A-type overdrive - curing oil leak

[david_lall]

I have an A-type overdrive and oil is leaking into the solenoid assembly. I believe I need to replace the accumulator housing 'O' ring. My question is has anyone done this without removing the gearbox/overdrive? Both Chris Witor & Andy Roberts think it is possible to do in situ but neither are certain that it can be done without removing the gearbox.

Does anyone have any past past experience please?

[david_lall]

....no replies Has no-one ever had to work on the overdrive in situ?

[mikew]

....no replies Has no-one ever had to work on the overdrive in situ?

If it was a J type I could tell you.

On the J type its possible to remove the overdrive from the gearbox, in situ, I don't see why it cannot be done with the A type too if necessary.

Remove exhaust, disconnect gear leaver, disconnect propshaft, disconnect speedo cable, and wires to solenoid.

jack under gearbox, remove gearbox mount, lower box, there's enough room to get at the top hidden gearbox to overdrive nuts, as well as the lower ones. Remove overdrive from gearbox - may need a soft mallet if the od/ mainshaft splines are locked up and you didn't do the reversing trick first to take the pressure off. You'd certainly get at the o ring then

[Alec]

Hello David,

yes, I have done this with an 'A' type, but it is a bit of a fiddle. You need to drop the tail of the box and loosen the gear selector assembly and lift it up to get the overdrive off. As I don't have the tool to align the two internal splined sections it takes a little patience to do this with a long screwdriver and being careful not to overstress the adapter plate when replacing the unit as it is easily cracked.

Alec

[david_lall]

Thanks very much for both of your replies. My local MG garage is going to have a go for me at the beginning of July. I'm I'm very friendly with the owner and he's helped me out with quite a few things so it sounds like this job should be do-able

[Clifford Pope]

I don't see in principle why it shouldn't be exactly the same as removing the O/D on the bench, as long as you can drop the box enough for access to nuts and have space for it to slide off.

The manual here:
http://www.triumphtr.com/a_type_overdrive_manual.pdf

To reassemble you need a loop of thin wire to keep the pump plunger depressed while sliding it over the eccentric cam.

[david_lall]

Just in case anyone is interested; it IS POSSIBLE to lower the gearbox sufficiently in situ in order to gain sufficient access to replace the o-ring rubber seal - hopefully my overdrive unit will no longer leak and thereby preserve both the gearbox mount and the overdrive solenoid.