Brad-
I use a 5/16" right angle Allen wrench as a dipstick because you can lay
it flat in the plug hole and get an accurate depth below the hole. With this
method, check & see how low the level is when it loses enough to stop leaking.
If it's not drastically low, run it. Single rail boxes come with a real seal
and if the lower bell housing bolt were the culprit it wouldn't stop dribbling
'til it was damn near empty.
Fred Hodgson
----- Original Message -----
From: Brad Kahler
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 5:37 AM
To: fot@autox.team.net
Subject: leaky tranny
Amici,
Immediately after installing the new 1500 single rail
trannsmission with J-type OD in Susan's spitfire (early last
year) we started experiencing oil leak problems. While at
Mid-Ohio Tony Drews pointed out one of the problems and
we rectified while that still at Mid-Ohio. (thanks Tony!)
However, even though the problem isn't as bad now leakage
still takes place from the front of the tranny.
My proceedure has been to top transmission up with oil from
the side of the box and wait for all the excess to flow out
before putting the plug back in. During the next race oil
starts dripping down onto the exhaust pipe and creates a
small amount of smoke, enough that the corner workers are
continually scrutinizing Tristan. There are oil spots under the
car in the paddock that average about 3" in diameter after
every race. If I don't top it up it eventually stops leaking. The
transmission still seems to work fine at this point and the OD
engages and runs just fine as well.
So the question is, do I just let the transmission seek its own
level? Or is there something I'm overlooking that could be
corrected. This type of transmission uses the scroll type
seal on the input shaft to keep the oil in the gearbox.
Any BTDTs out there?!!!
Thanks,
Brad
(Tristan's crew chief)
|