Forum:
I have been trying to refill my gearbox oil for the past week, but I can't undo the refill nut.
The nut I'm trying to undo is on the passengers side, about halfway up the gearbox, with the drain plug directly below it.
It is a flat 24mm hex head, not the raised heads to the right of it.
Am I trying to undo the right nut?
Also, is it possible to refill the gearbox where the gear stick is.
I can see it bolts on to the gearbox, but I'm not sure if the oil will go in to the gearbox or not.
I would really appreciate any help.
oil to gearbox.
Don't bother to attempt to undo from beneath the car go down the right hand side of the box to the 24mm flat headed cap from the engine compartment(right hand facing the screen). It is easier with the air filter iron mongery removed and is then visible. Provided you get a good position a normal ratchet and 24mm socket will undo the plug. Re-filling is also done from the same position usng the normal Hypoid oil squeezy bottle. Fill till it runs out of the hole and settles level with the filler hole and then replace the 24mm plug.
You may need to stand on the bumper and don't lean too much on the radiator cap as they have a habit of breaking away from the top tank so be carefull. If you are tall you may be able to get at it from the wing side but I usually lay across the engine and lean right down to it's right. If you can extend the pipe from the squeezy bottle that's even better.
OLDMINIMAN
OLDMINIMAN
M J Young
Gearbox nut
I've tried a spanner, socket, stilsons, sprayed penetrating oil on it and it still won't budge.
It seems to me its never been undone, or if it has, its been overtightened and the threads have stretched.
Short of taking the gearbox out and trying to heat it, or drilling it out and re-tapping it, I don't know what else to do.
My reverse is playing up, and I think its partly due to the fact the gearbox is low on oil.
Gearbox nut
It sounds that you may have damaged the plug using "stilsons" as the depth of it's head is quite shallow. They can be tight more due to the awkward position but never that tight. I usually use the ratchet and socket and then tap the end with my fist to jolt it loose
Removing the gearbox is a large job just for oil replenishment and I would persevere with a socket. Now, you may need to use an undersized socket to get a grip of the plug, tapping it on GENTLY before trying to remove the plug. It would be easier and probably not that expensive to take it in to a local garage and let them have a go. The thread wouldn't have stretched but may be crossed although I think that unlikely as only a fool would continue to screw it in if crossed and getting a seal on it would probably prove difficult.
If all else fails I think the gearstick solution to topping up may be an option but you would not have a clue whether you have over filled or not and could cause other problems. I say with caution "may be" because I am not sure whether there are seals that prevent this on the selector rods, perhaps someone can advise on this.
OLDMINIMAN
M J Young