[DeTomaso] Replacing seals on ZF

[Mad Dog Antenucci]

Most excellent....a report back to follow
  thanks JT
   
  md

John Taphorn <jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com> wrote:
  Oh,Oh,Oh, Oh, I know this one.

ZF leaks can be difficult to trace with clean oil in the tranny. I 
recommend a trip to NAPA and purchase Balkamp Oil Leak Detector. A one 
ounce bottle will set you back $4.00 and is good for four applications.

Step 1 Clean the ZF
Step 2 Add 1/4oz to the ZF. An eye dropper works great for injecting it in 
the side.
Step 3 Jack up the rear and chock the front tires
Step 4 Run the car in drive for 5 minutes
Step 5 With a blacklight bulb crawl under the ZF and look for bright green 
oil trails.

This exercise will tell you precisely where the oil is escaping. The best 
sealant that I have come across is Yamabond that is available at your local 
Yamaha Dealer. It was recommended to me by Dennis Quealla. I think it ideal 
as the color also matches the case. Pull the offending bolt or stud, clean 
with brake cleaner and glop on the Yamabond.

It is inherently risky to remove the rear cover. On half of the ZFs I have 
repaired, removal of the rear cover brought the reverse shaft with it. If 
this occurs, the reverse gear will free fall into the case. On some ZFs the 
tolerances with the rear cover and the shaft is so tight the shaft appears 
pressed into it. While on others, the cover slides off leaving the reverse 
gear shaft in place. This is the only constraint to removing the rear 
cover. Do you feel lucky?

That said, if you isolate the leak as emanating from one of the rear studs 
that hold the cover ( that would seem most likely), then drain the ZF, 
remove the stud (double nut method if possible), clean out the orifice with 
brake clean, apply Yamabond to the stud and hole ( be careful to see if the 
hole is open to the internals on the backside - if so, apply the Yamabond 
thoughtfully), and rethread the stud.

When I used the leak detector, I found three leaks. The Speedometer Drive 
Set bolt, The side fill plug and the bolt with a 13mm head on the driver's 
side of the ZF that pins in the output shaft bearing race.

Let us know what you discover

JT


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mad Dog Antenucci" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2006 3:05 PM
Subject: [DeTomaso] Replacing seals on ZF


>I have a slow leak out the back seal on the ZF Anyone replaced the rear or 
>bottom gaskets/seals on the ZF?
>
> Any first hand advise/lessons learned will be appreciated.
> md
>
>
>
> Mad Dawg Antenucci
> Team Pantera Racing
> The 1st & still the only vintage race team in open road racing
> www.teampanteraracing.com
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Mad Dawg Antenucci 
Team Pantera Racing 
  The 1st & still the only vintage race team in open road racing 
www.teampanteraracing.com