TR2/3/3A TR3 Gearbox Big Leak

[RedTR3]

I've had this TR3 for 5 years and the gearbox has always leaked (it's an overdive unit). Now suddenly the leak has turned massive (about a cup of oil in 2 days). I have pinpointed the leak to the gasket between the gearbox housing and the odrive adapter plate. I was hoping to try to re-tighten the bolts in order to slow the leak but apparently these bolts are internal ( attaching the adpater plate to the gearbox housing (bolt heads hidden inside the odrive unit). Is this correct?

If so, then I don't see any way to fix without removing the gearbox.

 

[TR3driver]

Well, I hesitate to recommend this, since having those bolts come loose could potentially lead to much more serious problems.

But I was able to limp by for most of a year by draining the oil, washing the area thoroughly with solvent, wipe off the solvent (lather, rinse, repeat as necessary until it's really clean); and then 'buttering' it with black RTV. Wait for the RTV to cure thoroughly before refilling.

PS, yes, the bolts that hold the adapter plate to the main gearbox are inside the OD.

 

[Don Elliott]

If someone tried to re-assemble your overdrive onto the gearbox and the oil pump was not re-tracted out of the way as detailed in the instruction manual, that person could have put a huge crack across the adapter plate trying to put it all together.

Don't ask me how I know about this.