitting the gearbox up on my own, so i had a lump of wood (as can be seen in the pic) across the engine bay, and was using ratchet straps on the lump of wood, to lift the gearbox in position, lol, sounds a bit of a bodge but it worked, anyway, got the gearbox back on, went back together too easily, then a sudden gust of wind, blew the bonnet, which closed on the bit of wood, thus forcing the bit of wood into the screen. Also just found out i dont have windscreen cover on my insurance

[samsfern]

old clutch was definately shagged though, very rattly, almost a musical instrument.



the splined bit should sit in the centre, but that just flops around in the breeze, lol!

and one clutch, soaked in oil / burnt oil



due to this seal here leaking, not sure how it managed to get onto the clutch though.






and a nice new clutch kit

[samsfern]

Lmao! Gearbox is coming out again this week, lol!

[samsfern]

gearbox out again today, lol! clutch was slipping again, it stunk of gearoil, and was making some pretty horendous noises, crunching and whirring, and i lost 4th and 5th gears this morning, but got it done today, rented a workshop off someone that works where i used to, didnt fancy doing it outside and was actually thinking of taking it to my friends work for them to do, but anyway, done it myself, in a nice warm workshop with a ramp and compressed air, got the gearbox out in an hour, when i seperated the gearbox from the engine about half a litre of oil came running out, lol!




this is what i discovered, lol! A hole!





also, where the input shaft bearings completely collapsed, the shaft has been moving so much its destroyed the clutch guide sleeve, lol




aaaand another oily clutch meaning another clutch kit, lol!





all done now, sounds a lot better, and plus the replacement gearbox also seems to have a better (slightly higher) final drive ratio.