Gearbox oil

[gordont]

Having just removed and replaced rubbers in clutch slave cylinder I noticed a bit of oil around the underside of the gearbox so thinking time to change the oil. Question - do I filll using a pump in the side fill hole of via the gear lever hole? Suggestions?

[robertverhey]

As I recall you can fill via the gear lever hole in the triple rail gearboxes as fitted to Elan (but not the single rail as fitted to later Mk 2 Cortinas and Escorts)

That said, you need to take the filler plug out to know when she's full anyway, so I guess since it's gotta come out and if you can access the filler hole with a tube / pump, may as well fill though the filler hole

Robert

[bcmc33]

If you have a pit or hoist it is as easy as any other method to fill the box through the side hole.

As I have neither, I've always filled through the lever aperture.

[gordont]

Alas no pit or hoist so will be trolley jack.....

[garyeanderson]

If you feel it is necessary maintenance to perform than.

1) Lift Elan or plus2 with hoist or jack (level) (ramps at front, jack in the back works too)
2) Jackstands or safety lock on the lift in place and tested
3) Remove side fill/level plug. A 5/8 Square socket (8 point) or a 5/8 open end if it hasn't had the snot tightened out of it to stop that annoying gearoil drip.
4) If someone has buggered the shit out of the square head, stop. Time to go get a 10 inch Stillson

and have at it. Find a new plug too.
5) I have a funnel attached to a 5 foot length of hose and a wire on the funnel that I wrap around some convenient high point like the top of the window and insert the hose into the hole in the side of the gearcase.
6) A clean drain pan goes under gearbox side fill/level plug.
7) Pour in the gearoil of you choice into the funnel until it starts to come out of the side fill/level hole and stop. Before removing drain pan, pull the hose and let it drain, there will be some in the 5 foot section to drain out. Refit side fill/level plug.

Rewind the rest to get back to the beginning

[cabc26b]

Gordon,

I have used a "pump" to do this . they are available from plenty of sources. I also find with the pump I can perform the task with the car on the ground. remove the fill plug, insert the short section of hose into the hole ( comes with pump) and pump/push the gear oil in. I use the same tool for the rear-end oil top ups. The pump can also be used to drain oil via suction , and I have used on differentials before to rotate out oil.

G

[oldelanman]

If you feel it is necessary maintenance to perform than.

1) Lift Elan or plus2 with hoist or jack (level) (ramps at front, jack in the back works too)
2) Jackstands or safety lock on the lift in place and tested
3) Remove side fill/level plug. A 5/8 Square socket (8 point) or a 5/8 open end if it hasn't had the snot tightened out of it to stop that annoying gearoil drip.
4) If someone has buggered the shit out of the square head, stop. Time to go get a 10 inch Stillson
and have at it. Find a new plug too.
5) I have a funnel attached to a 5 foot length of hose and a wire on the funnel that I wrap around some convenient high point like the top of the window and insert the hose into the hole in the side of the gearcase.
6) A clean drain pan goes under gearbox side fill/level plug.
7) Pour in the gearoil of you choice into the funnel until it starts to come out of the side fill/level hole and stop. Before removing drain pan, pull the hose and let it drain, there will be some in the 5 foot section to drain out. Refit side fill/level plug.

8 ) Realise that you forgot to drain the old oil out first and start again

[EPA]

I used a Hilka 500cc hand suction pump which worked really well and quite cheap on ebay.It requires a couple of goes to fill the gearbox but gives you an idea of how much oil you have put in which is especially important if jacking the car as it wont be level enough to rely on the oil running out of the hole.

Best of luck
ed

[garyeanderson]

piss-ant wrote:
If you feel it is a necessary maintenance to perform than.

1) Lift Elan or plus2 with hoist or jack (level) (ramps at front, jack in the back works too)
2) Jackstands or safety lock on the lift in place and tested
3) Remove side fill/level plug and loosen bottom drain plug. A 5/8 Square socket (8 point) or a 5/8 open end if it hasn't had the snot tightened out of it to stop that annoying gearoil drip.
4) If someone has buggered the shit out of the square head, stop. Time to go get a 10 inch Stillson
and have at it. Find a new plug too.
5) I have a funnel attached to a 5 foot length of hose and a wire on the funnel that I wrap around some convenient high point like the top of the window and insert the hose into the hole in the side of the gearcase.

6) Place a drain pan goes under gearbox side fill/level plug.
7) drain oil
Reinstall drain plug
9) Pour in the gearoil of you choice into the funnel until it starts to come out of the side fill/level hole and stop. Before removing drain pan, pull the hose and let it drain, there will be some in the 5 foot section to drain out. Refit side fill/level plug.


8 ) Realize that you forgot to drain the old oil out first and start again

Does this look better to you Roger?

p-a

[oldelanman]

[elansprint71]

Posted these a while back. I looked at what the racing boys do and now I can do the gearbox and diff oil really easily.

[garyeanderson]

Pete's post reminded me that I was going to get a picture of the funnel. Well, it's not really a funnel but it works for me. I don't know where or what it was, it probably came from the take it or leave it pile of stuff at the landfill. It became a 5 minute rig to get the gearoil in the both holes, the side level/fill gearbox and the differential level/fill. It's been around for a while. As you see it the output is inserted into the input for storage and to try and minimize spillage when not in use which is most all the time.

[billwill]

You don't need to make holes THAT big in the body, & if you make them circular, you can fit a big blind grommet in it.

[ecamiel]

Red Line oil noticeably improved shifting speed and feel.

Eric
64 S1 Hart

[alexblack13]

I'll second the Redline Recomm'..... What a difference...

AB.....