Hello all, well we may as well start with a perfunctory check of the chassis lubrication fittings and drive components. Specifically the fluid levels in the gearbox and differential.
This is the fill plug for your typical 16th Series or later differential. The differential has a brass trunnion block and they are liable to fracture if you are aggressive with axle removers. A GL4 oil not a GL5 must be used to avoid degradation and failure of this brass fitting. GL4 is still available through Penrite as an 85W90 gear oil.
This is the oil gun that I use and it holds 500 ml. You are wasting your time trying to suck oil onto it and you are better off taking the top off, puling the T bar back and filling from above. Don’t squeeze the barrel as you will destroy the oil gun
This is the front gearbox fill plug. Undo it and oil should pour out so replace immediately.
This is the rear gearbox OD filler plug on R6, R9, and R11 overdrives. I am not a mechanic however these gearboxes always fail from lack of oil to the OD so I generally overdose them. The OD gearboxes have two oil levels and when stopped the higher rear oil level drains to the front so the front appears overfull , but it is not. I check the front plug to see that it is full, then I put oil into the rear until it is full. I have never had a failure since. BTW, the rear gearbox is filled from the front by oil thrown up by gears running along a channel on the gearbox casing to the rear.
Check any fuel filters that you have fitted around the fuel tank area. You will not be able to access them in 6 inches of mud in Bordertown at 9 pm when it is raining heavily. .
These are typical front steering tie rod ends and they cop a fair bit of abuse as the “loose nut behind the Wheel ‘ or Driver heaves it around a 2500km rally. Use Molybond LMM grease in all of your fitting as they are the best for anti wear. I also use LMM grease in the steering box as it is an extremely good anti wear agent. it also cuts down on any leaks as it is a grease. Try to be diligent with regard to greasing the front end. Check for unusual “slack” when moving the wheels one way then another.
The Chassis Sermon endeth here…Happy to answer questions.. I am not a qualified mechanic but I have empathy with machinery. Peter Toet
