Annoying Oil Leak

[carrierdave]

As with most men, the instruction book was closed when I fixed the bell housing to the gearbox.
Once the gearbox had been put back in the car and filled with oil I noticed a small amount of oil on the bottom of the bell housing.

After a month or too of continued oil patches on the floor I decided to look back and see if anyone had had a similar problem ? and yes it would appear that the bottom left hand bell housing bolt goes through into the gearbox and on assembly I should have used a thread sealer - that will teach me not to read the book!

So my question ? Is it possible to remove this bolt from under the car without removing the engine and gearbox? Will the bolt come out with the clutch cover in place?

Thanks in advance.

Dave

[gino1]

Hi Dave,

They say nothing is impossible but if you raise tha car you will see there is only one hole throgh which you can even attempt to see this bolt and that is the clutch fork aperture.
Your just going to have to take the engine and gearbox out or only the engine as you prefer.
Gino
Milano
Italy

[garyeanderson]

A search on

bellhousing and bolts
is
http://www.lotuselan.net/cgi-bin/search ... oom_sort=0

This gets you
elan-f15/oil-leak-gearbox-t21878.html

and gives

elan-f14/gearbox-bellhousing-gasket-t15595.html

Its the simple things in life that help get you though.

Gary

[tcsoar]

Dave,

I know how you feel, I have the very same leak as you

I had assumed that the the bolt holes where blind and did not need sealing, like you I must remember to have a look at the manual before doing these things, I suppose that is why we have them after all.

I had a quick look at the options and it quickly become obvious that the engine is going to have to come out.

Chris.

[carrierdave]

Thanks Chris - and everyone for your replies. One final question.

If I were to disconnect the prop shaft, speedo, clutch (although its flexi pipe), gearbox mount and remove the gear lever and unbolt from the engine - how far back could I pust the gearbox back?

I'm sure there must be someone out there who has tried to remove the gearbox without removing the engine - All I need is enough room to get a hand a socket to the bottom bolts.

Thanks

ps - I hadn't forgotten about draining the gearbox!!

[garyeanderson]

Hi Dave

see if this helps.

elan-archive-f16/gearbox-removel-without-engine-t9155.html

[carrierdave]

That sounds spot on! Thanks for the post.

Dave

[tcsoar]

Hi Dave,

Thought I would let you and the others know how I was getting on with the oil leak.

I had the engine out, sealed the offending bolt and filled the gearbox about four weeks ago.

Today, although the car is up on ramps at the front, I noticed oil seeping into the bellhousing . On further inspection (engine is still on the bench) I have found that the oil is coming from the extension housing, leaking past the new gasket not the seal.

Chris.