6-Speed Drain Plug - which one

[jchasey]

My long running gearbox oil change job is slowly approaching completion.

 

Managed to get the filler plug undone at last. Used the drill a hole in the drivers footwell approach. There is a cross-beam that is in the way, but an access hole adjacent to this and its close enough that you can get an hex socket in a get it undone.

 

Drain plug still currently stuck fast, been attacked by a variety of tools/heat etc, mechanic friend coming round to give it second go Monday, confident we'll get it out although its likely to be damaged enough to need to replace it.

 

Now the filler plug took a 3/8th key, the drain plug 10mm key, so guessing one of them was not original and possibly why they were/are such a git to undo.

 

Caterhams site has a variety of plugs but no detail on which ones go on which gearbox. Anyone else who has had to replace can tell me which ones are required for the Caterham 6-speed box?

 

Thanks,

 

John

[SLR No.77]

Sorry I can't help with the hex key size, interested myself because this is on my to-do list over the winter.

But .... with the potential that there may be some further damage to the plug or threads might it be easier at this point to just lift the engine/box out and get it on a workbench?

 

Stu.

[jchasey]

Just managed to get it out with a stillson wrench...plug appears to be okay thread wise, but the exterior is pretty mangled so will replace as a precaution.

John

[billyboanerges]

Apology fot the hijack but Stu, will you be filling with fresh oil or are you continuing with 'down-grade-itis! 😬 😬 😬

 

Tony

[Jonathan Kay]

My K De Dion assembly Guide:

Remove the gearbox oil filler plug (if not removed earlier) using the cut down 10 mm Allen key.

July 2010 Assembly Guide:

Remove the gearbox oil filler plug (if not removed earlier) using the cut down 3/8” Allen key.

They're very close... de minimis non curat hex?

 

Jonathan

[kenny.]

wrong thread

 

Edited by - kenny. on 1 Sep 2012 10:33:25

[SLR No.77]

Tony, possibly more downgraditis, in a manner of speaking 😬 My 6-speed has had Redline MTL in for the last god knows how many years but following the recent thread on gearbox oil I'm tempted to swap to the "standard" Comma GL4 and see whether it has any plus or minus effects on a box that's done 30,000 miles.

 

Stu.

[John Vine]

Quoting Jonathan Kay: 

hex

😬

 

JV

[jchasey]

Once oil was drained I checked how much came out and there was only 0.8l - which suggests lack of oil in the box was indeed the problem..!

Once the drain plug arrives from Caterham (this one according to Caterham) I'll refill and take out to test the difference...

[mav]

10mm allen key.

 

Stu, don't do it. Drain and refil with fresh MTL.