Had unpleasant surprise on Saturday while getting the Mini ready for the next race meeting. While changing the oil I found what looked like a tooth from a gear stuck to the magnet of the drain plug.
![[Image: 2155260F-0962-4C50-B3C1-8B88B27C36EF_zpso8cn2a6s.jpg]](http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/dion_valentine/racing%202016/2155260F-0962-4C50-B3C1-8B88B27C36EF_zpso8cn2a6s.jpg)
Initially after seeing that I thought... Forget the next race meeting I'm not stripping the engine again... But after a few minutes the desire of wanting to race out weighed all the effort of stripping and repairing the gearbox.
So once again out came the engine
![[Image: FD766AD9-AABD-4EFE-9897-3E8C7E269765_zpsas1lwqt1.jpg]](http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/dion_valentine/racing%202016/FD766AD9-AABD-4EFE-9897-3E8C7E269765_zpsas1lwqt1.jpg)
The rear diff cover was removed to confirm what I suspected had broken
Pinion gear broken
![[Image: 98B3F4E0-EFD8-433A-861F-FD616DA3C680_zpsjlvtgrxu.jpg]](http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/dion_valentine/racing%202016/98B3F4E0-EFD8-433A-861F-FD616DA3C680_zpsjlvtgrxu.jpg)
![[Image: 7D2BBCA3-5B31-49E4-A6EC-EAB1879E80FA_zpsialhspfj.jpg]](http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/dion_valentine/racing%202016/7D2BBCA3-5B31-49E4-A6EC-EAB1879E80FA_zpsialhspfj.jpg)
Saturday evening I stripped the gearbox from the engine
![[Image: 9C60BF44-BD5F-44C2-A29C-8ED5E8DAD991_zpsmnujq3yd.jpg]](http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/dion_valentine/racing%202016/9C60BF44-BD5F-44C2-A29C-8ED5E8DAD991_zpsmnujq3yd.jpg)
Sunday the gearbox was stripped, cleaned, reassembled and fitted back to the engine.
![[Image: C1D38234-A511-4C14-8BD6-17B24DB90234_zpsjjpy5ujk.jpg]](http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/dion_valentine/racing%202016/C1D38234-A511-4C14-8BD6-17B24DB90234_zpsjjpy5ujk.jpg)
All assembled and ready to go back into the Mini.
![[Image: 98E663DD-9ED0-4EEC-B8C1-FFEE3B58915A_zpsnyllhisz.jpg]](http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/dion_valentine/racing%202016/98E663DD-9ED0-4EEC-B8C1-FFEE3B58915A_zpsnyllhisz.jpg)
Monday evening the engine was put back in the Mini. Just a few small jobs to do before the next race and I hope this is the last time I have to do this until the engine refresh and check in December.
![[Image: 2155260F-0962-4C50-B3C1-8B88B27C36EF_zpso8cn2a6s.jpg]](http://s856.photobucket.com/user/dion_valentine/media/racing%202016/2155260F-0962-4C50-B3C1-8B88B27C36EF_zpso8cn2a6s.jpg.html)
Initially after seeing that I thought... Forget the next race meeting I'm not stripping the engine again... But after a few minutes the desire of wanting to race out weighed all the effort of stripping and repairing the gearbox.
So once again out came the engine
![[Image: FD766AD9-AABD-4EFE-9897-3E8C7E269765_zpsas1lwqt1.jpg]](http://s856.photobucket.com/user/dion_valentine/media/racing%202016/FD766AD9-AABD-4EFE-9897-3E8C7E269765_zpsas1lwqt1.jpg.html)
The rear diff cover was removed to confirm what I suspected had broken
Pinion gear broken
![[Image: 98B3F4E0-EFD8-433A-861F-FD616DA3C680_zpsjlvtgrxu.jpg]](http://s856.photobucket.com/user/dion_valentine/media/racing%202016/98B3F4E0-EFD8-433A-861F-FD616DA3C680_zpsjlvtgrxu.jpg.html)
![[Image: 7D2BBCA3-5B31-49E4-A6EC-EAB1879E80FA_zpsialhspfj.jpg]](http://s856.photobucket.com/user/dion_valentine/media/racing%202016/7D2BBCA3-5B31-49E4-A6EC-EAB1879E80FA_zpsialhspfj.jpg.html)
Saturday evening I stripped the gearbox from the engine
![[Image: 9C60BF44-BD5F-44C2-A29C-8ED5E8DAD991_zpsmnujq3yd.jpg]](http://s856.photobucket.com/user/dion_valentine/media/racing%202016/9C60BF44-BD5F-44C2-A29C-8ED5E8DAD991_zpsmnujq3yd.jpg.html)
Sunday the gearbox was stripped, cleaned, reassembled and fitted back to the engine.
![[Image: C1D38234-A511-4C14-8BD6-17B24DB90234_zpsjjpy5ujk.jpg]](http://s856.photobucket.com/user/dion_valentine/media/racing%202016/C1D38234-A511-4C14-8BD6-17B24DB90234_zpsjjpy5ujk.jpg.html)
All assembled and ready to go back into the Mini.
![[Image: 98E663DD-9ED0-4EEC-B8C1-FFEE3B58915A_zpsnyllhisz.jpg]](http://s856.photobucket.com/user/dion_valentine/media/racing%202016/98E663DD-9ED0-4EEC-B8C1-FFEE3B58915A_zpsnyllhisz.jpg.html)
Monday evening the engine was put back in the Mini. Just a few small jobs to do before the next race and I hope this is the last time I have to do this until the engine refresh and check in December.
![[-]](https://samini.co.za/images/collapse.png)