Prop shaft to diff bolts

[John]

I'm planning to lift the engine and gearbox out of my Excel, nearly ready but having bother getting the prop shaft bolts undone. Access is limited, especially with the exhaust Y piece in situ. I'd prefer not to disturb that if possible.

I got one bolt loosened off using a ring spanner on the prop side and a socket with a UJ on the diff side. The problem is the fasteners are badly corroded and are rounding off. I thought I might find some 13mm hex ring spanners and sockets that drive off the flats rather than the corners. Is there such a thing?

If I can't shift them with hand tools the exhaust will have to come off, then I can see them off with an angle grinder.

It seems odd that the prop shaft needs separating, but the workshop manual says it needs doing and I've read on the forum that getting the prop shaft splines back into the gearbox on reassembly is harder if this step is ignored.

Any advice gratefully received!

Cheers

John

[Alan_M]

There are loads of spanners and sockets that are designed to drive on the flats. Each manufacture will call them something different.

Wall drive, flank drive, surface drive

Sealey, Halfords, snap-on etc all do them

[bash]

Had the engine and box out a few times and I always left the prop in place and I did this all on my own in a small garage. Dont create work for yourself.

Bash

[John]

Thanks guys, I'll leave it be for now and get on with the lift. Also good to know there are flat/wall drive spanners and sockets out there, I'll Google some of those other names. I got some Metrinch sockets and spanners years ago from Halfords, they've been great but they don't do longer 13mm combos. They drive off the flats and fit both AF and metric.

Cheers

John

[Pete Boole]

Don't forget to drain the gearbox oil first - assuming you have a manual Excel - it pours out past the splines as you tilt the engine/box otherwise!

Pete

[John]

Thanks Pete, I've done that. Just got to unbolt the gearbox and engine mounts, then out it comes!

Cheers

John