11 replies to this topic

[russelld]

I first became aware all was not as it should be with my gearbox when on our recent trip over to the Isle of Man. I could smell gear oil when we pulled into a car park, just a whif at first and I wasn't sure if it was coming from my car or not. I looked for signs of a leak but with the undertrays on I could not see any. A couple of times over the next few days I detected the smell again but still no oil puddles or signs under the tray.

Our ferry was sailing back to Liverpool on the Monday at 2.00pm so Monday morning we went for a last blast on the TT course finishing at the Creg n'bar pub at the end of the mountain road section. As I got out of the car the smell of gear oil ( cat piss and sulphur ) was very strong. I knew then that something was definitely amiss.

Dave got in touch with his cousin's husband Lee who has a garage in Douglas. We took the car to Lee at 8.30am and left it with him for investigation while we all went to our hotel for breakfast and to pack. After removing the undertray Lee found that gear oil was leaking from the near side driveshaft oil seal and was by now dripping when the car was stood. Lee advised that I arranged to be recovered when we docked at Liverpool.

I rang Green Flag to  discover that my policy had elapsed at the end of May. After a conversation with them about not sending me notification and Green flag saying it had been posted it became clear that they were not prepared help.The best that they could offer me was to pay a one off payment of £110.00 and they would take me up to 10 miles ! Plan B was needed.

Lee gave me a 14mm socket and an extension bar so I could get to top up the oil from the top of the box. He also arranged for me to benefit from his trade discount at a motor factors in Douglas where I bought 2 litres of gear oil for topping up on the way home. Top bloke is Lee I owe him several beers when I'm next over.

I stopped to top up with gear oil a couple of times, once on the M6 then again on the A50 just outside Stoke. On the second stop I put in the last of the 2 litres.  I could see that it was dripping out quite fast ! I stopped again at Derby with Burton services on the A50 the car had now started making a grating noise, I looked under the car and could see oil pouring out in a steady stream. It was coming out faster than I could have topped up. I rang a mate to come and pick us up and left the car overnight at the services.

As the car was near Burton I arranged to have it recovered to Unit 4  as I have heard only good reports about Gav. I had a long chat with Gav and left the car with him for him to make a start when he had time. Gav started to strip the car earlier this week and  rang me to say that the diff bearing had loads of play and it was this that had caused the seal to fail. The new bearings ( I'm having all 3 replaced with metal caged uprated ones ) and seals should be with him today. I have also ordered a new AP clutch kit and asked him to change the rear engine oil seal at the same time. I have also decided to have the cam belt changed,the brake and clutch fluid changed and an Elise parts gear linkage kit fitted at the same time. Progress report to follow :



Being recovered from Burton services.





The failed bearing, you can see how much play there is !



The box on Gav's bench. All the gears, synchros and other bearings are in very good fettle.



Quaife LSD.



Lightened flywheel.



My remote stat. different type and different location to the Elise parts job. It seems to keep temps stable though !

Edited by russelld, 28 June 2012 - 10:41 AM.

[scatty]

in for a penny in for a £ russ....

have you got it back yet????

[russelld]

Not yet,

The new clutch is still with City link.

Just been looking at the tracking history :

It was sent on 26th, they tried to deliver to unit 4 at 19.38 !! on 27th, then they tried to deliver again today at 18.26 !!

WTF is that all about.

The thing is I can't get in touch with anyone at city link until tomorrow and then they will just tell me it's on the vehicle and scheduled for delivery sometime today.

Gav must be getting pissed as his ramp is tied up.

[Elise+Imp]

Blimey Russ, that bearing does look a bit past it's prime, well done on nursing it home, i do like it when you manage to beat the odds stacked against you (well almost)

[Martin R]

LSD, hmm nice. It  was an option on the S2 Sport 190 as was just about everything else.

[russelld]

I went to collect the clutch from the city link depot this morning and it was with Gav for 9.00am.

I collect the car in the morning just in time for the run in Derbyshire on Sunday

[jimbo07g41]

Flipping eck Russ looks like you caught that bearing just in time and good that your replacing with the steel caged items.  If that failed and came apart, it can make a real mess.

Mine started with a grinding noise and then started to lock in Reverse, two days before SPA.  The plastic caged bearings on the bottim of the counter shaft had failed and bits were grinding the end of the shaft.

[R.I.B.]

Good to hear there's no serious damage to the gearbox Russ :-)

Edited by R.I.B., 29 June 2012 - 11:09 AM.

[russelld]

Apart from the failed bearing and some "glitter" in the old oil ( which has now all been washed away ) the rest of the gearbox looks perfect !

I just hope that there is no damage that we did not find. Gav is confident all is well.

[Phil S1]

russelld, on 29 June 2012 - 09:45 AM, said:

I went to collect the clutch from the city link depot this morning and it was with Gav for 9.00am.

I collect the car in the morning just in time for the run in Derbyshire on Sunday

"If you want a job doing....." eh Russ?
Good to hear you'll seen be back on the road again

[Daniel]

Good work Russell (and Gav) It'll be lovely when you get it back.

[jimbo07g41]

russelld, on 29 June 2012 - 11:31 AM, said:

Apart from the failed bearing and some "glitter" in the old oil ( which has now all been washed away ) the rest of the gearbox looks perfect !

I just hope that there is no damage that we did not find. Gav is confident all is well.

Russ, the PG 1 is quite tough.  If you have had metal in there you would see the damage.  There is a magnet in the bottom of the case that 'attracts' any glitter!  Sounds like you will be fine and caught it in time.