No drive to the driveshafts

[Grockle]

Hi, I have just started to continue the rebuilding of my elan having replaced all the suspension bushes and brakes and decided to loosen the main pulley nut to replace the cam belt before fitting the wheels and checking the geometry. Having read the links I selected a gear and got someone to press the brake pedal while I tried to loosed the nut using a 600mm breaker bar. The nut was very tight and I thought I had loosened it but something else has failed. Whichever gear I select there is no drive to the driveshafts and the nut is still tight. Anyone got any thoughts on what may have failed and how to loosen the nut?

[muley]

My guess is that the input shaft to the gearbox is knackered in some way.

You could try putting the breaker bar / nut on the pulley nut, wedging it FIRMLY and use the starter for a SHORT burst.

Safer still, use a proper tool bolted to the pulley, wedge that and lean on the breaker bar.

HTH

Jim

[Grockle]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have taken the gearbox off and confirmed the problem is in the gearbox. I have never stripped a gearbox and would like some advice on how difficult it is or if it should be sent to a specialist. I would also like to know if spares can be obtained, gaskets input shaft etc.
Thanks

[Rambo]

Sounds like you need to speak to Alan Head or John Wham who have done work on their gearboxes in the last couple of years

In the meantime, some interesting gearbox stuff here...........viewtopic.php?f=48&t=14484&hilit=Alan+head

[Brit-Car-Nut]

How exactly did you test the gearbox?

Is it out of the car?

You can't test the drive system if you don't lock one of the driveshaft gears while you spin the input shaft.

Are you sure you are putting it into 1st gear for your test?

Gaskets and seals are available, but not much else. Did you verify that 5th gear didn't slip on its bushing and is now grinding the inside of the rear cover? 5th gear parts are somewhat available in the US since they are common to another car over here.

Just let us know in detail exactly what you are doing to test and what you are seeing (or not seeing).

[Grockle]

Thanks for the reply Brit-Car-Nut. I have checked the gearbox again by installing and holding the nearside shaft and the jack shaft while someone turned the input shaft (one the connects to the engine) and now believe the gearbox is fine. My mistake was that I didn’t think it through properly. The car is on four stands and I was going to raise it higher and fit the wheels on blocks so I can tighten the suspension correctly and set the geometry. I had put the front offside wheel on then decided that the cam belt could more easily be replaced while the car is on the four stands as access to the crankshaft pulley nut is easier. At this time a neighbor came round and I used the opportunity to get him to hold the brake peddle down while I tried to loosen the nut. I had not installed the wheel bolts so the only thing holding the brake on the offside was the small counter sunk screw which snapped. I then made another silly mistake in checking the gearbox by only checking one shaft at a time. Of course it didn’t move when I held it as the other one was moving and I wasn’t looking at it. I had also convinced myself that I had damaged the gearbox which didn’t help. Anyway some good has come out of it. The clutch and the gear link cables need to be replaced and the gearbox is nice and clean. I have checked the nuts at the end of the gearbox and these are tight. I really appreciate the help this forum provides and my thanks to those that have offered me advice.

[Fredjohn]

Glad you worked it out in the end!!

Moral: always look at the simple cheap possibility before you consider the expensive difficult one!

If you need new gear cables, look at Brit-car-nut's offering. They really can't be beaten: just hope he has some left for you!!

PS add your location to your profile: it'll help solving problems and sourcing parts. There may even be a fellow LEC'er nearby

[Grockle]

Hi I wish to purchase new cables but my emails are not getting through for some reason. Can anyone help?

[Brit-Car-Nut]

When all else fails, use the LEC PM system.

I get around 90 emails a day, so don't have any ideas as to why you can't reach me.

Prices are as quoted here: viewtopic.php?f=48&t=22461&p=355579#p348022