J Type Overdrive

[Gresley]

The leak from my overdrive is definately getting beyond funny - everytime I get out of the car after a run I get an aroma of hot gear oil:shock:

I seem to have two leaks, one from the gasket on the bottom of the overdrive and one from the output seal. My question is when I remove the 'sump' from the overdrive, can I expect to lose all the oil in the gearbox? If I will lose all of it then I need to go and buy some gear oil at the weekend!

Thanks

Brian

[brian0443]

imported post

Hello Brian

Just done this job on mine. I hadthe fronton ramps and drained using the main gearbox sump plug first. There was still a considerable and messyflow when I took the sump off the OD. I don't know whether draining the gearbox on the level would have emptied the OD also but I will do that next time. Capacity is 2 litres.

Brian

[jleyton]

imported post

Hi Brian

In the absence of any other replies I'll throw in my two penn'orth.

From the pic you can see that the sump of the overdrive sits quite a bit higher than the base of th egearbox so I don't think you'll get all of it over your arms. However I would think you're still going to get a fair bit and as Mr Triumph kindly provided a gearbox drain plug (unlike on the diff) I think I'd drain it all anyway.

Drained mine the other day to clean the filters - I've posted elsewhere about this - and it is dead easy to do, so why not?

If you're taking off the sump then I'd recommend cleaning the overdrive filters. For the pressure filter, you're supposed to use a pin wrench but my old trick of two drills and a screwdriver worked perfectly ok for me.

I still don't know why, but my 1977ROM tells you to use Hypoid 75w if you're refilling the gearbox as opposed to 80 or 90 if you're just topping up. (The earlier one that Don Kennedy has mentioned carries no such recommendation :?)

Not sure if I've now been a help or a hindrance :shock:- good luck anyway.

Cheers

Julian

[NickA]

imported post

IIRC you'd get some oil but definitelynot the entire gearbox or even overdrives contents.


<edit> already answered with muchmore detailbut it was over 12 years ago when I was trying to stop a similar gearbox oil leak. :?

[StagnJag]

imported post

I believe that the theory behind the two different oil grades is that the gearbox oil tends not to be changed and thins with age. Topping up with a heavier grade goes some ways to balancing things out. (I could be talking out of the wrong end though:P) Can anyone confirm/Deny this?

Rgds

Dave

[jleyton]

imported post

Just while we're on this subject, I've a problem on my J type overdrivethat seems to point to the solenoid.

They ain't cheap and I'm a bit reluctant to shell out for one and then find I didn't need it !!

Has anybody got one that they'd be willing to let me have on aSale or return basis?

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Cheers

Julian


Ps Also posted in for sale / wanted section

[Westfaling]

imported post

I've changed gaskets on the overdrive several times to try to stop leaks. A small quantity of oil comes out so you don't need to drain the box first. It's hard to get the gaskets to seal properly as the bolts are small with a fine thread and won't take much torque. Damned annoying.:X
nick

[Gresley]

imported post

Hi folks,

Thanks for the comprehensive replies about this messy job! It sounds as though leaks from here are not uncommon

Thanks also for the info about cleaning the filters, I'll make sure I do when it is apart. I changed the oil in there about 15,000 miles ago so it probably is a good idea to drain it out and renew anyway.

Cheers

Brian

[pcoleman]

imported post

hi julian,I have a spare solenoid somewhere in the stag boot which is full of er,stuff so I would have to search it out if you want to try it.as far as I know it's ok as it wasn't the problem in the end.
regards. pete.c

[jleyton]

imported post

Hi Pete,

That's very good of you. I'll send you a PM.

Cheers

Julian