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Is there any easy way to drain the gear box. Haven't looked under this thing yet, TR7 DHC, but I know it has 75W gear oil in it and I wish to drain it and renew it with ATF or MTF. Do I have to suck it out the fill hole or is there a bottom drain? Searched but couldn't find the answer on the forum. Thanks in advance.

Bottom drain plug...

Thank you for the lengthy answer about the bottom drain plug on the TR7,[:)] I haven't had mine for long, altho I changed oil and should have noticed the drain on the transmission. I love this forum. Thanks again.

The Drain plug has a magnetic tip. The amount and size of the particles attached are an indication of the state of the box. As is the colour of the oil. Best to replace the felt washer too.

1980 DHC TR7-V8 (was an 8V, then a Sprint)
Back on the road after 3 years restoring...

The fill plug is the black one on the rear housing.



The drain is directly under the fill one but is silver in this photo. The fill plug is very difficult to get to, but here is something you might try. Put the trans in third gear, support in with a jack under the car and then remove the 4 bolts holding on the rear crossmember. Lower the transmission just enough to reach the fill plug.I would suggest that you install 2 Quarts of Pennzoil Synchromesh Manual Transmission Fluid ($7.99 US/QT). If you use this fluid, you can take a pump-up garden sprayer, put a 90 degree bend in the end of the spray handle and use it to fill the transmission. You can do the same with ATF. Don't use heavy gear oil

Have fun, drive fast & safe, be kewl,

jclay

Thanks all of you. This car was wrecked when young and sat in a garage for years and was finally fixed. The hood was damaged but not much else, the original owner ran under the back end of a truck. However, the car set outside(covered with a vinyl tarp)for years before being repaired. A friend of mine bought the vehicle(after a new hood was fitted and other repairs done, including a complete paint job, which wiped out the decals) and was scared to drive it because of how low the car was compared to other vehicles on the road and sold it to me for the unbelievable price of $750.00. Original miles: 10,103 when I bought it, now 10,443. It is hard to shift into second when cold, it needs a new top(age deterioration), the interior is not bad, new radio has been installed, clock works sometimes(but mostly not), power is good, in my opinion, and it corners great. Changed oil, took apart the FASD and cleaned it and it now idles and runs great, put a new dip stick tube on it(using fuel line of the correct size) and did a few other things to it. I love this car and I appreciate all the help you have given me so far on this forum. I have had 3 offers to buy, one from a British lady here for a visit, and two from locals who don't even know what a TR7 is, let alone a triumph car of any type! Thanks again and sorry for the long post.

Jclay your pic of the tranny is so pretty.....the one that goes in the car that is.[:p]

Not all drain plugs are in the same place as the pic shows. Mine is on the right side of the transmission, in the middle of the main case.

Sam

Would that be a 4 speed then, Sam?

Hasbeen

Not necessarily.
My R380 have the drain in the lower starboard side of the main casing, and the fill roughly halfway up the same side.
I think this was the case with the later LT77 as well...

Just to point out that all these gearboxes are tough to shift into 2nd from cold, thats why Leyland specifies the thinner ATF fluid in the first place. Does n't neccessarily mean a worn gearbox.

Purple 2.0 Litre DHC Grinnal

" Would that be a 4 speed then, Sam?"

No, it is a 1980 5 speed.

Sam

My LT77 drain and fill are as in jclay's picture. I could remove fill bolt without removing anything else. It was a bit of a tight fit though as the exhaust pipe is near the bolt. I filled it up with Pennzoil synthetic gear lube using an oil can and a piece of clear hose attached to the end nozzle and it easily fit in hole. What wasn't so easy was pumping almost two litres in, a little tiring on the thumb but considering the ease of gaining access a fair trade off.

The question to be answered though, is it better to use ATF and change at oil engine change intervals to help get rid of swarf (BL made this recommendation before synthetic gear lube was common if available at all plus it was cheaper) or is it better to use synthetic with it's better lubrication and low temp shifting properties that should make the syncro's last longer. I'm sure no one has done a qualitative study on this so it's probably toss a coin and take a chance.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

Question for lebochet9: you stated " Best to replace the felt washer too." Do all the tranny's have a felt washer on the drain plug?? I don't see anything listed in my Victoria British catalog for my 1976 4sp.

Thanks,


Karl
1976 TR7
1982 VW Scirocco

Ok, job is done. Thanks guys for the help. My drain is on the bottom starboard side and the filler is on the larboard(I guess they say port now)side about half way up and hard to get to but not impossible. I used ATF to refill as I couldn't find Pennzoil synthetic manual transmission fluid, but am still searching for it and when I find a couple quarts I will do the job again. Thanks again. I love this forum.