Is this gearbox clean enough to install?

[someonestolecc]

Gday guys,

I picked up a gearbox for my car which is currently off the road. The gearbox was filthy - probably left outside or forgotten in a garage somewhere, but for $100 I can't complain.

Anyways it's time to put the gearbox in next week and before I do I thought I'd clean it.

Is this gearbox clean enough to install, or should I get in there in every nook n cranny? I'm doing this manually and the prepwash is making me woozy.. actually I'm pretty woozed up right now so I'd like to stop.

[SteveL]

Is this gearbox clean enough to install, or should I get in there in every nook n cranny? I'm doing this manually and the prepwash is making me woozy.. actually I'm pretty woozed up right now so I'd like to stop.

Looks fine....I wouldn't worry about it.

More important to drain the oil and check the magnet. Also make sure you can get all gears and it doesn't make any strange noises when turning the input shaft by hand in each gear.

[mik78e]

clean it up before you install it

[The Dan]

that's as dirty as ten dirty things. I be at it with the toothbrush if I were you. You never know how restrictive that grit can be.

[someonestolecc]

Does oil flow in the part where the thrust bearing would be ?

I thought it was just a free-space for the clutch plates to turn in or something no?

Didn't realise it mattered that much.

What about the outside? should I bother with that or just get rid of the grime on the inside?

[boj01]

Looks fairley clean. Just try to get the majority of think stuff out. After a few 1000km's, the inside will be just as dirty when you first got it from all the clutch dust.

[The Dan]

No oil should flow where the carrier bearing or clutch is. Make sure the seals on the inner plate are intact still. Don't worry too much about the outside unless it's gonna be a show car. If there was a lot of oily residue on the inside of it before, it might be an idea to replace the seal on the input shaft just in case....seeing as though you have it out at the moment. Would save hassles later on and they don't cost that much.

[SteveL]

It's fine and if he removes the cover to replace the seal he'll almost certainly break the gasket and be up for more than just the seal. Gasket is $25-$30 from memory (trade). But there's no oil leak and it's all dry as far as I can see. Some dust from clutch is normal and it inevitably gets into the ribbing area. I've worked on quite a few of these gearboxes and that ones quite clean....usually the end plate is also covered in clutch dust, in fact the whole inside of the bell housing.

OTOH if there's any concern give the inside of the bell housing a good clean with de-greaser and a brush, remove the end plate and replace the seal+gasket and also replace the tail shaft seal.

[someonestolecc]

What's the end plate and the seal and gasket? Is this where the clutch slave sits out of? Or are you talking about opening the whole box? I'm a bit lost.

Also what's the tail shaft seal? Is that the huge rubber round thing on the end that I would assume the tailshaft would fit into? That parts very gummy and looks fine, I think the oil on it has kept it supple... soft as a velvet child

Just a general physical description of where they sit would help me understand which parts they are

[SteveL]

What's the end plate and the seal and gasket? Is this where the clutch slave sits out of? Or are you talking about opening the whole box? I'm a bit lost.

Your first picture shows the end (or cover) plate held by 5 bolts 'inside' the bell housing. Between it and the bell housing there's a gasket. If you took that plate off and turned it around you'd see an oil seal which seals the input shaft (the splined shaft poking out that engages the clutch. Unless there's obvious oil leaking I'd leave it alone.

Also what's the tail shaft seal? Is that the huge rubber round thing on the end that I would assume the tailshaft would fit into? That parts very gummy and looks fine, I think the oil on it has kept it supple... soft as a velvet child

There's an oil seal where the the tailshaft fits in the back if the gearbox....I wouldn't say it was 'huge'.

[someonestolecc]

Thanks.

All good