LCGB Forums

So I changed my gearbox oil before I went to the IOW and didn’t think anymore about it until I travelled to Woolacombe. A strange noise started when I was in 4th gear and it wouldn’t start easily? I checked the spark plug and the electrode was almost burnt out. It was a BR7 so changed it for a BR8 but still something not right.
Got home after 120miles and before putting away checked the gearbox oil. NOTHING in there! Drive side oil gone obviously but how much damage have I caused running with no oil?

The bearings will have run dry, so they will need changing. The clutch is a "wet" clutch, so that may have suffered some damage and for the cost of new plates they're worth changing. The chain may have been damaged, but as you say, who knows ? These are the components i'd be checking and replacing.

I suppose if you don't do long hauls you could risk topping the oil up and hoping for the best, but if you're doing the long hauls i'd be changing as much as my pockets could afford,

Have you stripped , Do you know it’s drive side ? Have you checked rear hub ? As mick says if it’s got hot it will have damaged a few components

Thanks Mick York, Toddy.
I haven't checked the rear hub no, & there was no smoke to suggest drive side seal.
The only solution is to strip down and examine each part I guess but just wanted to know if anyone had experienced this happening to them and how long they had run an engine "dry' and what the damage was?

It would be worth doing a leak test to confirm the integrity of the seal and highlight any other issues......or not as the case may be.

Another thought ! If it is the oil seal and you've had an air leak (changed plug) It might be worth taking the head off and looking at the piston crown for signs of pre-detonation (bits of your crown missing)

Yes Mick, I think the piston will probably only be fit for the bin

Hi

This has happened to me before and the layshaft was toasted.

Good luck getting it sorted.

If it has leaked past the hub bearing then it will be all over the brake shoes making the rear brake completely ineffective. This can happen if the hub bearing cage collapses.
As Mick suggests..... You will have to replace all bearings including the loose bearing outer races on the endplate and mainshaft.

Thanks for all your replies - Will just have to strip down & exmine each part. Will keep you all posted as to what I find inside!

Had this happen.
Had teeth break off on gear cogs probably due to work hardening due to lack of cooling / lubrication.
Locked up the drive but luckily not on motorway…….
I’d change everything that relies on gearbox oil.
I did, including the 5 speed cyclone box….

Had a similar thing, gearbox needed topping up after a few long runs, I suspected drive side oilseal, then I saw oil dripping off the bottom of rear hub, so changed the rear hub oilseal although there didnt seem to be much oil in there, but while the rear hub was off I noticed a lot of oil around where the gear selector arm goes into the case, so replaced the O ring, it has cured it but have not done a long run yet to see if it has, cleaned the breather\oil filler at same time. May still be the D\S seal, although it doesnt smoke and rides fine.

Mine was drinking GB oil. So I’m replacing the drive side seal, it’s a pain in the arse job, but needs to be done.