W33SVN Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 I’ve been reading with interest the number of topics of emptying and refilling the Type 9 gearbox, particularly the difficulty accessing the allen bolt head. I was therefore wondering if anyone had managed to replace this allen headed plug with a square or hex headed plug please? My thinking being, such a plug would therefore allow much easier access for removal / refitting of the plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miker7 Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 That seems a sensible suggestion as its just a standard thread..... My much more complex solution (which until you suggested this i thought was easy) was to buy from screwfix/toolstation a threaded rod connector the size of the alley key. Cut it down to the right length and use that taped into a ratchet spanner. The threaded rod connector is much easier to cut and cheaper than an allen key. You need to ensure the ratchet spanner is the type with a switch you can easily flick & not the sort you have to physically turn around (if you've got your sizes wrong and ratcheted it all the way .... you could now be stuck ......) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted June 21 Area Representative Share Posted June 21 I think you’ll find replacing with hex head or square will have very little if any benefit and may give you even less room. Some people glue a short length of hex bar into the existing plug but if you do so don’t use a ratchet spanner unless it has a reverse switch. If you really want to improve things you can fit a filler to the gearbox top and use a dipstick. TOP TIP. When topping up the gearbox use a simple oil can with a bit of tube attached. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miker7 Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 Picture of the type of ratchet I'm referring too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted June 21 Author Share Posted June 21 Thank you folks, some great ideas there. I was contemplating cutting a hole in my footwell panel, until I realised there’s a chassis tube directly in front of the plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted June 21 Author Share Posted June 21 1 minute ago, Miker7 said: Picture of the type of ratchet I'm referring too Fabulous thanks, I do indeed have such a set. I’m going to cut a small length off an allen key, pop into the plug and try this out, thanks do much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 I cut dow a 10mm allen key & tack welded it in but as I got older I realised it was still too much like hard work so I fitted a top filler/dip stick access plug. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted June 21 Author Share Posted June 21 10 minutes ago, Guy Lowe said: I cut dow a 10mm allen key & tack welded it in but as I got older I realised it was still too much like hard work so I fitted a top filler/dip stick access plug. Thanks Guy, do you access from inside the car? Remove tunnel cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 21 Member Share Posted June 21 Points well made about carefully considering a hole in the tunnel, and the importance of the type of reversing wrench... IT WAS ME THAT DIDN'T KNOW THE LATTER UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE! But once you have the wrench and the correct length of hex key they work fine. Jonathan PS: The Alcester Racing Sevens maintenance notes are on the Wayback Machine, and I'll discuss them with the Technical Documents group as soon as we have some responses on the first tranche... PPS: There used to be a rather elegant bright metal top plate with an access hole but I think that it was discontinued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 35 minutes ago, W33SVN said: Thanks Guy, do you access from inside the car? Remove tunnel cover? No it is forward of the tunnel so accessible from the engine bay, but this may differ depending on the engine fitted. Will try to take a picture later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 21 Member Share Posted June 21 1 minute ago, Guy Lowe said: No it is forward of the tunnel so accessible from the engine bay, but this may differ depending on the engine fitted. Will try to take a picture later. On my S3 1800K you can access the fasteners on the top plate from the engine bay but it's very tight. Best to borrow some small hands IIRC. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted June 21 Author Share Posted June 21 3 minutes ago, Jonathan Kay said: On my S3 1800K you can access the fasteners on the top plate from the engine bay but it's very tight. Best to borrow some small hands IIRC. Jonathan 🤣 thank you, I’ll see if my grandchildren are free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Jonathan Kay said: PPS: There used to be a rather elegant bright metal top plate with an access hole but I think that it was discontinued. Like this Jonathan? The are loads listed on fleabay. Edited June 21 by Guy Lowe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 21 Member Share Posted June 21 2 minutes ago, Guy Lowe said: Like THIS Jonathan? The are loads listed on fleabay. The one I was thinking of made it easy to dip and fill. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Lowe Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 58 minutes ago, Jonathan Kay said: The one I was thinking of made it easy to dip and fill. Yes, that’s the one pictured you just remove the screw on cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted June 21 Author Share Posted June 21 Thanks folks, after a bit of investigation and moving wiring etc. I do I indeed have one of the above noted cast top plates. However, might need to go on a hand diet to reach the cap. Thanks everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 21 Leadership Team Share Posted June 21 The breathing cap on the ally top plate is at the rear towards the gearstick, also it has an angled entry underneath so wouldn’t work for a dipstick without modifying. As an alternative I drilled and tapped a hole near the front of the top plate and fitted a blanking plug from Think Auto, 7/16” UNF because it’s an imperial chassis. I refilled the ‘box while it was out of the car and measured the oil depth at 70mm, I’m yet to work out a suitable dipstick because unfortunately the chassis rail above the front of the gearbox is in the way but I’ll get there eventually. Stu. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted June 22 Author Share Posted June 22 8 hours ago, SLR No.77 said: The breathing cap on the ally top plate is at the rear towards the gearstick, also it has an angled entry underneath so wouldn’t work for a dipstick without modifying. As an alternative I drilled and tapped a hole near the front of the top plate and fitted a blanking plug from Think Auto, 7/16” UNF because it’s an imperial chassis. I refilled the ‘box while it was out of the car and measured the oil depth at 70mm, I’m yet to work out a suitable dipstick because unfortunately the chassis rail above the front of the gearbox is in the way but I’ll get there eventually. Stu. Thanks Stu. The position of your addition is where the original filler should have been if only for Caterham usage. However, I appreciate many vehicles can use the Type 9 box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now