A big thank you for Mike Bainbridge

[haasad]

Some of you may know that my R car has been "hors de combat" for a short while. Unfortunately it suffered some gearbox issues a couple of weeks ago. Mike had built the box for me some time ago (years actually) and agreed to have a look if I could get it back to him.
Luckily for me I hadn't driven it too far since it had managed to ingest the input shaft roller bearing cage likely due to some surface rust having formed during the somewhat protracted period of storage prior to installation We think the rust led to clearance issues and the rollers picking up on the cage then destroying it.

Mike quickly identified the problem then checked for collateral damage, it was all ok so a good clean and reassemble with a new bearing and gaskets and its on its way back to me for re installation in less than a week at a very fair price

You will all understand how pi##ed off I was since the box was the only part I didn't rebuild myself so given how its turned out I wanted to thank Mike for his fair attitude to the problem and its quick resolution.

Top man the "sage of the lakes" I reckon.

Now a little midnight oil and I'll get it back on the road for Lulworth Castle classic car show on Sunday...

Thanks

Andy

[911hillclimber]

Good result!
Midnight oil?
I can get the box and engine back in in 3 hours, running in 3.25!!

Now you have the whole summer to give it a good blast

[Darren65]

Mike was a real star with my gearbox rebuild.....fully stripped and rebuilt with fresh casings and a ZF LSD for next to no money!......a real asset to the early 911 community, as good as they come and a living legend!

If you need help with a 911 gearbox......MB Engineering....nuff said!

[haasad]

[quote="911hillclimber"]

Good result!
Midnight oil?
I can get the box and engine back in in 3 hours, running in 3.25!!

Now you have the whole summer to give it a good blast
[/quote]

3.25 hours....you've had more practice than me

[craig001]

I had my box rebuilt by Mike last year - He's brilliant!

So far I have not got it back in the car due to new baby and some repair work to the rear seat bases which seemed the logical thing to do with the increased access with the engine and box out.

How long is too long to leave a rebuilt box out of the car? (its on a pallet, off the floor in a garage). would it be wise to fill it with gearbox oil and spin it every now and then?

[johnM]

How long is too long to leave a rebuilt box out of the car? (its on a pallet, off the floor in a garage). would it be wise to fill it with gearbox oil and spin it every now and then?

I would fill straight away and spin the input shaft with it in gear.

Kind regards.

[smallspeed]

this might be a dumb sugestion so wait for input from the pro's, but.. i have 2 or 3 diff's for my bmw on racking in the garage which won't be used for some time. I've stood them on end and completely filled them with oil, then put the fill-plug in and laid them back down flat.. in my idler moments, i give them a twirl or two.. hopefully this will keep the innards in a fit-state; obviously they'll get drained and filled to the correct level before use

[haasad]

Store full of oil I think ...

[911hillclimber]

Fill with oil and rotate regularly is a v good idea.
I also do this 'action' while filling with fresh oil.

As for more practice fitting bloody gearboxes, that is absolutely true, most of the recent 're-fits' where not planned however...

Mike has rebuilt my two 915's so I have been through mike's offices several times.

Not sure what reasonable money may be, but I would say his labour costs are very reasonable.
I will say Porsche part costs are not.....

[haasad]

3.5 hours..... ready to lift and install.... its 21:30 must do better....

[chris hak]

3.5 hours..... ready to lift and install.... its 21:30 must do better....

You should be more than ready for the 23rd June "Simply Porsche" event, Andy...

[haasad]

Yes thats a good idea. To be honest I'd forgotten, is there a Southern Softies Convoy?