Oil Leak from Gearbox?

[Skipper555]

Hi, managed to get the car out and about yesterday after sorting on the garage for the past couple of months (so great to take her out for a drive again).

However I noticed a small amount of oil had been dropped in the garage floor over this time. Probably an area about the size of a postcard.

From looking under the car I could see a small drop of oil had formed at the front of the gearbox (see arrow in photo).

Cleaned it off last night, but then checked just now and there's another drop,  although nothing on the floor yet.

I can't see any oil around the engine itself.

Would this be leaking from the gearbox main seal at the front?

 

[Jonathan Kay]

Which gearbox?

There are multiple reports of oil leaking around the selector shaft.

Jonathan

[Skipper555]

Oops, I meant to add the specs. K-Series 160VVC with the Ford Type 9

[Guy Lowe]

As JK says this is quite common, normally leaks from the end of the selector shaft, I had R&R fit a cover over the shaft, no leaks since.

[Skipper555]

That's very helpful @Guy Lowe I was trying to find an image that showed where this selector leak could be from.

[John Vine]

Just for clarification, that cover is over the layshaft rather than the selector shaft. 

Leaks from the selector shaft are a feature of the 6-speed, due to a faulty O-ring seal:

JV

 

[Skipper555]

Thanks @John Vine also very helpful.

So at this current dribbly-rate is it a big problem?

Should I look at getting it fixed sooner rather than later to prevent oil getting onto the clutch etc.?

[Guy Lowe]

13 minutes ago, John Vine said:

Just for clarification, that cover is over the layshaft rather than the selector shaft

Thanks for the correction John, it would be very difficult to change gear if the selector shaft was in the bottom of the box 🤭

[Englishmaninwales]

Ignore!

Edited February 12 by Englishmaninwales

[John Vine]

1 hour ago, Skipper555 said:

So at this current dribbly-rate is it a big problem?

Should I look at getting it fixed sooner rather than later to prevent oil getting onto the clutch etc.?

Difficult to advise from a distance, but if it were my car I'd monitor the quantity of lost oil and pencil in a repair within 6-12 months -- earlier if it gets worse.  I doubt your clutch is at risk at the moment.  

Are you able to remove the box yourself or would you need to enlist the help of a garage?

JV

[Skipper555]

Understood that makes sense.

Although I'd be happy to take the box out, I think it would be tricky to do that in my single garage as it's pretty tight in there as it is.

So I'd need to find somewhere to handle this for me, being based in the West Midlands I think the closest garage I could find is N J Potter in Leicestershire, unless anyone know otherwise.

[Orange]

My gearbox leaked from the 5th gear cover plate, took me while to work this out - worth a look it, was an easy fix (fiddly) to take off, apply sealant and re fix plate. It did not need the gearbox removing.

[Skipper555]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to jack the front of the car up and get a good look underneath as well as give it a good clean too.

I'll check the gearbox oil level of I can figure that out too.

[Gridgway]

Is it also possible to be the speedo drive oil seal?  Perhaps you can trace where the gearbox is wet with oil to be sure if the source?  In front of the drip or behind it.

[Geoff Brown]

Type 9GB has been known to leak from the join between the forward & rear ends (fwd round black casting & rest of casing). It then runs down the lower 'spine' of the casting & running off as indicated by the arrow in the first picture. If I remember correctly there is a gasket at that position.

Out of three K Series cars I owned two succumbed to leaking from the point I have described. Thankfully both rectified under warranty. 

[Skipper555]

Cheers, useful info. Hopefully I can get under the car soon and work out what's going on

[Skipper555]

Finally managed to get the gearbox out of the car today. It's very grubby and seems quite oily around the front of it. I need to give it a good clean to start having a look over it, but I think it maybe a good idea to replace all the seals and gaskets whilst it's out.

Also, I wasn't expecting the clutch release bearing and pivot arm to drop off. Seems quite loose and wobbly so something else I'll replace whilst it's all off.

Edited April 14 by Skipper555
Added pictures

[Jonathan Kay]

3 minutes ago, Skipper555 said:

Trying to add pictures

Please let us know if you’d like some help? Uploading or linking?

Jonathan

[Skipper555]

Just now, Jonathan Kay said:

Please let us know if you’d like some help? Uploading or linking?

Jonathan

Cheers. It was something funny on Firefox on Android. It is just wasn't uploading attachments. Chrome for Android worked OK. I suspect it's just my phone playing up there

[John Vine]

Thanks for the update.

Yes, it's a good idea to get the box completely refurbed.  The release bearing show signs of loss of grease (unless all that gunge is from your oil leak).   The clutch fork should be ok provided the slot where it fits onto the pivot pin isn't worn.  And if they're worn, replace the pivot pin and plastic sleeve too.

Is your clutch cable-operated or hydraulic?

JV 

[Skipper555]

Cheers, John.
Hydraulic clutch. The clutch felt OK to me, but I'm still relatively new to the car. It didn't slip or have any obvious issues though.

[John Vine]

3 minutes ago, Skipper555 said:

Cheers, John.
Hydraulic clutch. The clutch felt OK to me, but I'm still relatively new to the car. It didn't slip or have any obvious issues though.

That's good. If you had a cable clutch,  I'd have suggested some pre-load for the CRB (clutch release bearing) to avoid premature failure.

[Skipper555]

Can anyone recommend the best place to get the set of gaskets and seals for the Type 9 gearbox?

I've found this place (although it states the website is closed at the moment)

https://www.bearingkits.co.uk/Contact-us/I2.htm

and it looks like Redline Components have them too.

Also where should I get a Clutch Release Bearing from? Caterham or does someone do a better one now?

According to the build manual there's a plastic sleeve that goes over the clutch arm pivot pin at the bottom of the bellhousing. It look like mine's broken as that fell out when I split it. Is there a suitable replacement available from somewhere?

Finally I've read quite a bit about there being a gasket between the bell housing and front of the gearbox, but there wasn't one on mine. Or an o-ring that I can see around the selector shaft that sticks out of the front of the gearbox. Is best practice to apply a circle of Hylomar or similar around this hole so it seals against the bell housing and prevents future leaks?

Edited April 15 by Skipper555
Add comment about bearing kits website being closed

[Skipper555]

I've just started cleaning the gearbox and there was actually a gasket between the gearbox and bell housing. It was so mucky I couldn't make it out before

[Gridgway]

I've used bearingkits before and they've been fine.  I've also used BGH Geartech, they are good.  Or there's Chris at Redline.  Or Burtons.  Loads of choice.  I'd see if you can get it all from one place as that's going to be better probably for shipping cost.  The plastic bits on the release arm pin always crack and fall off.  New ones are available and some people use a short bit of windscreen washer tube I think.