Hi all, bit of history - bought our 73 about 5 years ago with a reconditioned 1600 TP engine still in the first 500 miles. By 1500 miles the crank snapped wrecking the engine. When I dropped the engine the input shaft came out with the engine. Removed the bellhousing and refitted with new seal etc. Got a LP block with crank and rods and built it up with the remains of the other one and ran that for about 1000 miles when the clutch started slipping (had replaced it) so dropped it and found oil in bell housing and slight end float. LP replaced the block but in the mean time I built another with a new case etc to give me a spare. Thought the oil smelt a bit like gear oil so replaced the seal again. The engine has done about 1000 miles again and the clutch is slipping again. Going to drop the engine tomorrow and have a look. What are the chances that the snapped crank caused a slight bend in the input shaft that now allows a small amount of oil out when it gets warm?
I think if it was bent there'd be a lot of vibration and you'd know something was amiss? I ran a 1700 for 30,000 miles with an input shaft that pulled out with the engine and wobbled about without any problem. I could probably find you an input shaft if you wanted to rule it out (the back bit that comes off).
I don't think it is bent very much, if at all but I'm sure it's gear oil not engine oil. Thanks for the offer but I have a spare and a spare bell housing so going to swap them both and see what happens.
I wouldn't say that it isn't possible... When you took the broken crank engine out, you said the input shaft came out too? I'm pretty sure they're only meant to come out when you take the bellhousing off, so it could have a slightly damaged bellhousing!!
Pulled the engine this afternoon and now not totally convinced where the oil is coming from as it doesn't smell as strongly as I was expecting. Will probably still replace the bell housing and shaft as I have all the bits to do it and rule that out.
