GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
This weekend's plan was to get the gearbox off 'Kay' so that I can examine/replace the clutch. Best laid plans and all, I didn't get that far.
I got the props off and the front section of the exhaust. I wanted to drain the oils before removing the IRD & gearbox. Being the avid LZ reader - I take the advice offered and went to loosen the IRD fill plug before draining it - of course it was siezed in there. The one on 'Elle' came out nice and easy when I did that, but the one on 'Kay' is a pig. It was obviously well locked in, I gave it a good few knocks with a hammer to try and loosen it - not to hard, cos I didn't want to shatter the ally case. In the end I had to just give it a good push with the 6 sided socket and the plug just basically turned to mush - so its knackered.
I'll be taking the VCU down to a workshop for them to drill and tap some drain holes, so I'll take the IRD along as well and get them to do something with the plug.
The irony of course is that I thought the nuts on the exhaust were going to be the b*****d ones, but plenty of WD40 and scraping the flakey rusty bits off so the socket fitted nice and tight and they all cracked off great with a good push on the 2 1/2 foot ratchet handle extension.
I got the props off and the front section of the exhaust. I wanted to drain the oils before removing the IRD & gearbox. Being the avid LZ reader - I take the advice offered and went to loosen the IRD fill plug before draining it - of course it was siezed in there. The one on 'Elle' came out nice and easy when I did that, but the one on 'Kay' is a pig. It was obviously well locked in, I gave it a good few knocks with a hammer to try and loosen it - not to hard, cos I didn't want to shatter the ally case. In the end I had to just give it a good push with the 6 sided socket and the plug just basically turned to mush - so its knackered.
I'll be taking the VCU down to a workshop for them to drill and tap some drain holes, so I'll take the IRD along as well and get them to do something with the plug.
The irony of course is that I thought the nuts on the exhaust were going to be the b*****d ones, but plenty of WD40 and scraping the flakey rusty bits off so the socket fitted nice and tight and they all cracked off great with a good push on the 2 1/2 foot ratchet handle extension.