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Leaking Welsh Plug in Overdrive

pan

Jedi Warrior
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I have just returned from a 1,000 mile round trip to the AHOC of New South Wales Seachange National Rally in Port Stephens. Over two hundred people and seventy-five Healeys gathered there. A good mix of big Healey models, but only one Sprite! All the other Sprites, no doubt, were at Morgan Park racetrack at Warwick in Queensland for their own National Challenge.
On the way back to Queensland up the Pacific Highway I lost oil from the transmission of my 100. On inspection, the leak seems to be from the seal on the brass overdrive filter plug and from the adjacent welsh (core) plug.
Has anybody had experience replacing this welsh plug?
 
Pan,
If the plug is a welsh plug, the way I remove them is to drill a small hole in the center (carefully so as not to damage what is behind the plug) and thread a sheet metal screw into the hole. I have welded a nut onto the adjusting screw of a pair of vise grips. The threaded end of a small slide hammer attaches to the locking pliers via the welded on nut. The slide hammer can then be used to yank out the welsh plug.
You want to start with the smallest sheetmetal screw that will do the job, because you might strip out the threads that the screw cuts in the plug. You can then go to a larger screw. The screw needs to be very tight, so drill the smallest hole you can. Of course the new plug (if you can get one the proper size) is domed and you hammer it into place. All this being said, It is more likely that the filter hex seal is seeping. Try a new seal before you think about changing the plug. Also, I have never removed that particular welsh plug. I would need a lift to do it in place the way I describe. Likewise you'd need clearance to hammer in a new one. I'm sure others have their preferred methods.
 
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