Getting the gearbox back on!

[gte86]

Did you try the clutch on the gearbox splines before you fitted it? Try spinning the flywheel slightly. Are the locating dowels in the same place?

[colnerov]

Hi, Sometimes it's just luck, both good and bad. As long as you've taken the necessary checks re alignment and compatibility then there's not much more you can do. I've even had them where it just falls in and I think that's too easy take it out to check, then wrestled for the next hour or so trying to put it back in after doing nothing, and the other way round.

Colin

[comfortablynumb]

The number of times I've had this, thought'curse word to it', walked away and had a cuppa, gone back after half an hour and it's gone straight on.
Agree totally with removing the clutch and checking on the splines before refitting,I've also had the clutch splines burr over a bit after hours of unsuccessful attempts and had to clean up with a small file.
Some have still had to be gently wound home with longer bolts, or studs as locators, but as already said check dowells first, and for heaven's sake go carefully, I've seen a £800 tractor clutch with the centre ripped out because of the gorilla approach

[jamesd1972]

Been there. Ended up taking a gearbox out as well as the engine so they could sit on the floor to mate up.
If you have access to the bolts holding the clutch in place once the gearbox is on then you can leave them finger tight which gives some wriggle room.
Don't forget to tighten them up though !
James

[gtviva]

I have a couple of extra long bolts with the heads cut off and ground to a point which helps get the box in the correct position, it supports the box while you can concentrate on wiggling and teasing!

[Waxoyling Lyrical]

Good to hear you sorted it in the end. I recently had to remove the 'box on a Vauxhall Corsa C 1.0 because the clutch slave cylinder had failed (or so I thought - the clutch lost all action one day).

It was such a b*tch to get back on that I left it for a few weeks, then had another go and it finally went on easily; possibly due to a change in the weather/temperature.

The problem now, is I can't seem to get the clutch to bleed, having tried using a Gunsons Eezi-bleed both ways, and even using the nearside brake caliper to force fluid in via the slave bleed nipple.

I'm beginning to think the clutch master cylinder is now shot, though it did give one single powerful squirt when I had a pal pump the clutch pedal, but nothing thereafter...

[comfortablynumb]

Aug 11, 2019 20:43:10 GMT Waxoyling Lyrical said:

Good to hear you sorted it in the end. I recently had to remove the 'box on a Vauxhall Corsa C 1.0 because the clutch slave cylinder had failed (or so I thought - the clutch lost all action one day).

It was such a b*tch to get back on that I left it for a few weeks, then had another go and it finally went on easily; possibly due to a change in the weather/temperature.

The problem now, is I can't seem to get the clutch to bleed, having tried using a Gunsons Eezi-bleed both ways, and even using the nearside brake caliper to force fluid in via the slave bleed nipple.

I'm beginning to think the clutch master cylinder is now shot, though it did give one single powerful squirt when I had a pal pump the clutch pedal, but nothing thereafter...

Not sure if it's relevant, but a similar fault on a focus MK1 was a stupid pipe fitting with a spring clip to hold it in place, no leaks, but the Ali pipe end was cracked along its whole length, I'm not familiar with the Corsa setup, Ford wanted£65 for the pipe, can't get the fitting separately, one breakers trip later and it was sorted. HTH

[kevins]

I've put a corsa concentric slave on our minor and it has no bleed nipple, as far as I can see the bleed nipple is in the feed pipe and not the cylinder to get it to bleed I needed to fill the cylinder before I fitted it then as I bolted the engine and box together the fluid / air is pushed back up the feed pipe and out the nipple. I think they are meant to be vacuum bled.

[Waxoyling Lyrical]

Thanks for the tips, I'll give them a go...

[Ryannn]

I had a mare getting the box back on my 172 when it was on the floor. Was much easier when I lifted the block onto the bench and suspended the box off the engine crane. Doesn’t help if it’s in the car like!

[Waxoyling Lyrical]

Yes, I recall the fun and games we had with my brother's Clio 192, after he managed to blow up the gearbox/clutch (and damage the engine block!) by downshifting at high revs. That required a replacement block, setting up of the twin cams, replacement gearbox, clutch and many hours of fiddling about to get it all back together. Thankfully, he sold it fairly soon after!