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Gearbox cover and OD questions

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IanIrving

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I've been having some problems with the overdrive on my BJ8 so decided today to tackle it. It works when transmission is cold but when up to temp if slips out and then won't engage at all. Solenoid is ok and operating as it should. I removed the gearbox cover, the first time for me to do this, and see that it is fixed to the floor with a real strange mix of self tapping screws, some flat head, some philips, som BA size screws. From the parts list I have it seems they should be 8 nuts, washers and bolts but that looks awkward in that you'd have to be inside and under at the same time. How should it be fixed? Also there was a seal between the front of the cover and the firewall that looks to me like glaziers putty, 1/2 inch thick in places. The parts list shows a gearbox cover extension. Should that be there cos it aint. If so I'll get one.
Having got the cover off I decided to change the gearbox oil for starters, I'm going to use an 80/90 transmission oil rather than the 20/50 recomended in the book- any objections? I removed the OD drain plug and there are three heavy magnetic washers under the filter sitting in the drain plug. I don't see them in the parts list. Should they be there?
There are no iron particles on them but I do see in the filter small pieces of what looks like phosphor bronze. The gearbox was rebuilt about two years ago and works well and since they share oil, could those bits of brass/phosphor bronze or whatever be from the initial wear on the new box or are they likely to be part of my OD problem?

Any advice welcome.

Ian
 
IanIrving said:
I've been having some problems with the overdrive on my BJ8 so decided today to tackle it. It works when transmission is cold but when up to temp if slips out and then won't engage at all. Solenoid is ok and operating as it should. I removed the gearbox cover, the first time for me to do this, and see that it is fixed to the floor with a real strange mix of self tapping screws, some flat head, some philips, som BA size screws. From the parts list I have it seems they should be 8 nuts, washers and bolts but that looks awkward in that you'd have to be inside and under at the same time. How should it be fixed? Also there was a seal between the front of the cover and the firewall that looks to me like glaziers putty, 1/2 inch thick in places. The parts list shows a gearbox cover extension. Should that be there cos it aint. If so I'll get one.
Having got the cover off I decided to change the gearbox oil for starters, I'm going to use an 80/90 transmission oil rather than the 20/50 recomended in the book- any objections?
<span style="color: #FF0000"> </span> <span style="color: #FF0000">I wouldn't use gearbox oil in the transmission. The 20/50 is good, or maybe a synthetic. Your problem may be the OD pumps aren't holding pressure.</span> I removed the OD drain plug and there are three heavy magnetic washers under the filter sitting in the drain plug. I don't see them in the parts list. Should they be there?
<span style="color: #FF0000"> </span> There shouldbe one in there.
There are no iron particles on them but I do see in the filter small pieces of what looks like phosphor bronze. The gearbox was rebuilt about two years ago and works well and since they share oil, could those bits of brass/phosphor bronze or whatever be from the initial wear on the new box or are they likely to be part of my OD problem?

Any advice welcome.

Ian
Click to expand...
 
IanIrving said:
I've been having some problems with the overdrive on my BJ8 so decided today to tackle it. It works when transmission is cold but when up to temp if slips out and then won't engage at all.
Solenoid is ok and operating as it should. I removed the gearbox cover, the first time for me to do this, and see that it is fixed to the floor with a real strange mix of self tapping screws, some flat head, some philips, som BA size screws.
:savewave:
PO replacements for stripped out or lost ones.

From the parts list I have it seems they should be 8 nuts, washers and bolts but that looks awkward in that you'd have to be inside and under at the same time. How should it be fixed?

:savewave:
Sheet metal screws into the floor. If the holes have been stripped out you can install press in threaded fasteners.

Also there was a seal between the front of the cover and the firewall that looks to me like glaziers putty, 1/2 inch thick in places.

:savewave:
Should be ~1/2"rubber seal that putty is again PO mess.


The parts list shows a gearbox cover extension. Should that be there cos it aint.

:savewave:
Not used on BJ8???

If so I'll get one.

Having got the cover off I decided to change the gearbox oil for starters, I'm going to use an 80/90 transmission oil rather than the 20/50 recomended in the book- any objections?

:savewave:
YEP use standard weight motor oil.

I removed the OD drain plug and there are three heavy magnetic washers under the filter sitting in the drain plug. I don't see them in the parts list.

:savewave:
Bad parts list

Should they be there?

:savewave:
Yep

There are no iron particles on them but I do see in the filter small pieces of what looks like phosphor bronze. The gearbox was rebuilt about two years ago and works well and since they share oil, could those bits of brass/phosphor bronze or whatever be from the initial wear on the new box or are they likely to be part of my OD problem?.

:savewave:
If Brass balk rings were installed then these Brass bits may be wear indicators. Balk rings should be steel in this model tranny and small amts of brass can be normal.


Any advice welcome.

Ian
Click to expand...
 
<span style="color: #FF0000">There shouldbe one in there.
</span>

Jonny

I had two or three in mine and they have all gone back in. Thought it was one originally but they do slip apart.

:cheers:

Bob
 
Strange, I've checked four parts manuals (AH spares, SC parts, Northern Healey and UK Healey) and can't see them in any however since most seem to think they should be there, I'll put them in when I put it back together tomorrow. They obvously don't do no harm.

Also interestingly I checked the spec for a Triumph car which uses same OD unit as the Healey and it recommends 90 weight oil for the overdrive. Seems ya pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.

Ian
 
Does anyone know who sells the shaped seals for the gearbox fibreglass cover to floor and firewall. They show in the SC parts catalogue but not available. If not, what do you use instead. Keoke says the gearbox extension is not used in the BJ8 but in my parts list it is shown for BJ7 and BJ8. Does anyone's BJ8 have one?

Ian
 
:savewave:
Make the seals using standard [ home type ] hardware rubber / foam weather stripping.
 
IanIrving said:
Does anyone know who sells the shaped seals for the gearbox fibreglass cover to floor and firewall. They show in the SC parts catalogue but not available. If not, what do you use instead. Keoke says the gearbox extension is not used in the BJ8 but in my parts list it is shown for BJ7 and BJ8. Does anyone's BJ8 have one?

Ian
Click to expand...
I got mine from BCS. They may not be original, but they will work. I test fitted them. My car is under restoration.
 
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