Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

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plip1953
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Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by plip1953 »

This seemed like a relatively simple task, but I soon encountered a bit of an issue with loosening off the connector nut at the very bottom of the gearbox casing. I don't have specialist tools so it was a case of trying to do it with a regular 22mm open ended wrench. Regular muscle power was working and even with a bit of tapping with a hammer it wasn't budging.

Obviously I can get start to get a bit more brutal, but access to the nut isn't great (ie the spanner has to be at an angle) and I haven't had a great experience in general with doing stuff with open-ended spanners. So my next thought is to cut the metal pipe fairly close to the nut and then I can get a 22mm socket straight onto it. Does that sound ok?

The other pipe has a straight connector to a short flexi tube that then connects half way up the transmission housing. Using the double opened ended spanner method should normally fettle that one, but it looks somewhat corroded, so here again I don't think it would be easy. So I'm thinking to cut the pipe that going to be discarded anyway and can then get a socket on that one too.

Thoughts please?
Phil
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wattsmonkey
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by wattsmonkey »

Hi Phil,

I remember this nut being a complete sod. I found a good quality 22mm open spanner and cut the other end off to allow a cheater bar to fit.

If the nut rounds off you're in trouble, at which point cutting the pipe off becomes a more attractive option! I'm sure I have a spare filler pipe in the shed - I have a spare autobox after all! I'll have a dig if you need it.
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wattsmonkey
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by wattsmonkey »

Thinking about it, I made an angled "sleeve" for the cheater bar to fit around the shaft of the spanner to clear the obstruction.
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plip1953
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by plip1953 »

wattsmonkey wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:54 am Hi Phil,

I remember this nut being a complete sod. I found a good quality 22mm open spanner and cut the other end off to allow a cheater bar to fit.

If the nut rounds off you're in trouble, at which point cutting the pipe off becomes a more attractive option! I'm sure I have a spare filler pipe in the shed - I have a spare autobox after all! I'll have a dig if you need it.
Thanks Rob

I have a pair of brand new pipes to go back on so it's really not an issue to cut the old ones, but I didn't want to rush into things in case there might be a better/easier solution.
Phil
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Fedaykin633csi
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by Fedaykin633csi »

FYI, I ran into this issue with my e28:

The current replacement hose from BMW uses a newer style connector at the transmission meaning you have to use an adapter. Which decreases the amount of clearance you have in there to a nearly nearly unacceptable degree. Real knuckle buster. In hindsight, might have been easier to unbolt the engine mounts and jack up the front of the engine to see if you could get a bit more clearance.
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ron
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by ron »

You need one of these:-
P1030155.JPG
P1030155.JPG (3.82 MiB) Viewed 5374 times
P1030156.JPG
P1030156.JPG (3.92 MiB) Viewed 5374 times
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
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plip1953
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by plip1953 »

Fedaykin633csi wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2020 3:52 pm FYI, I ran into this issue with my e28:

The current replacement hose from BMW uses a newer style connector at the transmission meaning you have to use an adapter. Which decreases the amount of clearance you have in there to a nearly nearly unacceptable degree. Real knuckle buster. In hindsight, might have been easier to unbolt the engine mounts and jack up the front of the engine to see if you could get a bit more clearance.
You've got me worried now, although I've just checked the ends on my new set of pipes and they look identical ie 22mm fittings. But maybe it's the shape of the pipe ends that is different?

Do you have any part nos for me to compare and check against?
Phil
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plip1953
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by plip1953 »

ron wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:25 am You need one of these:-
Yep! Was that bought like that or did you "manufacturer" it?
Phil
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ron
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by ron »

Bought like it. I have a few in the set from 19-36 mm. They are extreme HD as you can see by the thickness.

German stamped "Belzer 1949". You can buy sets of cheap split ring spanners but they will break as soon as you put
a load on.

The other thick split rings I have are brake pipe sizes, which are invaluable, and anyone who does any wrenching
should have these.
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by bpoliakoff »

They are called "flare nut" wrenches. Very easy to find in the US
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plip1953
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by plip1953 »

Quick update.

Both pipes are now successfully disconnected at the gearbox end. With the sump pan removed it gave me much better access to the 22mm nut at the bottom and I actually used an old but very trusty adjustable spanner to get enough purchase on it to start the undoing process. The straight connector was a little bit more troublesome because the 22mm nut wasn't keen to turn relative to it's pipe, so I ended up cutting the pipe with a hack saw. In so doing I was able to see that the pipe wall is actually quite thick, so it would have very likely have endured a lot more heavy corrosion before it would have failed.

I already have a selection of the smaller sized flare nut wrenches for brake pipe fittings, but will now think about adding some larger ones to my collection.
Phil
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plip1953
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Re: Removal of auto transmission cooler pipes from the gearbox end.

Post by plip1953 »

And to finish off this thread....

Both new cooler pipes are not on the car. It was quite as easy as I expected to get them to fit such that the small securing brackets could be applied, but I got there in the end.

One thing that was a bit surprising is that as supplied new by BMW one of the pipes was finished in silver and the other in drab green, rather like the colour of OE brake pipes.

I had in stock a nearly full rattle can of Land Rover 619 Deep Bronze Green so went green on both, and they now match all my front to rear brake and fuel pipes.
Phil
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