Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Transmission oils for traditionals

Unusually for me, this is a quick reference post with no photos...
But the good news is that I've located suppliers of the correct gearbox oil and correct spec diff oil. I've posted this info on Mogtalk. There is loads about Esso ATF LT71141 on forums, and how hard it is to find in anything under 20 litre drums - and conflicting advice as to whether other ATFs can be used.
Usual disclaimers - not connected with any of these chaps, and there will be other suppliers out there - but they are hiding well from search engines.

I’ve found – and have ordered some LT 71141 ‘in 1 litres’ – minimum 12 litres, so I will have a few ‘spare’ when they arrive. The gearbox takes 1.9 litres. Cost (to me) including postage equates to £8.60 per litre which isn’t bad. The supplier is only about six miles away from where I live!!!!!!
http://www.lubricants.org/?path=catalog&top=13
I’ve also located the axle oil – at Morris. Morgan use/recommend Morris antifreeze, so I’m guessing this is what the factory use……Note that most 80W/140 on the web is fully synthetic. It probably nmakes little difference, but the right spec makes more sense.
http://www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=59
Now this is in 5 litre containers, but the axle takes 1.7, so changed at recommended 20k miles is ‘an OK deal’. I might change mine at 10k, because it’s quite discoloured.
Note that the handbook recommends the same gearbox and axle oil for 4/4, +4 and Roadster.
The Friction modifier (Roadster only) is here……..
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=ROAD&pcode=RED80301
It doesn’t state the volume as far as I can see, but only 70ml is needed.
Hope this helps.

Just a quick update.......
The oils ordered on Sunday arrived today - Yippee!!

And I've finally found the justification to get a Dremel (evil laugh )- to enlarge that hole for the gearbox level plug with the delicate touch of a dentist.............

So, come the weekend I've decided to change the gearbox oil, once that hole is big enough, and change the axle oil. Opinions differ but 8k miles or 12/18 months is one view, and mine is quite dark. I'll take some pictures (obviously).

Well, I managed a couple of hours in the garage tonight, and sorted the gearbox oil.
So...........
If you recall, I discovered that despite my four Dealer Service stamps, the gearbox level plug was inaccessible due to the heat insulation having not been cut around the access hole. Furthermore, once relieved with my Stanley knife, looked like this.

If you have a traditional Mog, lift the leather centre console cover drivers side/offside/right hand side(lift the dots), take the grommet out and check that your level plug is accessible. The oil level check is a service item.

ANYWAY.......
A few minutes with the Dremel and cutting disc made it look like this..............Now yer talking......

Both the level plug and drain plug are 17mm. Although the gearbox is 'filled for life' I decided at the weekend to drop the oil & refill. Esso ATF LT 71141 is a bit elusive, but hey, what's the internet for?


Note that both plugs were very tight. Once removed the oil looked like this. In truth, it was not as black as this appears, rather a dark honey colour. The container is a 2 litre ice cream container, and you can see that only about 1.4 litres came out. Happily only about 1.4 litres went back in to take it to level, which means that about half a litre stays in the gearbox. I had to fabricate a length of plastic tube to fit a funnel, and it's fiddly in the footwell.


So after all this, I'm left with an oddly shaped hole and no suitable grommet. But help is at hand in my offcuts box........
First - I cut a plug from reflective heat resistant material and placed it loose in the hole.


Next I made up an alloy plate, and covered the 'inside' with double sided tape. I positioned the plate over the top, and the tape picked up the heat resistant plug. I finished it off on the inside with silver tape. I used a pin chuck to drill the holes (a manual drill which is more accurate than an electric drill - it doesn't dance across the alloy), and found two nice flat philips self tappers in the self tapper tub.......


So when fitted,looks like this.




While the carpets were out, I've treated the floor boards to some Colron Danish Oil, which is a waterproofing oil and arguably better than varnish. Over winter I'll get the seats out and do the floor beneath. I'll attend to the toolbox cover wood when I do the axle oil over the weekend. The shiny finish in the next photo looks a bit better than it looks in reality..............



Maybe it's time to reveal the real me, together with old T shirt, sweatshirt, old cords, and cracked mug. (Only cracked mugs are allowed in the garage).........

great pics and post. glad to see you hoovered the carpet.....

Yes Easter, using my Traditional/Classic Electrolux smoky pink cylinder vacuum cleaner, 'recovered' from an empty house......

I've just realised with dismay that I've violated my 'no drilling' credentials, by drilling two holes in the tunnel.....

OH NO.......

Even worse, you've cut a hole in an original, integral part of the Mog.

I refute the word 'integral'.................
The tunnel is screwed on.
And needs must..........
PS - have just consumed two glasses of wine

Dave

Have been absolutely flabbergasted over the months by all the care, attention and mods you have made to your Roadster.

It is obvious that you enjoy using your skills to ‘fettle’ Morgans to a higher plane, so only two questions really; can you do +4’s, and when can I drop round?! Not a problem at all to bring the wine!

This is quite similar to cutting a hole in the tunnel to access the front propshaft grease nipples, which is currently being discussed on mogtalk. Both mods look well worth doing and one has to wonder why something "made by hand" can't be made in the right place (or even made at all!)

My current pet hate though is the tool tray...

Nigel

Paul, I hope your flabber is'nt too gasted...... and thanks.
I enjoy fiddling, and it's a voyage of discovery. I bought a nearly new MGBGT in 1982, and did the same to that, but there were no forums or digital photography to share the outcomes. The only way was real photos, and a submission to the club magazine, where over the years I had quite a few articles published. It was the same when I rebuilt the V8GT, and I regret now not investing in a digital camera (it was '90/'91), although I did record some of the process on conventional film. I chose to keep that car almost standard, so I haven't been able to enjoy faffing about for a long time, but am making up for it now.......
Nigel - the tool tray is do-able but is a real faff. I'm considering a 'Mark2' version over the winter because I can gain another inch here & there, so if I get the time.......
If I do that I'll try to simplify the structure and do some measurements.
After breakfast I'm back in the garage to change the diff oil. More on that later.