............... yet another issue presents itself

Ok, here is the boggle..... if things don't make sense, i'm sorry as i have never attempted anything remotely mechanical in my life (bar the usual oil and water checks) before getting the mini..................

If you can see the picture you will notice the small oil leak running down the outside face of the diff seal (i think) at about 6 o'clock..... I assume that the diff seal sits inbetween the two metal rings (1 inner and 1 outer ring??? is this correct)... the pot joint itself is quite loose as in up and down movements..... a bit of play there. When ever i move the pot joint in these up and down motions oil escapes from that gap between the shaft and the inner ring of the diff seal.

Is there something missing that was not included in assembly that has contributed to this leak?????. How do i fix it?????.

The reasons for the question are that i was going to change the diff seal due to the fact that i thought that it was the reason for the oil leaking into the pot joint.........

I was told that in order to change the seal i must remove the backing plate behind the pot joint itself (the red bolt at the top of the picture above the pot being the top bolt of the backing plate), but one of the bolts is right behind the extractor pipe and although i can loosen the bolt, removing it is out of the question due to there only being a gap between bolt and pipe of probably less than 10mm max.

So therefore the backing plate cannot be removed, thus the seal cannot be changed......correct????

Sorry about the long winded post.......... it's just that i have had the car (5 months now) getting repaired for longer than i have had it on the road, and i'm becoming a little dissillusioned about the whole "enjoyment factor" of owning a mini.......

Does anyone know how to remedy the leak and if the diff seal even needs to be removed?

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I got nuthin......................

drop some stop leak in there.. its magic.. nulon one

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Expert in training

Not sure about the diff seal or the Oil leak..But if you need to do the seal It looks like you will have to disconect the Extactors.

Does not matter where a Mini comes from you will always Hick ups
Morris...Well after two weeks it became The Bat Mobile. PO When they but the Head Gasket on they also used Silincon and they blocked up 1 & 2 Water ways....You can Guess what happended then
After rebuild of the Motor
When All is finished Driving Home and He Overheats Extreamly
Call the Mechanic out..Well he did the work Fixed...Then Fixed Again and then Once More.
2 Altators later with 2 Rebuilds and has Marcia's one at the Moment & Batery

Marcia Arrival Dead Anyway

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

head gaskets should always.. always go on dry

i wouldnt take it back to someone who silicons a head gasket on

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Expert in training

??in with the oil miniVan or squeeze it in the gap around the shaft????

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I got nuthin......................

There is supposed to be a plug in the bottom of the pot joint, in the centre, over the diff output shaft that can be seen in your photo. Without that plug, oil will leak out of the engine/gearbox into the pot joint. The movement you mention is most likely a worn bush in the diff side cover. Have to pull the side cover to have replaced. You will probably have to replace that pot joint.

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Steve

Thanks for the info Justmini's........although that wasn't what i really wanted to hear considering the car had it's restoration completed less then 1000klms ago, and every part was supposed to be either new or reconditioned ............. Can see a lot of aggrovation in trying to get that backing plate off

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I got nuthin......................

Comes off easy-
I ground a thin Gedore O/E spanner out to 32mm, then ground the jaws to a point. Put in behind pot joint and `whack!' with BFH.
Don't forget to drain the oil, first..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

stop leak goes in the top of the engine (wear your oil goes.. read the label).. it softens all your seals up..

i had to put it in my escort rebuild because i went to a high pressure oil pump.. new seal.. leaking first day.. was pissed.. turned out its quite normal

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Expert in training

Any more thoughts????? anyone?????....... heeeeeellllllpppp me

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I got nuthin......................

Steve,,,i told you about 3 months ago that the welch plug has got to be missing,/ not fitted,/ or bumped out & not noticed,,,that`s the "ONLY" reason oil can come through there!!!

don`t know how many times i said all that to you,,,yeah??? remember??? Shane was even there whn i said it once or twice, Coatsy has not noticed while building the car, easy mistake, don`t know anyone who would take the welch plug out for any reason at all,,,but i`ve seen a few missing in my time, just one of those things.

Pop the pot joint out (big chisel & big hammer, one big smack & out she comes easy peasy), fit another pot (2nd hand will do),,,pry the old final drive cover oil seal out & replace it with a new one just while you`re there for the sake of it,,,no need to take the final drive cover off at all

easy-peasy mate,,, no special tools needed,,,a hammer & chisel to pop the pot out, & a screw driver to pry the final drive cover oil seal out & tap the new one in nice & square with the hammer

now get on with it & stop mucking around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

OK Then............. fine............. Damn you Matt Read i forgot about that . Must have got lost in the recesses of my mind amongst me trying to get you to build me a Weber (remember that ), and the other multitude of niggles that have presented themselves over the past 6-8 weeks.........

Looks like another trip to Jacks today

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I got nuthin......................

Woooohooooo!!!!

Success!.. Fixed this afternoon, replaced the pot joint (was missing the welsh plug? in the centre of the joint, knocked it back on and away we went......... Big thanks to Matty Read for helping me in replacing the scarred ball joint and shimming up the new one.......


i await the next problem now

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I got nuthin......................

Dont be a pessimist - it is all part of owning one of these feral beasts. It is like a dog marking its territory...pissing all over the place and continually standing in it!..

Matt Read would have charged a fortune - whats the going rate now Matt(a case of the finest pale ale??) - what is the flavour of the month this month?

Hooroo for now

Rob Forsyth
]Miniot!!

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Rob Forsyth
Miniot!!

Rob............. hahahahahahha so true....... Matt's going rate at the moment is Jim Beam

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I got nuthin......................