Help me find my bearings- literally!

[felahughes]

Hi All

Was washing my gearbox yesterday and I heard a tap sound- and in the bottom of my washing tray I found a bearing ball:



I only removed the bell housing and the turret- so in theory everything should be packed- but it definitely came from somewhere in the gearbox. Any idea where it's come from and how to get it back?


Cheers!

[SP3]

what diameter? shift rail detent ball 'left over' from someone's previous internal adventure?

[lglade]

As I understand it, there's an anti-rotation ball where the speedo drive mounts to the transmission. I was just making plans to replace the gasket and seal on mine and saw it in the manual. By chance did you remove the speedo drive and leave the ball?

[felahughes]

It's 8.7mm diameter.

I have removed the speedo and never noticed a ball so maybe that's it.

The gearbox was working when I took it apart so it's should be something that I've "undone".

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll have a look when I get back up to the workshop.

[djape1977]

not a speedo drive gear retainer ball, that one is like 3-4mm

[felahughes]

Hi All Again

I'm still trying to find out where this ball came from. I removed the plate covering the detent springs and balls and I could see all three balls in place behind the springs. I'm trying to find out where else it could come have come from- I guess it could be the speedo drive ball but I can't seem to see where that is without dismantling the gearbox to removing the shaft- which I'm wanting to avoid. I had it completely rebuilt (years ago- it's been sitting unused since) so it could be just "left over" from the rebuild but that seems strange.

I measured again and it's 7.8mm diameter- which sounds big but isn't.

Any suggestions guys- would appreciate it!

[djape1977]

only place that ball could have come from is input shaft bearing

[felahughes]

Hmm- ok. I guess that's not suppose to be possible so if it's happened then that's a sign of a bigger problem maybe. Is it possible to inspect the bearing without removing it? I looked at the video online and I guess I'd have to remove the thrust washer and circlip at least. The car's up in my workshop so I won't be able to check till next weekend. I don't have a puller so anything more means off to the transmission specialist it goes.

[satufiat]

Maybe the countershaft Front bearing.

I just had mine apart and the inner race of the bearing typically stays on the shaft, allowing the inner race to come apart. Maybe a PO missed one of the balls during reassembly.

This is a picture from outside, there is an inner race as well, not sure if you can see it through this cage.

[felahughes]

OK- so either way I'm going to have to dismantle the gearbox- or can I at least inspect the bearings without pulling everything apart?

Actually I remember I've got this photo. It all looks OK on the countershaft at least. Is there another race on the inside?

[satufiat]

Yes, the countershaft front bearing has two sets of bearing races, you can see the outside race in the picture, but i don't know of a way to visually see the inside race until dissassembly.

I was surprised by the inside bearing race during dissassembly, because the inner bearing race(for the inside set) stays on the shaft and all of the balls fall out of the cage. And it is possible that one of the balls fell into the case.

The inner race comes off of the countershaft with a couple screwdrivers. I used wheel bearing grease to hold all the ball bearings in place to reassemble the inner race.

I now wish I took a picture of the inside race.

I wonder if this happened and the Front Bearing set was replaced earlier when all the balls could not be found?

[felahughes]

Soooo I think I've solved it!

I took the countershaft bolt off and it was pretty easy to get the front race of the bearing out- and at the same time I could see in to the inner race. All balls present and correct. Hmm- let's try main bearing. A faff to try and take it apart as I didn't have a socket long enough to undo the nut. This made me stop and think. I opened up the detent ball housing and this time actually took the balls out. All 3 were there BUT they were identical to the one I found.

So it seems that the ball was a detent ball lost when I got the gearbox overhauled- I guess they gave up trying to find it and fish it out.

SP3 you are the winner!

Thanks guys for your help!

[SP3]

Excellent news. Glad you got it sorted.