Late 67 swing axel trans leak finally discovered!

[Pepperbilly]

After many hours dealing with a trans leak I have found it! One always thinks it’s the axel boots. It was’nt. Both the trans side covers were sealing with no oil leaks after days of investigation. Frustration! Well if you look at the photos closely to where the yellow taped screw driver is pointing the oil is seeping through the little round dimple area. I assume this is where a weld is and it has become cracked. So the questions are...can I maybe rotate the side cover and find a better position...can I weld...or do I need to replace? Anyone dealt with this before? I am not putting this transaxel back into the bus before I have a fix. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Frustrated Bill

[RWK]

I vote to rotate, additional vent! Yea better weld it or JB weld, i used JB on an oil bath air cleaner on my 4 cyl. Wisconsin engine, no leaks yet
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73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530

[Joey]

I would weld them all up.
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[Pepperbilly]

Thanks for the response guys,
Upon further investigation I discovered after removing these covers that they are two separate pieces somehow joined together. They are loose to each other now. Are these two supposed to be completely solid or are they supposed to have openings for venting to the atomosphere? Yes I could weld it up solid but is that proper to do? This is also the retainer cover that utilizes the large O ring on the inside in combination with the shim/gaskets. What purpose does that O ring provide? I understand this retainer was used starting with the late 1967 swing axel production...or so I have been told. I also see there are solid aluminum retainers being manufactured by a company called Weddle I think?

[BarryL]

[Pepperbilly]

BarryL,
Now that makes sense to me. I was thinking to myself after looking at this “spaceship” retainer it is possibly designed to be moving a bit. So with the proper O ring as you tighten the cover the O ring will then seal and there should be no leaks. Who has the proper O rings? I can see that the correct O ring is super important!
Bill

[Joey]

[Clara]

You have the later 67 swing axle. It is supposed to be improved over the earlier. It uses the pair of O rings (one L one R) that come in the transaxle rebuild kit, the ones that don't et used on the earlier swing axle RGB set up.

Are the old O rings in okay shape, or do they need replacing?

remember there is a torque value to the side nuts, don't over tighten.

[74 Thing]

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS798U...mp;bih=785

[Pepperbilly]

Hey 74 Thing and Clara,
Thanks for all your help! I now know all about this cover and how it works. I will either try to fix my stock covers or maybe look at using some aluminum billet covers from Weddle. But with the correct parts and a straight cover I have confidence I can have a leak free side cover.
Bill