Gearbox swap problem

Post by **Riverflow** » 14 Sep 2004 07:32 pm

I'm currently attempting a gearbox and final drive swap in my 340 DL (1987, B14, 4speed) and I've run into a problem - the shaft immediately above the propshaft - gear lever stabiliser or something along those lines - is held on by a clevis pin and clip. With the clip removed, I can't get the pin out. It's held in by rubber bushes that don't want to give up. I've tried WD40 and heating the bar so the rubber softens, hitting it with a drift and levering the other end of the pin, but the pin is still standing proud of the surface!

After a couple of hours lying under the car I decided to give it a break and see if I could find some wisdom on the web. I sincerely hope there's an easy way round this, as I'm only on the donor car at present - still got the other one to go!

Thanks in anticipation

Colin

Post by **5lab** » 14 Sep 2004 08:59 pm

could you not just snap it off? failing that, melt the rubber with a blowtorch or something?

Post by **Chris_C** » 14 Sep 2004 10:50 pm

Always the delicate approach 5lab! Is it possible to get a grip on it with a pair of pliers and twist it out?

Post by **Riverflow** » 15 Sep 2004 10:13 am

I've given the blowtorch and pliers methods a go, but to no avail. Thanks for the suggestions and keep 'em coming!

Colin

Post by **5lab** » 15 Sep 2004 10:22 am

is there something you can poar on to disolve the rubber?

Post by **wjp01908** » 15 Sep 2004 08:39 pm

You want to get a bit of tube a bit bigger than the pin and get a mate to hold this over the far end of the pin, supporting it with something really heavy like a sledge hammer.

Then hit the other end really hard with a drift.

It`s a bit pointless doing it unsupported as the rubber flexes and absorbs the impact.

Failing that you`ll need to burn the bugger out.

It will stink and make loads of black smoke. Keep an extinguisher handy.

Could you cobble together some sort of press with an big "G" clamp and some bits of tubing etc.

The best of luck....

Will

Post by **pettaw** » 19 Sep 2004 04:44 pm

Forgive me if I've misunderstood, but it sounds to me as though you're describing the gear shift linkage, which is held at the gearbox end by two pins forming a kind of universal joint and at the gear lever end by a big pin which is held in place by a small grub screw and allen bolt.

The joint at tne g/box end is revealed by peeling back the rubber boot and then moving the large clip back, the pins can then be pushed out.

The joint at the gear stick end is difficult to get at and you need to remove the propsheft first. Then you need to undo the allen bolt to unlock the pin and allow it to hammer out.

If you are thinking of something different post back.

Post by **Riverflow** » 22 Sep 2004 10:10 am

It is something else - above the gearshift linkage, and the propshaft. It's a sort of yoke type thing.

UPDATE: Lots of hammering and heating and swearing later, I managed to get the pin out (with the aid of a hacksaw). Gearbox is now dropped, and the one on my car is almost there - the same pin came out instantly! I've just got one little problem now - two rounded allen bolts holding the half-shafts to the final drive unit (which I've decided is the problem - it's black with oil on the outside and very little came out when I pulled the drain plug!)

Next task is to get my HSS tungsten carbide tipped round allen key to undo the bolts (as I've got spares from the other box) and hopefully all will be OK!

Thanks, everyone, for the advice.

Colin

Post by **5lab** » 22 Sep 2004 10:44 am

you could always use a dremel or chizzle to cut a line into the allen head, then use a screwdriver to remove it..

Post by **foggyjames** » 30 Sep 2004 09:05 pm

Forgive me if I've got this wrong...but I think by 'HSS tungsten carbide tipped round allen key' he meant drill bit (or similar)

Be bloody careful with that gear linkage - I snapped mine, and the repair bill was well into three figures...not least because I needed the car ready in 2 days (so no time to do it myself)!

cheers

James

Post by **Riverflow** » 14 Oct 2004 10:26 pm

I've done it!

Gearbox finally in and car works again! (gap due to holiday to Scotland last couple of weeks)

Thanks for all the suggestions. The tool for removing those rounded studs turned out to be a parrot nosed wrench - grips tighter the more you turn it, with teeth that dig in to anything. Perfect.

Now on to the next task - heater fan thermal cut-out relay thing. Gone again for the forth time! It's bloody cold in the mornings at the moment!

Colin

Post by **foggyjames** » 15 Oct 2004 09:15 pm

Riverflow wrote: Now on to the next task - heater fan thermal cut-out relay thing. Gone again for the forth time! It's bloody cold in the mornings at the moment!

Ah yes, everyone's favourite...mine keeps coming and going. Luckily, at the moment its here!

cheers

James