Froggy Dolly

[Goldenarrow]

Hi
Re the soft carb mounts. The club sells solid mounts and as most other vehicles use solid mountings it would possibly be better to change to them.

Gordon

[dololo]

Hello,
today i did the first 10 kilometers with the dolly

i guess about the auto gearbox .
How can i do the oil level ?
i tried to check the level when engine runnig , but the level gave zero while running
so i switched off the hot engine , and the level was between cold mini and cold maxi after 1 minute. i decided to re-adjust the level but the gearbox " vomit" its oil through the ventilation grid near the torque converter
can anybody help me to fix it ? has anibody already seen this sort of problem ?
Laurent

[dololo]

Hello ,
new questions ...
-does anybody know if there is a difference between a Borg Warner 65 and T65 ?
-is there a supplier in UK for an overhaul kit to repair this sort of gearbox ?

Laurent

[Toledo Man]

Most transmission specialists should be able to fix your autobox. Have you tried a fluid change? It might flush out some crap.

[dololo]

I 've already change the fluid

Transmission spécialists are even rare in france, because french guys don't like auto gearbox cars.....
the only one found wants 1700 euros for an overhaul of my box ( including converter , value 300 euros)

So i plan to do it by myself ,with the technical documentation, except for the converter that i will give to a spécialist.

[Toledo Man]

It is not really a DIY proposition but in theory it is possible. The parts catalogue does list all the individual parts of the auto. I think some special tools might be needed and cleanliness is absolutely essential. I remember Practical Classics did an article on stripping down a BW35. Harvey, our resident autobox guru would be able to tell you what's involved. You would be better off buying a known secondhand auto box. Jod offered me one last year which might still be available. Getting it over to France shouldn't be a major problem. It will be much cheaper than the massive price you had quoted even if you drove over and collected it in person.

[Jon Tilson]

If it works from a driving point of view....doesnt slip and changes gear at the right points, why worry.

It will start to slip on the torque converter if the fluid gets too low....

Dont worry about it....sounds like you over filled it.

Jonners

[JPB]

Is the breather pipe intact? Mine leaked from its stub (on the side of the gearbox, the right) when the pipe had perished and fallen off. That pipe should go from the gearbox, up over the brake servo and exit just above the level of the dipstick tube.
A leak from there when you're driving can and will send fluid all over the place.

I'm also thinking that perhaps you overfilled it. Check the level with the engine running like so:

Ideally after a run, so that the fluid is warmed through, stop the car with engine running. Put the selector through each position in sequence, pausing to allow the drive to take up in each. Then put it into park and - with the selector still in park - get out to dip it while the engine's still running. If the converter is the actual source of the leak and not a perished breather or one that's not high enough above the servo (LHD car? Maybe the breather will be over the heater motor instead), then there's something wrong, but until you hose it down and start with a clean gearbox and bellhousing area - having ensured that the pipe hasn't vanished - then you won't know for certain where exactly the source of the leak.

The fluid, as you probably know already, must be a NON-DEXRON type, such as the type of Shell Donax recommended in the owner manual which is virtually clear with just the slightest hint of orange dye to it. There are some suitable pink fluids too, so if it's pink, don't assume that it's necessarily the wrong stuff.

[dololo]

Hello,
some news today

i put the gearbox off , no doubt now , it is a BW65
the breather pipe was OK
there is a lot of mud/grease inside the carter , under the converter

one strange thing concerning the oil level
i possess the two workshop manuals for sprint and 1850
For the same gearbox , the sprint one says that level must be checked while engine running , and the 1850 says it has to be checked just after switching off

[JPB]

Both Sprint and 1850 manuals (Just had a look) say the box must be dipped with the engine running and after selecting each position and pausing while the drive takes up, putting it into park and dipping it then is the way to do this.

[dololo]

Hello ,
it looks quite difficult to find non Dextron oils
can somebody give some references of oils still sold by manufacturers today ?

Can anybody explain why we shouldn't use some dextron oil in our auto gearboxes ?

[JPB]

Because these new fluids are incompatible with the clutch friction materials and will cause the clutches to slip until, eventually, if a clutch fails, the car won't move in its direction or indeed either if both are affected which it's fair to assume will happen.

Shell Donax T6, note that the Dexron III, TA stuff is unsuitable, Comma AQF is also suitable but beware, the Comma stuff is pink which could confuse some garages these days as they'll probably assume that Dexron 3 spec will do. It won't.
Even if you can't find the Donax T6 in your location, I've asked a friend who stays out somewhere in France whither they find the fluid easily enough for their 1967 Humber Sceptre's Borg Warner (Type 35) gearbox which takes the same type of fluid as the Dolomite's Borg-Warner Type 65, they mentioned something about Norauto and Speedy having what's required.

[dololo]

Hello ,
after many months at home , my Dolly was back on the road today
-i found some oil on internet with a french reseller ( Pennrite)
-i found a kit for overhaul the gearbox on the web , with a US supplier
and i found a link that showed me that it is possible to do it myself ( with the workshop manual) :
http://kruzin.frenchboard.com/t4934p60- ... utomatique

Thank you everybody for your help

It is now time to solve other problems : no turn light ( but warning light ok) , no fuel level indicator, no wipers . It was ok a few months ago . Fuse issue maybe ....

[Jon Tilson]

Sans question c'est la boit fusible mon brave...

Il n'yen est que deaux.....est celui c'est le feiul vert....

if I remebered the French for wire correctly after 30 years...

Ignitin fed fuse is white in and green out....non ignition is brown in and purple out.

Je vous souhais la bonne chance...

Jonners

[dololo]

thanks,
it was a fuse , but each new fuse of the same size (10Amps) is breaking as soon as i start the wipers
i had to put a 15 Amps in order to put the wipers in place.
Does anybody know the original value for each of the 2 fuses ?

other question , does anybody know what should be the fuel consumption for a 1850 auto ?


Laurent