Drive with the right angle Speedo gearbox removed?

[Keith Scarfe]

I've got some problem with the Speedo system and have removed it all to check it out on the bench. Is it ok to drive the car with the right angle gearbox removed but with the male brass part still attached to the gearbox. I recon it is, but I am worried the gear oil will pour out of the hole down the centre where the square drive goes in. Hopefully it is sealed so this is ok but I wondered if anyone knows for sure.
Cheers.

[elanner]

I've never tried, but will bet that gearbox oil will pour out if you try to drive without the complete angle drive fitted. I would try to cover the hole somehow if going more than a very short distance.

On the other hand, if it's like my angle drive, It's not likely to leak more when removed than it does when fitted! (This being a regular rant of mine.)

Nick

[promotor]

I've got some problem with the Speedo system and have removed it all to check it out on the bench. Is it ok to drive the car with the right angle gearbox removed but with the male brass part still attached to the gearbox. I recon it is, but I am worried the gear oil will pour out of the hole down the centre where the square drive goes in. Hopefully it is sealed so this is ok but I wondered if anyone knows for sure.
Cheers.

That system was used on Cortinas, Anglias, Capris, Escorts etc etc for 20 years or so without the right angled attachment in place and no-one ever complained about oil leaks - they just put up with it!

[Craven]

Hi,
If it?s long term these are available, fits after removing the whole of the drive train.
Ron.

s-l64.jpg (2.45 KiB) Viewed 1069 times

[Keith Scarfe]

Thanks all.
Yes from what you have shown, i think I can see that oil will come out as I guess this is what must feed oil to the gearbox to lube it. So can I therefore just fit the ra-gearbox without the cable or will oil then come out of the hole in the ra-gearbox?
It isn't long term, just for a few days/weeks while I figure out what is wrong with it all.
Cheers.

[elanner]

I'm pretty sure that oil can leak out of the plate at the end of the right angle drive gearbox (part #7) - I suspect that mine is leaking from that area.

So if you run without the cable I think it is highly likely to leak, unless, perhaps, the cable is vertically aligned such that gravity prevents any oil getting out.

Elans can leak oil through areas that have been sealed six ways from Sunday, so I wouldn't put much faith in one not leaking profusely through an open hole.

Nick

[Chancer]

It wont leak (any more) without the cable or right angle drive in place, as you can see from the diagram the fixing flange is not sealed, the drive gear does not have a hole running through it so o?l cant leak out where the cable would sit as has been suggested, there is a reverse scroll that does not do much, they always leak with or without cable or right angle drive.

Correction, looking at the diagram there is a gasket shown, I have never seen one fitted, certainly none of the Escorts, Cortinas, Anglias etc I have removed gearboxes from had a gasket, they leaked a little from the gear with or without the speedo cable connected.

I think they mostly leak when standing after a run when the o?l is hot and thin, when driving the scroll seems to do a half fair job, once the o?l is thick again the standing leak is negligible.

[elanner]

Oh yes, Chancer is right about the worm gear. I overlooked that it would still be there if it was just the cable that was removed. But nevertheless I would keep a close check for leaks if running without it!

Nick