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Old 16th Nov 2012, 20:01
  #418 (permalink)  
Colibri49
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
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No ! You take note. The bevel shaft which drives the two oil pumps is right at the bottom of the main gearbox and it is welded to the bottom of the main shaft.

When it fractured each time at the 360 degree weld, the shaft simply dropped into the sump, so that the bevel gear was no longer engaged with the two pumps.

No other components of the gearbox were, or could have been mechanically affected, except by lack of lubrication. Everything else in the gearbox just carried on working normally and all that was needed was glycol from the external emlube system to keep critical components cool.

This glycol was found in both affected gearboxes after stripping down and no damage was found on any other components. They are isolated from any possible contact with the fractured bevel gear shaft.
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