JACK FLASH Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I admit that I was not carefull enough but you can' t learn without making mistakes. When taking off the top cover plate of the gearbox - in order to fill up the new oil more easily - one of the three retainer springs got lost (2000E with 3 rails). Since the spring is untracable, there is a chance that it fell into the gearbox. I would like to be sure, so I tried several methods to detect / remove the spring from the bottom of the gearbox. These were : filling and draining oil several times, scraping the sides and bottom of the gearbox with a hook, compressed air. The next step would be driving the car for a short distance and draining the oil again. I reckon the movement should force the spring to the lowest point of the gearbox, the drain plug. Can some-one give me advice on other methods or tricks? Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Most Ford gearboxes have a magnet in the bottom so there a chance it will be stuck there. Much safer to use a funnel and yube to fill the box, Too young to be old ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I did something rather similar many years ago, and managed to retrieve the foreign body using one of those bendy probes with a fitted magnet at the end. JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted December 5, 2009 Author Share Posted December 5, 2009 Never heard about a magnet in a Ford gearbox but it sounds logic. I suppose the goal would be to trap foreign bodies and prevent them from doing harm. I only have a straight screwdriver antenna with a magnet at the end. I' ll start a search for these bending probes in Belgium. Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBL Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 As you already have the top plate off the gearbox, now might be a good time to consider either getting a replacement cover with a filler, or modifying your current one. See here. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Jack, a small magnet in a plastic tube and hey presto you have a bending probe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Jack F, This is what I had in mind here. JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 If not available in Belgium ... add it to the freight manifest for 9th January ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 Guys, Thanks for the advice. Never too old to learn. I' ll start with Elie' s cheap solution. If I need a Draper tool - it can be handy for other problems in the future - I' ll put it on the list for January. BTW Elie, did you see a Seven in Paris? I plan to pass at your place next Thursday. Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 one of the three retainer springs got lost (2000E with 3 rails). and The next step would be driving the car for a short distance and draining the oil again From memory, in the 3 rail 2000E gearbox those springs each preload a ball bearing that in turn preloads a horizontal pin in each of the three selector rails. This is part of the interlock mechanism that would noramlly prevent engagement of two gears simultaneously. Driving the car in this state you could completely destroy the gearbox, bigtime *eek* malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clousta Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I have 2 bendy tools with the magnet at the end. One for the cars and one in the glider tool kit. I have used the latter more to retrieve items (nuts etc) dropped in to the fuselage that I can't get my hand in easily. You are welcome to borrow them I also have the ones with the 4 tiny claws at the end too. You are most welcome to borrow them. Gavin 1988 1700 Supersprint (LA, long cockpit) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 Malcolm, A true remark, although I believe there is another blocking mechanism inside the gearbox. The balls and springs certainly do have an important function. According to the manuals I have the function of the springs is preventing jumping out of gear, not preventing the simultaneous engagement of 2 gears. When the springs get weak, they must be replaced or filled up with shims. I already ordered 3 new springs and I hope to have them next week. Gavin, I' ll be in the Brussels region on Thursday. Perhaps we could meet. Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Alright, picked up the bendy tools at Gavin yesterday and I' ll do some surgery with it during the weekend. If nothing turns up, I must take the risk, fill up the gearbox and start driving with it ... carefully and very attentive. The new springs will be certainly firmly glued to the top cover plate. The top plate conversion with a filler is on my list but it' ll have to wait. I urgently want to drive again before it starts snowing. I am still 180 km away from my "distance target" for 2009. Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Cardwell Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 May not apply with a caterham 7 - when i did the same thing with a Lotus 7 series III it was possible retrieve the spring by poking a finger into the drain hole at the bottom of the gearbox and remove the spring. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Chris, Glad I am not the only clumsy mechanic. 😬 My Twin Cam is very close to a Lotus 7 S3 and I already tried all of my fingers and some other stuff in the drain hole. Since there is some slum on the bottom of the gearbox I am thinking of putting some degreaser (aceton, white spirit, ...) in the gearbox, leave it for a while and drain it. If the spring is in there I reckon it must migrate to the lowest point and come out sooner or later. I don' t think a degreaser can do harm to the inner parts of the gearbox or am I wrong? Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jradley Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 it was possible retrieve the spring by poking a finger into the drain hole at the bottom...." When I was filling my gearbox recently I stuck a finger in the filler hole to see if I could feel the level of oil....and got it stuck I got my finger out by dipping it in the oil (since it was full to the level) and thus lubricated my finger and managed to get it out. Scared myself witless as there was no one else in the house and I was effectively stuck in the garage under the car and out of reach of any phone or anything to call for help. John Edited by - jradley on 12 Dec 2009 00:28:02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Russell Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I already tried all of my fingers and some other stuff in the drain hole 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 For the record, other stuff = copper and steel wire, allen key, ... Apart from the joking, is it a good idea to put degreaser in the gearbox or not? Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Jack, an areosoll of brake clean can't be harmfull, it just takes a bit longer to dry out in these tmperatures. Yusefull is also the force of the aerosoll jet to wash everything towards the plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 After trying all the tips and tricks this weekend, I must conclude that the spring is either very well hidden and stuck in the gearbox, or it is somewhere else. So I' ll have to take the risk of driving the car and see what happens. Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share Posted December 30, 2009 The gearbox seems to behave and I do not hear strange noises when driving short distances. Hopefully the spring is somewhere else. I intend to make a longer test drive (at least 50 km) at 01.01.2010. Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 I cannot believe for an instant that putting a can of solvent in a gearbox can be a good idea! Grahan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK FLASH Posted January 2, 2010 Author Share Posted January 2, 2010 I agree but what do you when you are desperate. Anyway the test drive worked out - nothing to hear - and I intend to change the oil again after a couple of 100 kms. Jack Flash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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