Saving Old Seagulls

Ok I have done a little search, but not had much luck, after battling with the cap I finally got it off to find mayonnaise.... (this is a featherweight btw)
I've tilted the engine and nothing is coming out as its too thick, is there a way to flush it out or do I need to take the gearbox apart?
I've read the featherweights have a different box?
Many thanks,
Glenn

Try warming the box up with a hair dryer, you will be able to get it up to 70-80 c without burning the paint off.
This will thin the oil.
Or wash out with petrol, or other volatile solvent.
Worst case take the end cap off, but you may damage the paper gasket,replacements are available.

H-A

How i do mine is much like a blood transfusion. Using a syringe (turkey baster will work) i simply add thin engine oil and then suck it back up, along with the old gear box oil. I keep doing this as after a few moments you will see the horrid gunk being replaced with clean engine oil.
Then i remove as much of the oil as i can before filling with petrol as this breaks down the last of the old gunk and clean oil. Simply tip out petrol and flush a few times more with clean petrol before using white spirit (this desolves the petrol but the residue left behind wont effect your new gearbox oil) as i final flush.
It helps to turn the prop a few times by hand as you go as this will get between the teeth of the gears.

DF

Am I right in thinking the newer feather weights have a different type of box though? A sealed one?

Mayo is not a bad thing!

It is full of it though, took the back off and have scooped loads out! That normal?

Merry wrote:It is full of it though, took the back off and have scooped loads out! That normal?

Pretty much yes.
Both mine were like that when i first bought them.

I've laid it down, so the prop would be pointing up, can I pour paraffin in there to clean it up?

Sorry prop would be pointing down

Also does the shaft come out?

Yes, everything within the gearbox will come apart.
As H-A mentioned use caution if you are going to remove the end cap as you will almost inevitably wreck the paper gasket.

If you are going to completely strip the gearbox (probably the best way for cleaning out the goo in my opinion) then this is how you do it.

Remove the split pin and washer holding the prop on. Remove the drive spring and prop. With the prop removed you will then see a brass collar with a roll pin through it. Drive out the pin and remove the collar. There might also be a rubber washer underneath the collar. (probably will be stiff getting the collar off). At this point turn the box over so you can see the end cap. You'll see 2 screws holding the end cap on. Out with the blow torch and start heating the casing. I use an impact driver to start the screws off, then use a normal screwdriver to completely remove them. Turn the box over again, and using a bit of wood and a hammer, drive out the driveshaft towards the back and this will normally pop out the end cap at the same time. Use the bit of wood to protect the slot on the end of the driveshaft.

These little gearboxes suffer a lot with wear, especially the pinion. There isn't much oil in these to begin with, so check everything over carefully for worn bushes and missing or corroded teeth on the gears.
With a bit of luck you might have a half decent useable gearbox at the end of this.

best of luck
if you get stuck just ask

jon

Well I have the cap off without using heat and I didn't even mess up the screws!!! There is play in the shaft and I haven't yet taken off the brass collar, that normal??

Also amazing reply! Thank you very much!

Well done.
Now the decision you have to make is "can i live with THAT MUCH play in the pinion bush"? Having a worn pinion like this will lead to a lot of oil escaping out of the gearbox and end up being replaced with water over time. Hence the sludgy porridge like mess that lies within
It's a bit of a mission to remove the pinion from the box, but it can be done however you will need some heat to do this!
All is not lost...

Have a word with Charles UK as he's getting rid of a lot of new spare parts. You never know, he might just have what you need
If not, there's bound to be somebody on here that can help......eventually.


jon

Well is any play normal? Should there be play? If so how much play is acceptable?