It’s quite a few years since I last removed an engine and gearbox as a unit and my memory isn’t what it used to be (slight stroke). I’ve obviously removed the lever from the selector but do I have to get the large plastic dome cap and the actual selector out of the box in order to have clearance somewhere along the line?
I’ve looked at every archive and book that I can think of and still don’t know the answer.
If I do have to get the big cap off, what is the tool required which will go through the access hole in the fibreglass tunnel in order to unscrew it?
I’ve never removed the engine/gearbox without first removing that cap - but nor have I tried so I can’t say its impossible.
The first time, mine was stuck on fairly tight so I needed some leverage. I cut down a piece of pvc pipe of a size that would just fit over the dome but not the ears. I cut notches for the ears. I also cut notches on the other end where I could use a small bar/large screwdriver as a “handle” for my pvc “socket wrench”. There is a picture floating around here somewhere, will link if I can find it.
I would just add to what Henry has written. There is no point in trying to remove the gearbox without removing the stubby selector, as even if the box would come out with it in place, and I doubt that it would, there will be much more wiggle room with it out.
When you have removed it, and I only ever do the nylon cap up hand tight down onto the gritty washer, I stuff a bit of clean rag down the hole to stop any dirt from entering the box.
I gave it a good clean and used a pair of those grippy gloves of the sort used by brick-layers; coupled with a look of grim determination and a bit of grunting and it came undone.
