Leaking Gearbox

[SuffolkSprint]

Hi all,<br>
<br>
My Sprint's gearbox is leaking, it seems in two places - predominantly where it meets the flywheel, and also between the gearbox and overdrive. A small puddle of oil greeted me this morning... It's been leaking sometime but is worse after being run. I've now topped it up.<br>
<br>
I'm assuming the box will have to come out - how easy is this? I'm hoping it's no more than gaskets that need replacing. I looked at the Gearbox archive but couldn't see mention of removing the box. Any thoughts wise ones? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[2F45T4U]

I was speaking to a guy near my garage who owned a dolly and was telling me about the leak from the flywheel (where G box meets engine). He told me how it was a problem on all dollies. And when I checked mine surely enough it had a leak. <br>
<br>
Ok I didnt answer any questions there but just sheding light on the subject..<br>
<br>
Adam

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[alun n]

Jon Tilson has recently discovered its quite difficult (have you succeeded yet Jon?) to put the o/d back onto a Sprint box in situ, so yes, for the o/d to box leak it will probably have to come out. You need to do a taste test on the bellhousing leak as this may well be engine oil coming past the rear crank seal rather than gearbox oil from the nose seal of the input shaft.<br>


<p>1973 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1974 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1977 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1979 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1980 Dolomite 1500HL<br>
1998 Lotus Elise<br>
1999 Alfa Romeo 166</p><i></i>

[Jon Tilson]

You really do identify the leak source before proceeeding and as Alun says make sure it isnt the rear crank oil seal leaking. Sorry Adam but dollies rarely leak from the rear crank oil seal...its always the rocker cover gasket and running down to the lowest point. Gearbox oil smells different.<br>
<br>
There is no way you can seperate the overdrive from a Sprint box in situ. It may go back enouigh to change the gasket but what a fiddle and you'd have to cut and rejoin it at the top to get over the mainshaft.. <br>
My money is on the front gearbox oil seal. Its engine and box out to fix really as the best way.....I hope your wedgelock pin comes out and the manifold to downpipe bolts come undone. They didnt on the one I'm doing.<br>
To answer Alun's point....I ended up taking the whole lot out but what a bitch getting the exhaust to seperate.<br>
Jonners<br>
<br>
<br>


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[SuffolkSprint]

Thanks for the advice. <br>
<br>
Someone else suggested it might be engine oil coming from the flyweel / gbox meet. He suggested as the engine had been sitting idle for a while it may seal itself after a few thousand miles... Topping up the gearbox is a pain in the nether regions, but less so than replacing it. If the engine & box need to come out it will have to wait a while, I've used up my engine-removing favours with the local classics club already! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[PACE]

Mine is leaking engine oil at the bellhousing too. Really a mess after a run...<br>
<br>
What do you mean by "seal itself" and what are the odds? My Dolly stood too for quite a while (1984 <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :p --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... tongue.gif ALT=":p"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ) so I'm looking forward to a seal replacement. Or at least a cardboard in the driveway until then <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Benjamin

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[AdeyB]

Hi<br>
<br>
just to be different (not), my Dolly's leaking too!<br>
<br>
I've changed the rocker gasket, which was torn and the leak has improved but not stopped. There's oil all over the lowest part of the subframe and the lowest part of the bellhousing/ engine. It IS engine oil too.<br>
<br>
Where are the areas to check? Advice welcome ASAP as OPEC are starting to take an interest in my driveway!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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cheers all<br>
Adey

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[SuffolkSprint]

I guess the problem is, engine oil may SEEM to be coming from the bell housing in my / our cars, but as you suggest it may be coming from somewhere else and running down. My engine was rebuilt before being put into car, stood for 10 years beforehand so a gasket / oil seal may well have rotted or gone dry. Maybe engine will need to come out inevitably.<br>
<br>
MOT re-test tomorrow, so first things first.<br>
<br>
As for covering the floor, I've now put cardboard and large plastic sheet on the floor of the garage I rent due to the variety of liquids which ooze from time to time!<br>
<br>


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[MalcGE]

Sprints were never great at holding their fluids even when new. These days we beacome accustomed to modern machinery which never leaves a mark. All my Sprints have leaked a bit of engine oil, as Jonners & Alun say, bottom corner of Rocker cover and run down, as Dave said, why do they all leak so much oil form the petrol pump. Rumour has it that when they built them, if they didn't leak 'at end of line inspection' they sent them back for rectification work, there was a reputation to live up to.

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