Sump bolts

Hi all. Has anyone experienced the same problem as I have trying to tighten up the two sump bolts that are located by the side of the gearbox behind the removable cover plate?
I am trying to fit a new sump but trying to tighten these two bolts up is a right headache as when I offer the sump up there is limited space to get a socket and wrench in the gap and the extension bar needed to do it catches the gearbox casing causing the bolt to go in at an angle and almost cross threading the block.
Is there any trick to this as I have tried a flexi  extension and allsorts with no joy..

hi i started mine with a telescopic magnet and used a quarter drive extension and deep socket  it just about gets on enough to nip them ,because they dont need to be very tight

Looks like I'll be buying a telescopic extension then.
The first one or two threads on the block are slightly damaged which doesn't help but if I can get the bolt in square it will eventually tighten.
Fingers crossed and thanks for the advice. .

A wobble or two 1/4 drive short or long wobble extensions and a screwdriver handle attachment,  Start them by hand and remember 87 in/lbs of torque, do not try to judge by hand or you will strip them suckers….

Problem is that with the sump in place I can not fit my sausage fingers in the gap between the gearbox and sump to start the thread off.
Have tried using an elbow joint to get in there but no joy Im afraid.😷

The wobble is an extension that allows the Socket on the extension to pivot @ 45 degrees in any direction as you turn the extension by hand to start threading… It isn't square on the tip, but had a 45 degree rounded edge. I usually use a short one and a short socket, and a 6in one in tandem, with a Screwdriver handle to start those.



 

Looks like I'll need to purchase one of these then.. 😄 By the way that you have explained it that'd be the only way that would do it.
Cheers mate, off to the shops..!

Be very careful not to cross thread the bolts, they are screwed into aluminium which is soft.
You can change the bolts to Allen key head bolts and get an Allen key tool with a ball head to allow you to use it on an angle.

It looks like someone has already changed 1 bolt, I would fit a locking washer as the original bolts have groves in them to stop them rattling lose.

That was me trying out another option with the Allen head bolt. Still no joy that way though.. Grrrrr.

It is the hardest thing to do on his job, it took me ages to get a bolt in straight as it kept wanting to go in on an angle, I was lucky to just get my 2 fingers holding the bolt in to the gap and screw them in. It still took a good hour to just get 1 bolt in!

I found fitting those bolts in 1st did help a little but you have to hold the sump up and try to fit a bolt, not the easiest thing to do.

Hit the nail on the head there. Exactly what's going off with me.
Having to keep the sump up with my head at times and not being able to start the thread off with my fingers has took me 2 hours so far.
Not the best design but it will get done somehow. I'm hoping…

Awe come on.   You start the other 13 bazillion bolts and snug them… Then you have hands free to get the last two.  

On one of my rides the rear crank seal carrier was previously stripped, so to "fix it" I used 2 sheet metal screws on those two worked just fine…. (of course it isn't Kosher, but I don't have the leak I had, and I figure the next time I pull the tranny I will replace the rear seal carrier and seal….  But those are two of the Vexiest Bolts that I know of.

Success and job done. Got a mate to come round with anorexic fingers and he managed to get them started..
Nice shiny new sump and fingers crossed no leakage once the oils in.
Thanks for all the help anyway guys.

Glad you managed to get them in,.
Have you got the cover plate to go on the gearbox near the bolts you was having trouble with?

Yes mate. Just going to give it a coat of paint first before it goes on.
Getting there slowly but hope to have it up and running by July and some decent weather.

Just checking on the cover. You are lucky to have the removable cover as not all cars have this, I have to get those sump bolts in and out with the cover in place as it's part of the gearbox back plate.

Well at least it's been sorted now. Its all a bit of a steep learning curve for me and no doubt it'll need to come off again in the future so I'll know what to expect.
Nice job on the engine by the way. Looks tidy.👍

Thanks for the comments, it did look tidy when it went in the car. It took an age getting off the silver paint which some had painted the gearbox badly, why they painted a aluminium gearbox only they know…. I just cleaned it up with a wire brush on a drill and elbow grease!

12 months later the black paint I used to paint the block is showing sights of rust coming through as I guess I did not prep the block enough, I just wire brushed and degreased before painting it with a brush.

The cars a daily so not overly worried about a bit of dirt etc..