A65 gearbox won’t come out of crankcase

[Tjwood]

Hi. I'm struggling - really, really struggling. I have an imported (and very dirty) A65 engine that I'm trying to rebuild. Because of the state of the engine I want to strip it completely. I've removed all of the primary side and now I'm trying to remove the gear cluster. I've removed the 5 nuts and spring washers from the circular bearing plate and according to my workshop manual, it should now be possible to 'simply' withdraw all of the pinions and shafts in situ by simply removing the bearing plate. My plate won't budge. I've tried using a hide mallet to tap the primary end of the gearbox mainshaft to see if that would break the seal between the bearing plate and the crankcase but that does nothing.
This morning I tried a bit of heat from a blow lamp, working around the edge of the bearing plate but no joy. I'm now stumped - am I missing something fundamental? Does the gearbox have to be in a particular gear (can't see what difference it would make but ...). The plate seems really solidly attached to the crankcase. Any ideas on next steps to get the gear cluster out would be gratefully accepted.
Thanks
Regards
Tony

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Tony,

They can be a pig to move.  The studs are a snug fit and there is a locating dowel as well.  If the gear box was completely dry then there could be a bit of corrosion so some penetrating oil may help.  Perhaps try a a bit more force with the hide mallet or use hammer with a piece of wood against the end of the shaft with repeated sharp blows instead of big whacks.

Dave.

[Tjwood]

Thanks Dave. Club hammer and a block of wood on the end of the mainshaft sorted it. Two 'serious hits' and the plate popped off. No oil in the gearbox, just a couple of teaspoons of 'black treacle' - which may have been oil once but that must have been a long time ago.
Thanks again
Tony