Leaking transaxle

[EJP914]

I have some fluid leaking from the transaxle housing around the speedometer angle drive and have purchased replacement seals and O rings from Pelican. My car is a '74
I replaced these many years ago on another 914, but don't remember all of the steps.
There is the removal of a "set screw" somewhere in the process. Is this "screw" located on the very tail end of the transaxle housing behind a 10mm bolt head? I assume the screw is an Allen head type of some small diameter. And does this "set screw" hold the assembly in place that has the gear on the end and all of the seals that need to be replaced.
I recall Dave Darling advising not to overtighten the set screw. Just don't recall where it's located. Too old to remember. Thanks for the help.
Ed

[The cap'n]

It's an 8mm bolt with a 13mm wrench size head, located in the casting that holds the speedo drive. Personally, I wouldn't reseal the old unit, I'd purchase the improved double o-ring version available from a guy on 914 World. I've used several, and they WORK! They're sold exchange.

The Cap'n

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

As the Cap'n says, the set screw is the fastener with the bolt head on it.

--DD

[The cap'n]

Here's a picture stolen from a thread on World. The bolt in question is about an inch from the top, almost centered from side to side. This happens to be a sixer tranny, but the speedo drive components and location are functionally the same as used on all the other 914s.

[EJP914]

Many thanks Cap'n and Dave. That's the info I need.

[red-beard]

Be very very very careful with tightening that bolt.

[Cairo94507]

Please search the 914World site for Mark at Original Customs in Sonoma, CA for his modified speedo-drive which is machined to add an additional O-ring to the speedo drive. His modification prevents leaks.
http://www.originalcustoms.com/contact.php

[red-beard]

Personally, I don't think a double o-ring is necessary. The issue is reusing the o-ring. They are cheap, just put a new o-ring in place every time the speedo drive is removed.

[Cairo94507]

Who knows? It is a problematic enough of an issue that he made a change to the speedo drive adding the 2nd O-ring and solving the problem. For my money, it is well worth it to avoid that problem.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I was under the impression that the bores in the tail-cone were the problem. After years of use, the area that the O-ring rides on could wear, allowing a slow leak. Adding a second O-ring in a different location restored the original-type seal.

I'm sure that sleeving the bore would be an even longer-term fix, but that seems like a lot more work than is warranted for that...

--DD

[The cap'n]

I agree. It would be EXTREMELY difficult to restore the bore, as you'd be trying to center the sleeve without benefit of a bore that's true, and it MUST be perfect to assure the integrity of the contact between the drive and driven gears at the pinion.

The Cap'n

[red-beard]

I've had more problems with the actual angle drive leaking than the O-ring. The O-ring is a super simple, quick fix.

If the bore is bad, you are going to have a LOT more problems than just leaking oil. You will tear up the worm drive on the end of the shaft. IF that bore is bad, just get a replacement end cover. Use one from a tail shifter. They will work on a side-shifter, if you plug up the shifter hole.

[whitesell81]

The problem actually is the main shaft seal. You can replace the main seal, and that might be enough. The second seal actually gets you a second barrier to stop the leak.
The angle drive doesn't actually have a seal, it's a sealed unit. There is an internal seal in the drive bushing.

[whitesell81]

You can see it here