Oh #### - hole in rear diff casing....

have yu tried Gotties or any of the other local peeps?
Or make your own - http://www.negativearth.com/sdifguard.html?

It seems to be a common problem with salisbury axles, see.....
http://www.lro.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=14360&start=0


Looks like yu dont ned my help?? thats good - not the ideal day for crawling under landies.

how can you tell how far to screw it back in? it hasnt eaten and spat it out yet, just for future reference!

Should be okay without you mate - would be a touch evil to ask you to crawl underneath in this weather. Nowehere local open that I'm aware of, will order the parts off Paddocks probs, and then get a lift to work...

Not sure there is any need to crawl underneath it now. Looks like you have done the hard work. Might be worth lifting a wheel and rotating the crown wheel and checking all the teeth are Ok, as it must have been that that booted the filler plug out the back.
My intention was to try and get you back home, but that aint needed.
It might be worth looking at and alternative plug though - summat yu cant screw right in. They dont need to be very tight, just enough to stop the oil coming out. Maybe wrap a couple of layers of PTFE tape around the filler plug - or weld a couple of "lugs" on the outside, to stop it going through?

Already lifted a wheel - no damage to crown wheel teeth at all. Will see what the new plug is like, but good idea on PTFE tape or similar...

If I had not seen it with my own eyes I'd have put money on the fact that the diff would have been seriously damaged. You need to flush that axle casing and diff before putting in your new oil then get down to your local shop and buy a lottery ticket. With luck like that you will probably win big.

yup - that "oil" looks heavily contaminated with corrosion (rust) - certainly not a nice translucent golden EP90 colour, or even black due to wear.
I would be inclined to check the wheel bearings as well. Might as well do a check on all oils if that is typical of what is in there.

The trouble with the filler plugs is they are a taper thread and over time, say 20 years the age of an average salisbury, they need to be screwed further and further in to stay tight. The only long term solution to this is a new diff pan. both axles on my 87 110 were like this when i bought it, the filler plug was flush with the axle casing, that is too far really. Swapped the rear axle anyway but a new pan will be needed on the front soon.

does a domestic radiator plug fit?

The Mad Hat Man said:

does a domestic radiator plug fit?

Click to expand...

Only if its a BSP thread.

I thought it is - hence the Q.....

Only way to find out is to have a go. Just make sure its a steel one and not a brass, aluminium, or plastic one.

Brass would be ok, but not aluminium or plastic.

Quick update - rear diff cover arrived, fitted and topped up with EP90 (changed front diff at the same time) absolutely no ill effects after a few hundred miles since - looks like I got lucky....
Am presuming the duff looking oil was water contamination - but am changing the breathers throughout, so shouldn't be a problem again..

dont change the breathers - check they are clear and then extend them to the top of the engine bay .

Kevin Winter said:

Quick update - rear diff cover arrived, fitted and topped up with EP90 (changed front diff at the same time) absolutely no ill effects after a few hundred miles since - looks like I got lucky....
Am presuming the duff looking oil was water contamination - but am changing the breathers throughout, so shouldn't be a problem again..

Click to expand...

Did you give them a good clean out before putting all that lovely new oil in?

Helluva good clean! The rear diff was spotless before addingthe new oil.....
As for breather - got a new set from ebay in a kit, so may as well fit the lot?