Gearbox Delights

Nick,

Whenever you use an existing topic to start a new topic, please delete all of the previous discussion; leaving it there just clouds everything!
Les


From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 31 January 2015 18:33
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Syncro spotted in Anglesea

 

Hey, was anyone in Anglesea, vic today (Saturday) in a very nice silver pop top? Nice 5 spoke alloys and non-standard 4wd stickers. Looked like a possible trakka?

Cheers. Nick


On 31 Jan 2015, at 1:15 pm, "'Les Harris' leslieharris@optusnet.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

On the matter of mineral versus synthetic oils, I have conversed with lubrication engineers and with people who have extensive gearbox rebuilding experience and they all come up with the same factor – film integrity.

Film integrity is the ability of a lubricant to maintain a cohesive film on a surface when it is under load.  What I am told is that synthetic oils cannot achieve the same film integrity as mineral oils in any given situation. 

This parallels the experience that Roger has reported and this is the reason that I will continue to use mineral oils to the exclusion of synthetics.

Les


From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 31 January 2015 12:49
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Gearbox Delights

 

My experiences with synthetic oil in old vehicles have not been good. Transmission mainshaft bearing failed in T2 a week after filling. A grub screw in the gear-set  in the transfer case of my Range Rover suddenly fell out after thirty years, soon after changing to synthetic. Co-incidence?

Hundreds of dollars worth of Redwin synthetic dribbled out of my T3, past the oil seals.

Modern oils are not compatible with the oil seals used in classic cars. The seals will harden and leak. That's why they sell different engine oils for classic cars.

You cannot use a modern oil in your engine or gearbox without changing the seals and "O" rings.

Many mechanics are not aware of the problem, just as they don't know how to tune a carburettor or set points.

After forty-five years of restoring and maintaining old vehicles, I have learnt to leave things as they were intended by the designer. When components have become accustomed to a certain pattern of usage, they get set in their ways, and don't like change. Synthetic oil changes the parameters.

It has been a long and expensive learning curve. Pity I'm forgetting it all now ...

Roger Bayley 

Sorry Les.

On 31 Jan 2015, at 6:44 pm, "'Les Harris' leslieharris@optusnet.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Nick,

Whenever you use an existing topic to start a new topic, please delete all of the previous discussion; leaving it there just clouds everything!
Les


From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 31 January 2015 18:33
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Syncro spotted in Anglesea

 

Hey, was anyone in Anglesea, vic today (Saturday) in a very nice silver pop top? Nice 5 spoke alloys and non-standard 4wd stickers. Looked like a possible trakka?

Cheers. Nick


On 31 Jan 2015, at 1:15 pm, "'Les Harris' leslieharris@optusnet.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia]" <Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

On the matter of mineral versus synthetic oils, I have conversed with lubrication engineers and with people who have extensive gearbox rebuilding experience and they all come up with the same factor – film integrity.

Film integrity is the ability of a lubricant to maintain a cohesive film on a surface when it is under load.  What I am told is that synthetic oils cannot achieve the same film integrity as mineral oils in any given situation. 

This parallels the experience that Roger has reported and this is the reason that I will continue to use mineral oils to the exclusion of synthetics.

Les


From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: 31 January 2015 12:49
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Re: Gearbox Delights

 

My experiences with synthetic oil in old vehicles have not been good. Transmission mainshaft bearing failed in T2 a week after filling. A grub screw in the gear-set  in the transfer case of my Range Rover suddenly fell out after thirty years, soon after changing to synthetic. Co-incidence?

Hundreds of dollars worth of Redwin synthetic dribbled out of my T3, past the oil seals.

Modern oils are not compatible with the oil seals used in classic cars. The seals will harden and leak. That's why they sell different engine oils for classic cars.

You cannot use a modern oil in your engine or gearbox without changing the seals and "O" rings.

Many mechanics are not aware of the problem, just as they don't know how to tune a carburettor or set points.

After forty-five years of restoring and maintaining old vehicles, I have learnt to leave things as they were intended by the designer. When components have become accustomed to a certain pattern of usage, they get set in their ways, and don't like change. Synthetic oil changes the parameters.

It has been a long and expensive learning curve. Pity I'm forgetting it all now ...

Roger Bayley 

Good evening all. Thanks for all the tips and suggestions about the reconditioned gearbox popping out of 4th. Update is that we got the linkage working properly and made it slightly longer so there was no doubt that 4th was fully engaging. Also cut the rear bellows back in case that was the issue as it does compress a fair bit. Also dropped out the oil yesterday and checked the magnetic plug. Only minor iron filings. Nothing sinister. Cleaned the oil and put it back but slightly reduced the quantity to get it below the thread. I feel the only option now is to take the box back to Ron to get checked. He is away on holidays in NZ for another 10 days. Will update when I have more info so we can all gain from the experience. Will raise that issue of mineral V synthetic with him.

Peter from Port

 

Bugger.

Best of luck.

Cheers,

Skot

On 3/02/2015 8:56 PM, 'Peter Coe' peter@coeconsult.com.au [Syncro_T3_Australia] wrote:

Good evening all. Thanks for all the tips and suggestions about the reconditioned gearbox popping out of 4th. Update is that we got the linkage working properly and made it slightly longer so there was no doubt that 4th was fully engaging. Also cut the rear bellows back in case that was the issue as it does compress a fair bit. Also dropped out the oil yesterday and checked the magnetic plug. Only minor iron filings. Nothing sinister. Cleaned the oil and put it back but slightly reduced the quantity to get it below the thread. I feel the only option now is to take the box back to Ron to get checked. He is away on holidays in NZ for another 10 days. Will update when I have more info so we can all gain from the experience. Will raise that issue of mineral V synthetic with him.

Peter from Port