Thread: MSA / LT230

This an image of it put together and resting on the output shaft of the gearbox (i ran out of image allowance last post). Yes I know the 'donut' bolts are not fitted correctly, it's just one of many test fits.. I'm also making a collar to secure the assembly to the shaft and act as a the bearing support for the original 'donut' design - the adventure continues.

IMG_2332.jpg

Not too pretty yet but there's more to come.

- and yes Noel, if your out there, thank you to all your guidance - and Sheldon, and Damien, and John, and Dougal, and Ben, and Justin and everyone else! Thanks.

Like your work.

Good on ya Matt. Looking forward to seeing it all come together.

What are you doing for a shifter?

Steve

Howed you go with ordering from rakeway. ...i could never get a email response. ...how much was the shaft from them ...cheers great work

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Steve - the first incarnation, which was drivable, I used a cable shift, which had an annoyingly long 'throw'. The shift mechanism was attached to the gearbox, and due to the body lift led to the stick movement being so long. This time I think I'll keep the cables but fix the shifter to the transmission tunnel - that should maintain a decent dust/water seal, and help it shift like a Corolla from which the shift mechanism came. The transfer shifter will have to be mounted (somehow) without the adaptor case. That shouldn't be too hard. I had considered the modification shown by Noel (Ancient Mariner) but I'm not that confident I have the skills....

Adrian - Rakeway; Yes, I've yet to receive a reply to my emails but I was sent one confirming my order for the shaft, which I did over the phone. As far as quality and conversation goes, they're great. I'd have to check my invoices but I think the shaft was 225 GBP plus freight. The flange is fitted to the shaft allowing for failures to be reasonably easily replaced. I'm going to order a spare but at the time I couldn't manage it. The face of the flange protrudes 30mm from the face of the transfer case - I was going to make an adaptor using uni-joints but in a 100inch wheelbase I didn't have room, hence the current plan.

I had to battle to get Rakeway to reply to my emails, they did eventually in the end.
And MM, nice work. I like the attitude of "This was a problem so I fixed it" rather than "This was a problem so I stopped"
Top shelf thinking.

Good to see your project.

I spoke to Rakeway a couple of years ago. From memory the Rakeway flange was designed to mate to Land Rover sized flanges. This meant the Rakeway flange was too small for the Isuzu truck flange in my project. I assume this hasn't changed, but should work well for Mudmouse using primarily Rover stuff. The Rakeway SAE10 spline looked like it bolted to the flange. From memory Rakeway might have been prepared to have a larger Isuzu sized flange made, but would cost a lot of money for a one off, and of course you need to know how to present the required information in engineer talk.

I assume your spline was removed from what looks like an Isuzu drive flange(?) - and then press fit/welded to the tri-lobe.

Regarding the plate being machined up to fit around the bearings at the back of the box - I assume you've figured out how to contain oil that comes out the back of the box and at the same time allow passage of the drive flange through a seal? Wonder if you could have just kept the original gearbox back cover?
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Being sort of remote mounted, I assume the rubber donut etc is open to the air and will be easily accessible for field service. As you say, the donut should last a lot longer in this application, compared to the diff where it twists a lot.

Lathes are fun. I'm self taught, so it's often heart in mouth that something will work out.

I haven't heard of Rakeway looking at the Isuzu flange option. Sounds interesting, although a bolt-on fit would move the transfer case closer to the rear of the gearbox, affecting the length of the prop shafts. This would be good if the prop shafts ended up equal lengths (for carrying one spare).

I have looked at the TKO gearbox options from Rakeway, and there is a bell housing adaptor available in the US (TKO/Isuzu) but that all adds up to huge $ in comparison to this one.

The drive flange was off the Isuzu gearbox. One from an MSW the other an MXA - same spline dimension. The tri-lobe fits on the collar to be welded when the dimensions are sorted.

The plate being machined is faced and recessed to accept the bearings and retain oil/let it breathe. After about a year after I had my first adaptor plate machined out of alloy I chucked the original gearbox end housing assuming I'd never need it (Doh!). Never assume

The donut will be exposed but more for inspection at this stage. If it needed to be changed (in the field) I'd have to move the transfer case rearward slightly as the flange mating tot the Rakeway shaft is cupped so they mate concentrically. No big drama, just a bit more work if needed to replace it. The one I will be using has an alloy body and neoprene inserts which should be better able to handle oil/dirt/water/movement, than the factory rubber one.

Lathes - yep, I still remember my Metalwork teacher at school going ape if the key was left in the chuck! (Thanks Wally) those memories are well served. Love the lathe.

Here's the link to the alloy coupling (donut/Rotoflex)

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Drive-Cou...0AAOSwn51UaLDD