how many fingers?

[fred_gustafsson]

how many fingers do i need to amputate to be able to get the gearbox oil plug back in place?

[rj]

Only outer link on right hands fifth finger.

 

Or... at least it works for me 😳

[Jonathan Kay]

... presumably you're trying to do it up from underneath and round the side rather than from the passenger footwell?

 

Jonathan

 

PS: Now why did that remind me of

[fred_gustafsson]

what's the best way of getting access from the footwell?

[Jonathan Kay]

Advice from Alcester Racing 7s

 

What I do is use a cut down hex key in a ring ratchet spanner.

 

Jonathan

 

PS: The first time I did this I just wanted to check the level, not change the oil. I didn't bother getting the oil tray and mat. I used the type of spanner that reverses the ratchet by turning the spanner over. Great gush of oil from box, fluid was obviously unnecessarily full, just need to tighten the plug... can you see where this is going? Not only could I not tighten the plug because of the ratchet, but I couldn't get the key and spanner out because the plug had now been wound out so close to the panel that there wasn't enough clearance. All I could think of was the

 

Now I use the type that has a little lever to reverse the ratchet.

 

[bluespeed]

I have just had my gearbox overhauled and stupidly didn't remove the filler plug before installing the gearbox back into the car. I was then forced into taking an angle grinder *cry*to a perfectly good right angled allen key, I fettled it to the right length to get it in place missing the transmisson tunnel side wall. Using an extension bar on the end of the ALLEN KEY I just manged to undo the plug... it was bl**dy tight.

 

I am not sure a hole in the cockpit side wall is possibe as there is a square section strengthener in the way on my K series R300. However, it would make life a lot easier if it was! I learned to my cost it is critrical to keep an eye on the gearbox oil level. ☹️

[Jonathan Kay]

I've heard that some 7s have a cross-member in the way but don't know which.

 

Another way is to fill through the top either with the plate off or by using a plate with a filler tube. But I don't know how you'd set the level that way? Dipstick? Cracking open the plug?

 

Jonathan

 

Edited by - Jonathan Kay on 18 Dec 2011 18:42:28

[charlie_pank]

Use a hole cutter to make a hole in the tunnel wall. You can fill it with a blanking plug when you're not using it.

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

My 2002 SV certainly has a diagonal chassis tube right in line with the filler plug, so no access through tunnel wall.

[sevenmad]

The standard metric chassis defintely has a diagonal in the way too!

 

[David Brown]

Found it easier to use a short bit of hex and an open ended spanner gave more room to work.

 

David

[Jonathan Kay]

What David said. I cut my hex key down till it was just a straight bit: no right angle.

 

Jonathan

 

[Chris Cardwell]

The 5-speed BGH gear box has an option for a oil level dip stick - with different levels for road and race. The oil can also be topped up through the same opening.

[bluespeed]

A short bit of Hex and a spanner works a treat in normal circumstances... unless a Gorila has done the plug up, as was in my case, then the spanner either bends or slips on the hex bar. Resorting to a fettled Allen key and an extension bar is then the only way.

Good luck, I almost burst my appendix trying to undo the filler plug on my car.

 

 

[Grubbster]

I have no problem loosening it or tightening - it is getting the plug started in the thread that is the hard bit for me. I might look into making a hole in the tunnel as part of my winter upgrade package.