Technical Wading depth

[andyholli]

Wading/swimming/drowning - was the alternative thread name.

After our last Yorkshire adventure I noticed that gear change 'quality' had deteriorated a bit, but put it down to the usual low oil level.

So imagine my surprise when I took out the filler bung to find the box overfilled..

With this..



Not a good colour for gearbox oil.

(I don't want to re-open old threads, so should add here that in addition to water, other gearbox lubricants are available.)

Fresh oil and cog swapping is sweet again but I'd like to understand how that much water got in? - I measured what came out and made it half a litre..

Through the driveshaft boots seems most likely (as that's the route the oil prefers to use to exit) but on reaching land again after the longer 'crossings' we got clutch slip for the first few uses - suggesting the water level in the clutch housing possibly got high enough to reach the input shaft seal.

Or maybe the vent in the cover on top of the linkage housing was used.. but that's quite small and at the top, so the air would be forced through there too, so possibly not.

Sorry for the long post. - Meant as a heads up for anyone who's carpets got wet.

Good news on the rear axle though - it contained only perfect uncontaminated, water free, oil.

 

[kolza]

I'll check mine as I had some bad feadback recently. Actually it started on the way back from YD.

 

[kolza]

If that is the case, top cover vent will have to be replaced with hose and vent.

 

[lewisreeves]

oh I best check mine as well, errr bit of a problem can anyone suggest a way to remove a rounded bung plug and where to get another one please.

 

[andyholli]

oh I best check mine as well, errr bit of a problem can anyone suggest a way to remove a rounded bung plug and where to get another one please.

Is it the drain or filler plug you need? - Drain is an allen key and filler is 17mm hex head.

 

[andyholli]

If that is the case, top cover vent will have to be replaced with hose and vent.

I'm interested to hear what you (and everyone else) finds in their gearbox(es) J. - It could just be my box, but if not then, I agree with your plan.

 

[lewisreeves]

Is it the drain or filler plug you need? - Drain is an allen key and filler is 17mm hex head.

Hi Andy it's I think the massive hex can't remember the size. Unfortunately someone in the past has rounded it off and and now the hex just spins i know it's the correct size just it grips ever so slightly then just spins again. The drain and the fill plugs are the same size on mine.

Lewis

 

[andyholli]

12mm



I've only got this non-magnetic one but you're welcome to it if you can wait until post gets back to normal..?

 

[Dragon Man]

you can just get a pair of stilsons on the lower drain plug.. i did have to do it on one of mine.

and when tightening them up.. you dont have to do them very tight..

 

[panda1408]

Hmm, do you think I need to check my Land Rover?

Another possible place for the water to enter is the speedo drive, they never seem to seal well, but not sure half a litre would find its way in there, unless you were stopped in the water for a while? Perhaps a combination of all the possible places?

The fill and drain plugs should both be 12mm hex, fairly certain they are the same thread as the sump plug which are easily avaiable from parts places, not magnetic but thats easily sorted!

 

[Dragon Man]

yes they are,, i have a magnetic gearbox plug in the oil sump on Talon

 

[panda panda]

I've just remembered after seeing andy's oil pictue that I forgot to buy mayonaisse :bang:

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Another possible place for the water to enter is the speedo drive, they never seem to seal well, but not sure half a litre would find its way in there, unless you were stopped in the water for a while?

Errrr, Si, you checked yours after its little swim? :idea:

 

[AndyPanda4x4]

I should probably have a look at mine too

 

[Dragon Man]

does anybody know where the water is getting into the gearbox? where is the breather on top of the gearbox? i cant find where it is.. i was looking over my spare gearbox for it. :/

 

[pandamonius_maximus]

Haha, yes I am fairly sure I have this. Have stopped using the car as there is a terrible whine / rattle from something and, as you've had Andy, some gear change antics as well.. I get a big clunk as I change gear! So on the post Christmas list is re-oil gearbox, fit new driveshaft boot...you know that oil which poured out in Italy...yeah, still got that big hole in da boot! So reckoning more water than oil in gearbox...probably should get prop shaft "properly" balanced . Fix dodgy indicators, headlights, and empty spot lights of water as well...got MOT due end of the month, so glad it doesn't look like snow for a bit!

 

[andyholli]

MOT will be fine after a couple of visits. And work has it's own reward.

Good luck Si/

 

[kolza]

Just been on the panda4x4.info webside and it looks like our italian friends are aware of that:
"...but then you have to check (at home on clean) water that is not entered in the gearbox and differential in the vents, which are not absolutely watertight otherwise when the oil is heated it generates pressure and end up spitting out ...".

We need Mirko to comment on that when he'll be back or pluged in.

 

[g8rpi]

I had a similar gearbox issue on a Renault 9 Turbo years ago. I put it down to the cold water cooling the gearbox and the resulting reduction in air pressure sucking water in through the vent or seals. Many military vehicles designed for wading still require the transmission oil changed after doing so.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[Dragon Man]

so guys.. if you want to (help) waterproof the gearbox, how would one go about it? where is this top breather?

i was thinking of just drilling a hole in the top of the box, threading it and just screwing a hose bob into it..
while figuring out a way for all the bits of aluminium to not drop into the gearbox...
maybe more easy to do it on the gear selector cap..

anyone got any pictures of this breathing point? i was looking for it on my spare box but could not find it??