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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Adding oil to datsun tranny

I just installed a rebuilt Datsun tranny in my 71 MG midget. My question is does anyone have any "tricks" for adding the gear lube.
I read online were someone said:

"To fill the 'box I take out the gearstick and fill from there - much cleaner!"

Anyone have any experience with adding the gear lube thru the gearstick?

Anyone else have any good ways to add the lube without spilling it.

Thanks
Ken Bargeron

Ken,

Filling the gearbox through the gear selector hole only works on the original smoothcase/ribcase, not the Datsun.

As for the Datsun, you can raise the car high enough off the ground to get under with a pump setup available at any decent parts store or you can run a small hose or tube to the filler hole and pour gear oil down from the engine compartment area. There's really no easy way to do it but I find that either of these methods work well. Good luck and enjoy synchro first and fifth.

Martin
Martin Washington

I found it quite easy.
The filler hole is on the left hand side of the transmision. Just get your gear oil (I used semi synthetic) plastic bottle and attach some clear tubing to it. Put the other end in the side of the gearbox and squeeze till it starts running out of the filler hole. That way you know when it's full.
If you want to do it from above, I seem to remember that you can run the clear plastic pipe in through the top of the transmission tunnel/ gear lever opening but you'll still have to get underneath to locate the plastic pipe into the side of the gearbox.
I can't remember it being at all difficult. No harder than filling the diff.
Gary Lazarus

The way I do mine is simialr to Gary,

at the auto store the make a twist on/off deal that screws onto the gear oil bottle the other end you attach a clear hose and run the hose into the tranny, the bottle is upide down, so I cut a small hole in the bottom of the gear oil bottle, crawl back under the car and twist the valve on the bottle and the fluid runs into the tranny,,,I stay and watch incase the hose falls out or oil starts running out the hole...it took me 1.5 bottles of 75-90 lucas synthtic gear oil to fill the tranny...sadly I stll only ended up with just a spot as most still ended up in my hair and on the ground.

Enjoy that 5 speed...it really is great, and dont worry about your engine siting kaddy wonk...its supposed to be that way....looking straight on at the engine the front sits towards the passanger side and the back end sits towards the driver side...something to do with how the plate was drilled for the speedo gear clearance

Prop
Prop

Your FLAPS should sell a small pump that screws onto the top of the bottle of oil. the hose goes into the fill hole on the side of the trans and you lay there on the ground pumping it until the fluid comes out the side.
David "just over two quarts US IIRC" Lieb
David Lieb

Same method used overhere. Remove the plug, put the tube in. I attached the tube to the bottle with a hoseclip that way I can squize.

Full is when the overfill comes out:-)

Try to fill the tranny a couple of times in the first year. That way you can establish an opinion on wether the tranny is using oil and at what rate. My tranny uses a little every year so once a year it gets a top-up.
Bas Timmermans

Got the oil in with no real problems . Thanks for all the great inputs.
Ken Bargeron

A small adding for the archives: when you put the fillerplug back in. fit it with your hand before you use the wrench. Its a delicate alu casing. If you miss align....
Bas Timmermans

This thread was discussed between 03/11/2009 and 08/11/2009

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