23 replies to this topic

[Captain Mainwaring]

Wouldn't it be easier to jet get it aliminium welded/soldered back toghether? or would the bond be too weak

 It would TIG back together OK. if you can get access.

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

The corner that broke of didn't break in a nice way as the corner will not sit properly and when it welded it would need machined down flat, for the mean time it will be easier to swap all the internals to another case and then Il probably take it into tech and repair it when in back

Adam

[Tamworthbay]

That point is also critical to avoid oil leaks. I don't doubt it is doable but the cost would outweigh the value of the case unless you have a mate who could do it.

[Carlos W]

You didn't have to remove the timing cover backplate at this stage, but it does no harm at all. If the transfer case is off, and the bolts, at least two sizes, around what was the sump in the original A series installations, are all removed, it is indeed just the gasket and a couple of possibly rusty dowels that are holding it. There are 5 bolts at the front, 5 set screws at the back, and if I recall correctly, one solid dowel, and another which has a bolt through it with nut and special washer. You will have seen those. The suggestion above is sensible, and everything else that you can try will be a variant of the same theme.

 

I would hang the engine on the crane (assuming it is strong enough), only 3 inches off the floor, using a bracket on two cylinder head studs, and whack the gearbox all round with a soft hammer until it starts to move. A "dead blow" hammer, with the head filled with lead shot or small ball bearings, is good, and it needs a hard rubber or plastic face. Or use an intermediate piece of wood, a 12" long piece of good, hard 2*2, used on end, might work, and whack the wood with a normal hammer.

 

You can whack the gearcase quite hard on top of the diff casing (as close as possible to the main body), the top of the extension housing at the radiator end, and the rim below the first motion shaft gear at the clutch end. Repetitive blows, moving around all 3 places, or more if you can find them, will move it eventually. It may pay to identify the dowels and soak them in PlusGas for a while.

 

Edit: I am sure you know not to force a screwdriver, chisel or wedge in between engine and gearbox, but I will be surprised if someone does not come along and suggest that very thing. "Don't do as I do, do as I say", perhaps, or maybe they all have huge oil leaks?

 

So, there is actually 6 on one side and 5 on the other? and poor advice has cost this lad his gearbox casing ???

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

Its was my own stupidity cost me my gearbox housing, should have been more thorough in checking for bolts.
i could repair the housing in tech myself but as Tamworth said, there would be the risk of leaks.

my sister buggered off with the Peugeot and of course the donor housing is in the boot, having a good look though, is it a big job to swap the gears into another casing or do you need any special tools or such, Haynes is saying about DTI's etc when doing a rebuild but i don't own one unfortunately

thanks, Adam

[Carlos W]

This isn't something I've got round to doing, so I won't attempt to answer your question however I believe there are some very good videos on Guessworks website!

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

I will have a look on the guessworks website when i get home but my plan after had been to use the 1275 gearbox and i think i just need to swap the primary gear if im not wrong and then for the 1275 when i build it Il get a recon unit from minispares

Adam

[Cooperman]

If you have a light aircraft servicing facility anywhere near you it might be a good idea to go and ask if they have a CAA Approved Welder. If they do have he/she could easily weld it up for you and you could have absolute confidence in the integrity of the weld. I had a crown-wheel bolt shear and the head go through an 'S' gearbox casing. An aircraft welder friend fixed it for nothing, and it was a blooming great hole!

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

I have access to the facilities to repair it in tech as in doing a HND in manufacturing engineering so when all my tech work is done and the mini is working Il take it in to fix

Adam