Subject: [TR] TR3 gearbox oil leak

From: "Andrew Uprichard" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:24:42 -0500

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What do you all think about a car (fortunately not mine) with a supposedly
rebuilt overdrive gearbox but which is leaking a cup and a half of oil every
200 miles?

The owner insists it is the gearbox and not the engine, although the leak is
hard to pinpoint.

I must confess my ignorance of gearboxes as I usually send them out to be
rebuilt by a guy I really trust.

So my question is, is there any type of gearbox leak which is amenable to a
fix other than pulling the gearbox out ?

Andrew Uprichard

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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=3DEN-US link=3Dblue =
vlink=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal>What do =
you all think about a car (fortunately not mine) with a supposedly =
rebuilt overdrive gearbox but which is leaking a cup and a half of oil =
every 200 miles?<o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>The owner =
insists it is the gearbox and not the engine, although the leak is hard =
to pinpoint.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>I must confess my ignorance of gearboxes as I usually =
send them out to be rebuilt by a guy I really trust.<o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>So my =
question is, is there any type of gearbox leak which is amenable to a =
fix other than pulling the gearbox out ?<o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Andrew =
Uprichard<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>
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** [email-masked] **

Archive: http://www.team.net/archive

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From: Rye Livingston <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2015 00:29:29 +0000 (GMT) MailServer15F138.23967-NewcastleMail15F138-0-975f0b719612

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I'd also think it would have a distinct transmission oil smell if the owne=
r isn't sure if it's engine or transmission.=0A=0A=0A=0AOn Nov 30, 2015, a=
t 04:16 PM, Carl-TR <[email-masked]> wrote:=0A=0AThere are only so ma=
ny (or few) places for oil to leak from the gearbox.=0AI have my doubts th=
at that is the problem.=0A=C2=A0=0ACan the underside be cleaned sufficient=
ly to have a =E2=80=98clean=E2=80=99 look to it from the below?=0AIf so, I=
 suggest cleaning it, topping up the oil and take it for a very short driv=
e =E2=80=93 enough to engage the overdrive.=0APark the car overnight on so=
me clean newspaper or something else to see where it is leaking.=0A=C2=A0=0A=
Then put it up on a lift and see if you can then see where the oil is comi=
ng from. =C2=A0Oil spots on the paper are =E2=80=98bread crumbs=E2=80=99=C2=
=A0=C2=A0=0APossibilities =E2=80=93=0AMake sure all bolts on oil pan and g=
earbox are tight.=C2=A0 If oil is coming from one of the bolt areas =E2=80=
=93 gasket could be torn?=0Aoil pan warped and seeping out that way?=0ARea=
r oil seal?=0A=C2=A0=0AIf not the oil pan or loose bolts =E2=80=93 no way =
to do anything but pull gearbox and maybe engine.=0A=C2=A0=0AC=E2=80=A6=0A=
=C2=A0=0ACarl Musson=0A1960 Triumph TR3A=0ATS81802LO=0ATampa Bay Florida=0A=
=C2=A0=0AFrom: Triumphs [mailto:[email-masked]] On Behalf=
 Of Andrew Uprichard=0ASent: Monday, November 30, 2015 6:25 PM=0ATo: trium=
[email-masked]=0ASubject: [TR] TR3 gearbox oil leak=0A=C2=A0=0AWhat do=
 you all think about a car (fortunately not mine) with a supposedly rebuil=
t overdrive gearbox but which is leaking a cup and a half of oil every 200=
 miles?=0A=C2=A0=0AThe owner insists it is the gearbox and not the engine,=
 although the leak is hard to pinpoint.=0A=C2=A0=0AI must confess my ignor=
ance of gearboxes as I usually send them out to be rebuilt by a guy I real=
ly trust.=0A=C2=A0=0ASo my question is, is there any type of gearbox leak =
which is amenable to a fix other than pulling the gearbox out ?=0A=C2=A0=0A=
Andrew Uprichard=

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<html><body><div>I'd also think it would have a distinct transmission oil smell if the=
 owner isn't sure if it's engine or transmission. </div><div></div><div cl=
ass=3D"x-apple-signature"></div><div class=3D"x-apple-signature"><br data-=
mce-bogus=3D"1"></div><div class=3D"x-apple-signature"><br data-mce-bogus=3D=
"1"></div><div><br>On Nov 30, 2015, at 04:16 PM, Carl-TR &lt;cfmtr3a@veriz=
on.net&gt; wrote:<br><br></div><div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div class=3D=
"msg-quote" lang=3D"EN-US" link=3D"blue" vlink=3D"purple"><div class=3D"Wo=
rdSection1"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><a name=3D"_MailEndCompose" class=3D"mc=
e-item-anchor"></a><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color=
: #1f497d;">There are only so many (or few) places for oil to leak from th=
e gearbox.</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;=
" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">I have my doubts that that is the pro=
blem.</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" dat=
a-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><s=
pan style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">Can the u=
nderside be cleaned sufficiently to have a =E2=80=98clean=E2=80=99 look to=
 it from the below?</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color:=
 #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">If so, I suggest cleaning it=
, topping up the oil and take it for a very short drive =E2=80=93 enough t=
o engage the overdrive.</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"co=
lor: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">Park the car overnight o=
n some clean newspaper or something else to see where it is leaking.</span=
></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=
=3D"color: #1f497d;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D=
"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">Then put it up on a l=
ift and see if you can then see where the oil is coming from. &nbsp;Oil sp=
ots on the paper are =E2=80=98bread crumbs=E2=80=99&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></p=
><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"=
color: #1f497d;">Possibilities =E2=80=93 </span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"=
><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">Make s=
ure all bolts on oil pan and gearbox are tight.&nbsp; If oil is coming fro=
m one of the bolt areas =E2=80=93 gasket could be torn?</span></p><p class=
=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1=
f497d;">oil pan warped and seeping out that way?</span></p><p class=3D"Mso=
Normal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;"=
>Rear oil seal?</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f=
497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class=3D"Mso=
Normal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;"=
>If not the oil pan or loose bolts =E2=80=93 no way to do anything but pul=
l gearbox and maybe engine.</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D=
"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">&nbsp;</span></p><p c=
lass=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color=
: #1f497d;">C=E2=80=A6</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"col=
or: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">&nbsp;</span></p><div><p =
class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"colo=
r: #1f497d;">Carl Musson</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"c=
olor: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">1960 Triumph TR3A</span=
></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=
=3D"color: #1f497d;">TS81802LO</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span styl=
e=3D"color: #1f497d;" data-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">Tampa Bay Florida=
</span></p></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"color: #1f497d;" da=
ta-mce-style=3D"color: #1f497d;">&nbsp;</span></p><div><div style=3D"borde=
r: none; border-top: solid #b5c4df 1.0pt; padding: 3.0pt 0in 0in 0in;" dat=
a-mce-style=3D"border: none; border-top: solid #b5c4df 1.0pt; padding: 3.0=
pt 0in 0in 0in;"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><b><span style=3D"font-size: 10.0p=
t; font-family: 'tahoma' , 'sans-serif';" data-mce-style=3D"font-size: 10.=
0pt; font-family: 'tahoma' , 'sans-serif';">From:</span></b><span style=3D=
"font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'tahoma' , 'sans-serif';" data-mce-style=3D=
"font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'tahoma' , 'sans-serif';"> Triumphs [mail=
to:[email-masked]] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Andrew Uprichard<b=
r><b>Sent:</b> Monday, November 30, 2015 6:25 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href=3D"=
mailto:[email-masked]" data-mce-href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]=
m.net">[email-masked]</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [TR] TR3 gearbox oil=
 leak</span></p></div></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p><p class=3D"M=
soNormal">What do you all think about a car (fortunately not mine) with a =
supposedly rebuilt overdrive gearbox but which is leaking a cup and a half=
 of oil every 200 miles?</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p><p class=3D"M=
soNormal">The owner insists it is the gearbox and not the engine, although=
 the leak is hard to pinpoint.</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p><p clas=
s=3D"MsoNormal">I must confess my ignorance of gearboxes as I usually send=
 them out to be rebuilt by a guy I really trust.</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"=
>&nbsp;</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">So my question is, is there any type of =
gearbox leak which is amenable to a fix other than pulling the gearbox out=
 ?</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Andrew Upric=
hard</p></div></div></blockquote></div></body></html>=

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From: "Randall" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 16:43:32 -0800

> So my question is, is there any type of gearbox leak which is 
> amenable to a fix other than pulling the gearbox out ?

It is possible, though not easy, to change the rear seal with the unit in the car.  But if it were the rear seal leaking that badly,
it would be pretty obvious I think.  Of course, I also think it would be easy to tell if the gearbox was that low on oil, too.  If
you do this, be sure to inspect the sealing surface on the flange, and use a Speedi-sleeve if necessary.

I did have one A-type OD that started leaking pretty badly at the adapter plate, I think because a piece of gasket blew out
(possibly because the plate was distorted and didn't clamp the gasket evenly).  I managed to mostly stop that leak by draining the
gearbox, cleaning the area thoroughly, and then heavily 'buttering' the entire gasket area with Permatex "Ultra Gray" RTV.  Used the
whole tube as I recall.  Let it dry thoroughly before refilling with oil.  It was still working some 6 or 8 months later when I
replaced the entire gearbox & OD.

Randall

---

From: "Randall" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 19:45:22 -0800

> If they used RTV as a sealant, the gear oil has caused it to 
> fail and it
> will leak like a sieve.

Not all RTV is the same, some formulations are specifically designed to deal with gear oil.
http://www.permatex.com/products-2/product-categories/gasketing/gasket-makers/permatex-gear-oil-rtv-gasket-maker-detail

(Besides which, I was using VR1 at the time.)

However, I was not recommending buttering the outside with RTV as a permanent repair method, merely reporting what I did as a
temporary fix.  I still dislike RTV for most applications, the new OD went together with Hylomar.

Randall