This might be of interest to Borg Warner 35 owners

[Staggard]

Hi, I put a posting on here a while ago about BW35's dumping oil out of the dipstick/breather and there were other members that seemed to have the same problem, the general conclusion was to allow the oil to find its own level in my case was just below the low mark on the dipstick unfortunately this did not work for me as the gearbox kept dropping out of gear and then coming back in with an almighty bang (mostly on corners and when stopping) So when I was back in England I asked if Russ (kryten) would make me a metal bush with an O ring groove machined into it to replace the felt seal on the dipstick (which he kindly did) Then I made a simple expansion/separator out of 40mm plastic tube and put it in to the breather pipe, so the oil that was being pushed up breather pipe would expand into it and the air would separate from the oil which would then run back down into the box while the air would be free to escape. I have been running this set up for a month now and it's working perfectly I check the oil level by, when hot and in park I turn the engine off and check the level within 30 seconds and now maintain the level on the full mark. Whether this would work if the box was overfilled I doubt. I will put some pictures in my album for anyone that is interested. Graham

[SteveS]

Graham,
My Mk1 with BW 35 does this oil dumping thing all the time, and like you I've moved to running the gearbox oil low, and putting cardboard boxes on the garage floor to help the mopping up. I'm fascinated with your mod and it sounds like a very good idea- have you any diagrams or sketches that could help me to try to repeat what you have done?
Best Wishes
Steve

[Staggard]

Graham,
My Mk1 with BW 35 does this oil dumping thing all the time, and like you I've moved to running the gearbox oil low, and putting cardboard boxes on the garage floor to help the mopping up. I'm fascinated with your mod and it sounds like a very good idea- have you any diagrams or sketches that could help me to try to repeat what you have done?
Best Wishes
Steve

Hi Steve, I've put some pictures in my album, apart for the bit for the dipstick (which as I said Russ made for me) it's only a piece of 40mm plastic waste pipe 150mm long cap/stop end on one end and an male/female elbow on the other end with another cap/ stop end on the female part of the elbow, drilled and tapped the caps and screwed in a 1/8 bsp to 8mm hose connecter into each end and fitted to the bulkhead with a couple pipe clips. even if I could draw I would'nt know how to put it on a post. Sorry but if I can help in any other way let me know, Graham

[SteveS]

Graham,
Thanks for the extra info. I think I'm going to give your idea a go as it not only seems to solve the problem, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than a new gearbox. I'll let you know how I get on. Now, if you can only fix the weather so that I can get out more often in the old girl.........

[Paul Goldsmith]

Very interesting, nice work !

If I'm reading things correctly, basically make the dipstick airtight and then add a 'header tank' to the gearbox breather - for which I'm thinking a small oil catch tank would be ideal for use here.

But there again, if I stop our BW35 oil leak that will somewhat reduce my justification to fund a ZF conversion next year

[Staggard]

Very interesting, nice work !

If I'm reading things correctly, basically make the dipstick airtight and then add a 'header tank' to the gearbox breather - for which I'm thinking a small oil catch tank would be ideal for use here.

But there again, if I stop our BW35 oil leak that will somewhat reduce my justification to fund a ZF conversion next year

As long as you've got an inlet at the bottom and an outlet at the top and it's mounted verticle and it will hold about 1/2 ltr (thats about what mine would dump in one go) you can use what you like. Don't tell the wife you fixed the 35. Then again a ZF knocks the b*****s off a 35 ONE DAY com'on the lottery, Graham

[Staggard]

Graham,
Thanks for the extra info. I think I'm going to give your idea a go as it not only seems to solve the problem, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than a new gearbox. I'll let you know how I get on. Now, if you can only fix the weather so that I can get out more often in the old girl.........

SOLOUTION Stick it on the ferry and come and see us. Cheers Graham