Gearbox part

[B Unell]

First post.
I'm rebuilding a old gearbox but i can't find the part at the end of the red arrow. Is it supposed to be there? and where can i buy one?

I hope that it is possible read the attached file
/Björn

[joe7]

From my understanding that part was only used on very early trans. I've rebuilt a few and never have seen that part. So generally you don't need one.

[B Unell]

Thanks!
/Björn

[2cams70]

My God! You do need that. It's the oil deflector for the input shaft bearing. You'll have a big leak from the front oil seal if you don't.

[Craven]

The front cover piece, goes over the input shaft, was modified on later gearboxes to include an oil drain channel back to the main case. This allowed the deletion of the oil deflector.

[2cams70]

The front cover piece, goes over the input shaft, was modified on later gearboxes to include an oil drain channel back to the main case. This allowed the deletion of the oil deflector.

Aaah yes - If your box is Mk1 Cortina style (i.e gearlever located at front of extension housing) you'll likely need the deflector. If your box is 2000E Mk2 Cortina style (ie gearlever located at rear of extension housing) you won't need the deflector.

[joe7]

Has anyone actually seen or used this part? That should help with the ? needed or not.

[2cams70]

If you don't fit the deflector to a gearbox that is supposed to have it you will end up with excessive end float between the bearing and it's retaining circlip as well as leakage from the front seal. Both not good.

I'm guessing it's only the earlier style input shaft used with the larger diameter clutch pilot bearing that requires the deflector (MK1 Cortina style). Also the information in my previous post is not quite correct. The MK2 Cortina box was also available with the gearstick at the front of the extension housing like the Mk1. They can be differentiated by the extra ribbing on the main case of the MK2 but you'd probably need to be an Anorak (like me) to tell the difference.

I was mucking around with these gearboxes a lot in my late teens and 20's. That was a long time ago now and memory fails sometimes. Perhaps Craven can confirm some of the above.

[Craven]

I think Lotus must have had a special arrangement with Ford to continue supplying later boxes with forward gear lever position, I have seen snap ring, plastic speedo gear main shaft, in a 4 speed S4.
Only reference to input shaft and oil deflector I have is a C/R gear which has early type larger spigot and can judge that there is no extra space for an oil deflector behind bearing, if there is it’s mighty thin.
However the later gear in Pic, has an oil return pathway via hole back through the gear, this is not present on the earlier C/R gear, this could coincide with change in spigot size, don’t know.
I think the illustration in the OP must be a very early box possibly never used in an Elan, maybe an early ‘7’ ie 4 speed Anglia box.

[B Unell]

I disassembled the gearbox at least 20 years ago (needed the reverse idler gear and a second hand gearbox was cheap) therefore my memory regarding this seal is vague. Thanks for the very helpful information.
/Björn