Gearbox Hoist

[the snooper]

But it worked 9 times out of ten though eh.

yeah but its that once when you start to get irate when it doesnt go in and the box seems to be getting heavier each time you try to get it to go in, and you do keep trying for 5 mins or so even though you know it needs to come back out because it aint lined up

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

Time For A Smoke And A Cuppa When That Happens - We've All Been There.

Mick

 

[cecotto479]

Two lengths of screwed rod, the same thread as and slightly longer than, the bellhousing bolts with a screwdriver slot cut in one end, screwed into the engine at quarter to three or six o'clock positions makes alignment much easier. Unscrew and replace with the correct bolts when it's all together.

 

[gavuk]

I'm with Pedro,sit it on the inner wings,invaluable on fwd cars where the gearbox mount supports the engine,much less cumbersome than a engine crane,to support the engine whilst you juggle the trolley jack with the gearbox,out of the wheel arch....

 

[Robotstar5]

Saw one being used a few weeks ago to support engine/box while they dropped the subframe away

 

[metalspanner]

But it worked 9 times out of ten though eh.

Another get out of jail card for getting the g/box back on when slightly out of alignment with the input shaft/ driven plate is get a mate to turn the engine over on the key.
Now I know you cant do this with a lot of motors, but there are an awful lot you can do it with, I would advise doing this with the stop cable pulled on manual diesel injection pumps, the stop solenoid disconnected on electronic ones and the king HT lead pulled on petrols.
Very often like 99.99999999% of the time it will go on and mate up saving a hell of alot of aggro.
ps, Also make sure the gearbox is in neutral

 

[Windy Miller]

Another get out of jail card for getting the g/box back on when slightly out of alignment with the input shaft/ driven plate is get a mate to turn the engine over on the key.
Now I know you cant do this with a lot of motors, but there are an awful lot you can do it with, I would advise doing this with the stop cable pulled on manual diesel injection pumps, the stop solenoid disconnected on electronic ones and the king HT lead pulled on petrols.
Very often like 99.99999999% of the time it will go on and mate up saving a hell of alot of aggro.
ps, Also make sure the gearbox is in neutral

Scary stuff

I think I'd prefer to struggle for a bit longer and not take risks!

You can't beat a proper alignment tool, but I have done it may times by eye. On the old Sherpa vans for example, you can quite clearly see the edge of the clutch centre plate between the cover and the flywheel. Bolt the cover up loosely, and podge the centre plate around a bit with a bar through the splined hole - it's easy to see when its lined up properly. Should only take a few minutes if you dont have the right sized alignment tool. Just don't forget to do the bolts up tight afterwards!

 

[ibrooks]

I bought a "proper" clutch alignment tool after trying various methods over the years (socket extension with tape wrapped around it till it's the same diameter as the splines, turned down broom-handle). The "proper" tool looks all very well but being plastic it just bends under the weight of the friction plate.

By far the best thing I've ever used is an input shaft chopped off a scrap gearbox. Compared to previous methods gearboxes just seem to drop on nowadays.

Iain

 

[Windy Miller]

I bought a "proper" clutch alignment tool after trying various methods over the years (socket extension with tape wrapped around it till it's the same diameter as the splines, turned down broom-handle). The "proper" tool looks all very well but being plastic it just bends under the weight of the friction plate.

By far the best thing I've ever used is an input shaft chopped off a scrap gearbox. Compared to previous methods gearboxes just seem to drop on nowadays.

Iain

HaHa! I use a 'proper' metal one!

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

metalspanner - I'm With Windy On That One More Than One Way To Skin A Cat But That Would Kill Too Many Cats.

Mick

 

[metalspanner]

metalspanner - I'm With Windy On That One More Than One Way To Skin A Cat But That Would Kill Too Many Cats.

Mick

A lot of the time the alignment is correct but what is stopping the meshing of the shaft and plate is spline contact on the shaft and plate, turning the engine over allows these to mesh.
On tractors and other heavy diesel motors this has worked for me more than once, it is a last resort and not an automatic action to use this method.
I am not talking about standing there spinning it over till the cows come home, but a series of flicks just enough to move the crankshaft a few degrees at a time.

Dont Cats have torque converters fitted to them now, so they are safe

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

... Torque Converters In Cats - Got Me Socket Set Now Were Has The Cat Gone Here Puss, Here Puss.


Mick

 

[ytre]

Thanks for all the ideas folks, much appreciated. I used the engine crane, had to pull the box back past the dowels and rotate it downwards so the diff clears the subframe , there not getting any easier and the amount of parts to strip off now is unreal.

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

Well Done ytre,

Now What Does Haynes Say At This Point "Refitting Is A Reversal Of The Removal"

Mick

 

[ytre]

its all sounds so easy but we all know different

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

And Got The Skinned Knuckles To Prove It - Best Of Luck With It And No Spare Nuts And Bolts When Your Done.

Mick

 

[metalspanner]

Well Done ytre,

Now What Does Haynes Say At This Point "Refitting Is A Reversal Of The Removal"

Mick

That is one of the most pertinent 'oxymorons' of our time, Haynes and refitting, I find most things fall off and out when removing, and they dont fall back in again.

The worst one I ever did was a pug 607 I think it was clutch, I had allowed one day for it, was still messing about trying to refit the g/box the next day.
I dont have that problem now though, as I refuse to work on cars full stop, if it has not got an inline engine linked to 4 wheel drive and I can actually see all relevent parts then forget it.