harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
Today is a day for celebration. My project past its MOT. Two years of care free driving ahead. And lots more small things to fix but they can wait till wintertime.
- Thread starter harbourseal
- Start date
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
The last few weeks I have been busy trying to locate the leakage of transmission oil from the Sinpar gearbox.
three weeks ago I took the gearbox out of my humble R4 without raising the engine. Fortunately there is some space to play with with the first generation gearboxes. With the later square gearboxes space is quite limited.
I found the source of the leakage. It was leaking from the front oil seal on the primary axle en from the gasket between the front cover and the fit plate.
After some fruitless attempts to get the front cover of, I let it rest for some weeks in an attempt to work out how to get the attachment of the primary axle that takes the lever for starting the engine manually. That piece was holding the cover in place.
Today I managed to get it of by blocking the primary axle with an old clutch plate, and with some force I was able to unscrew it.
After that it was a breeze to take the front cover off the gearbox.
On the pictures you can still see the remains of a bad attempt to seal the front cover with liquid sealer.
Tomorrow I will be making a new paper gasket.
three weeks ago I took the gearbox out of my humble R4 without raising the engine. Fortunately there is some space to play with with the first generation gearboxes. With the later square gearboxes space is quite limited.
I found the source of the leakage. It was leaking from the front oil seal on the primary axle en from the gasket between the front cover and the fit plate.
After some fruitless attempts to get the front cover of, I let it rest for some weeks in an attempt to work out how to get the attachment of the primary axle that takes the lever for starting the engine manually. That piece was holding the cover in place.
Today I managed to get it of by blocking the primary axle with an old clutch plate, and with some force I was able to unscrew it.
After that it was a breeze to take the front cover off the gearbox.
On the pictures you can still see the remains of a bad attempt to seal the front cover with liquid sealer.
Tomorrow I will be making a new paper gasket.
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
This part caused the delay.
And it fits in here
Fortunately al went smooth today. I made a new paper gasket en placed 2 new seals on the primary axle.
The Gearbox is back together again ready to be fitted in the car. Hopefully Wednesday evening this job is sorted.
And it fits in here
Fortunately al went smooth today. I made a new paper gasket en placed 2 new seals on the primary axle.
The Gearbox is back together again ready to be fitted in the car. Hopefully Wednesday evening this job is sorted.
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
Decided on a name for the Sinpar.
She will be called Robinette.
After the little red breasted Robin.
A tough little bird with a big ego.
She will be called Robinette.
After the little red breasted Robin.
A tough little bird with a big ego.
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
Back at Robinette.
Taken the gearbox out again. It is still weeping oil so I decided to take it out and get some help with replacing all the seals.
I found an old mechanic that has experience with the old gearboxes. And he is willing to help me.
Today I have taken the gearbox out without removing the hood and leaving the engine where it belongs.
For taking out the gearbox I had to disassemble quite a lot of Sinpar stuff. After that I had to take of the traverse underneath the engine and undo the for nuts that attach the engine to the gearbox at the top and 7 bolts that keep the gearbox attached to the sump
I also needed to knock out the roll pins that hold the drive shafts in place and both the steering baljoints and the top ball joints.
Looking up from underneath the engine
Gearbox on the floor.
looking at the engine driveshafts still there. lower travers gone.
both the wheel assembly's still attached with the driveshaft on.
Gearbox jack has supported the gearbox when I took of the front silent block to be able to slide the gearbox forward and the price axle out of the clutch plate. 
View from the top with the wheels back on and the car on the floor again. Without the bridge and the gearbox Jack it would have been almost impossible to do this job by myself.
Taken the gearbox out again. It is still weeping oil so I decided to take it out and get some help with replacing all the seals.
I found an old mechanic that has experience with the old gearboxes. And he is willing to help me.
Today I have taken the gearbox out without removing the hood and leaving the engine where it belongs.
For taking out the gearbox I had to disassemble quite a lot of Sinpar stuff. After that I had to take of the traverse underneath the engine and undo the for nuts that attach the engine to the gearbox at the top and 7 bolts that keep the gearbox attached to the sump
I also needed to knock out the roll pins that hold the drive shafts in place and both the steering baljoints and the top ball joints.
Looking up from underneath the engineGearbox on the floor. looking at the engine driveshafts still there. lower travers gone. both the wheel assembly's still attached with the driveshaft on.Gearbox jack has supported the gearbox when I took of the front silent block to be able to slide the gearbox forward and the price axle out of the clutch plate. View from the top with the wheels back on and the car on the floor again. Without the bridge and the gearbox Jack it would have been almost impossible to do this job by myself.
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
Back at the gearbox today.
two nuts won't budge The Sinpar factory dented the nuts onto the treads as safety precaution I thinks. They are completely stuck.
Any ideas on how to undo them are welcome.
@mr-reno-139 @Andrew4Renaults or others
The one on the second photo i have tried to undo by tapping the indentation outwards but I can't really get to it where I am supposed to get.
two nuts won't budge The Sinpar factory dented the nuts onto the treads as safety precaution I thinks. They are completely stuck.
Any ideas on how to undo them are welcome.
@mr-reno-139 @Andrew4Renaults or others
The one on the second photo i have tried to undo by tapping the indentation outwards but I can't really get to it where I am supposed to get.
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
Progress at last.
I placed the gearbox in a second motorstand that we have and used a 27mm socket and a killer for some extra leverage.
Finally the nuts came off.
With all these sprockets off, I could take of the Sinpar adapter plate.
And split the gearbox halves to replace the seals
I placed the gearbox in a second motorstand that we have and used a 27mm socket and a killer for some extra leverage.
Finally the nuts came off.
With all these sprockets off, I could take of the Sinpar adapter plate.
And split the gearbox halves to replace the seals
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
Back on the workbench I split the gearbox in half after undoing all the nuts and bolts that hold it together.
All the sprockets and gears are in remarkable condition after almost 50 years
You can't say the same for the seals. The paper ones have perished. and the factory liquid seal between the two halves have gone completely.
In the righthand half shell you can see the oil leak track
The lefthand half shell holds some of the seal.
After cleaning 
New liquid sealer.
All the sprockets and gears are in remarkable condition after almost 50 years
You can't say the same for the seals. The paper ones have perished. and the factory liquid seal between the two halves have gone completely.
In the righthand half shell you can see the oil leak trackThe lefthand half shell holds some of the seal. After cleaning New liquid sealer.
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
After a daylong drying of the liquid sealer I tightened al the bolts and nuts that hold the shells of the gearbox together.
And trimmed the acces sealer.
Today I put the Sinpar conversion back in place with new liquid sealer.
Tomorrow tightening again.
And trimmed the acces sealer.
Today I put the Sinpar conversion back in place with new liquid sealer.
Tomorrow tightening again.
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
The gearbox is finished.
Just to be safe I poured in some oil earlier this week.
Hip hip hurrah it’s not leaking anymore
All the liquid seals are okay.
Today I put the car back on the lift.
Removed the wheels and undid the upper ball joints. Both the drive shafts are still in place.
The gearbox is put on the gearbox jack just to put it a little higher up because it has to be manhandled in place. Notice that the front silent block is not on it
With two men we had to lift the gearbox with the price axle tilted up a bit.
Once it is in the hole in the flywheel it is a matter of lifting the front of the gearbox towards the front cross member and sliding the gearbox towards the engine.
After that I bolted the engine and gearbox together.
Then I put the front silent block on.
And then the driveshafts and lower traverse were put back on.
This took about an hour.
After that I had to attach the various parts again an tighten all the bolts and nuts that keep the engine and gearbox together.
Coming week two bearings in the axle that runs underneath the car and I’m ready for the road again.
Just to be safe I poured in some oil earlier this week.
Hip hip hurrah it’s not leaking anymore
All the liquid seals are okay.
Today I put the car back on the lift.
Removed the wheels and undid the upper ball joints. Both the drive shafts are still in place.
The gearbox is put on the gearbox jack just to put it a little higher up because it has to be manhandled in place. Notice that the front silent block is not on it
With two men we had to lift the gearbox with the price axle tilted up a bit.
Once it is in the hole in the flywheel it is a matter of lifting the front of the gearbox towards the front cross member and sliding the gearbox towards the engine.
After that I bolted the engine and gearbox together.
Then I put the front silent block on.
And then the driveshafts and lower traverse were put back on.
This took about an hour.
After that I had to attach the various parts again an tighten all the bolts and nuts that keep the engine and gearbox together.
Coming week two bearings in the axle that runs underneath the car and I’m ready for the road again.
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
Replaced the old and worn bearings of the driveshaft that runs under the car to the backside differential.
These open groove bearings had a lot wear.
Replacement with sealed groove bearings
All back together ready for mounting
Unfortunately the Chinese silent blocks had cracks in them.
I bought some new ones. They’ll be put on Sunday.
I painted the towing brackets red with hammerite paint. So nobody trying to tow me will mistakenly put the tow hook somewhere that will rip apart my chassis
These open groove bearings had a lot wear. Replacement with sealed groove bearings
All back together ready for mounting
Unfortunately the Chinese silent blocks had cracks in them.
I bought some new ones. They’ll be put on Sunday.
I painted the towing brackets red with hammerite paint. So nobody trying to tow me will mistakenly put the tow hook somewhere that will rip apart my chassis
harbourseal
Renault R4 Lunatic
- Messages
- 1,049
- Location
- Breda The Netherlands
The driveshaft to the rear differential has been installed again.
In the process I changed the cracked Chinese silent blocs with some beefie full round silent blocs.
For some strange reason both the diabolo type silent blocs at the rear were fine and unaffected.
Over the last two years I discovered that the gearstick that engages the 4x4 system at the gearbox was situated to low in the bulkhead. So today I drilled a hole through the bulkhead at the maximum height I could go. The remaining hole lower down was used to put in a circuit breaker as an anti theft precaution.
And the last thing was putting on the painted towing brackets.
At the rear end.
And in the Front.
In all not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon in winter.
In the process I changed the cracked Chinese silent blocs with some beefie full round silent blocs.
For some strange reason both the diabolo type silent blocs at the rear were fine and unaffected.Over the last two years I discovered that the gearstick that engages the 4x4 system at the gearbox was situated to low in the bulkhead. So today I drilled a hole through the bulkhead at the maximum height I could go. The remaining hole lower down was used to put in a circuit breaker as an anti theft precaution.
And the last thing was putting on the painted towing brackets. At the rear end.
And in the Front.In all not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon in winter.