changing oil in the KF gear diff

[shaungooner]

Hi guys

just looking for a bit of expert advice on changing the oil in a gear diff

what do you use to clean away the oil already in there

I have a ball diff in my KF now and really like the way the car drives with that option but I'd like to experiment with diff oils to see if I can ahieve a setup I like with a gear diff installed

thanks as ever

Shaun

[DCM]

Take diff apart, pull out the o-rings and put to one side, wipe out what you can, whats left clean out with brake cleaner.

[shaungooner]

thanks for the advice DCM, is it OK to use brake cleaner on the plastic parts?

[NeilD]

Originally Posted by shaungooner

thanks for the advice DCM, is it OK to use brake cleaner on the plastic parts?

Yup, but as already said remove the o rings. Brake cleaner will eat them.

[shaungooner]

thanks for confirming that, brake cleaner at the ready!!!

[ufoDziner]

Originally Posted by shaungooner

Hi guys

just looking for a bit of expert advice on changing the oil in a gear diff

what do you use to clean away the oil already in there

I have a ball diff in my KF now and really like the way the car drives with that option but I'd like to experiment with diff oils to see if I can ahieve a setup I like with a gear diff installed

thanks as ever

Shaun

A while ago a friend of mine told me about using Dawn dish soap. It works very well without any threat of damage to any parts.

[DCM]

You can use dish soap, but you need to soak the plastic parts in hot soapy water and brush the hell out of them, brake cleaner is much faster..... (MUST remove o-rings or they will swell up and be useless).

[juergen_jl]

Maybe I am too "easy minded", but in general, I only let the "old" oil pour out of the diff, and then I fill in the new. See, for me the last remaining micro-litres are not really deciding.

[mark christopher]

As above for me

[dobber]

I'm as above, empty it out and then fill it up. Simple, quick, easy and more than good enough

[ufoDziner]

Originally Posted by DCM

You can use dish soap, but you need to soak the plastic parts in hot soapy water and brush the hell out of them, brake cleaner is much faster..... (MUST remove o-rings or they will swell up and be useless).

While I did have to brush the parts, the "Dawn" brand soap seemed to require no soaking and worked very well.

[Hydrakermit7]

Does this same technique apply to all diffs like this kind?

For Example, a Schumacher Mi5 rear geared diff.

Many Thanks,

[DCM]

Yes Kermit, it should.

[rcrcman]

I use wd40... split the diff and wipe the side gear off thats exposed... drain some from the diff housing leaving the cross pins and gears in place... spray wd40 in to fill and spin the diff while holding the cross pins in with a finger.. turn upside down to drain and refill after a few minutes. Done this for years in 1/8 buggy without any problems. The 1/10 diffs hold so little of oil it will only take a few minutes to do