I found a nice transmission cover I am rebuilding for an engine. It has a pipe plug on top for which I have no idea why it was added. Here are some photos:
Anyone have any idea why this hole was provided?
Ron the Coilman
Maybe for an external oil line.
I agree with Mike. I can't imagine any other purpose. (Of course I have a limited imagination.)
Or maybe a place to stick a compressed air nozzle to clean out the oil line?
I also believe it was to access the internal oil line funnel for cleaning. I have a HUDCO accessory transmission cover - the type that the pedals & shafts remove completely to change out band linings and it has a pipe plug, albeit larger, in the same area.
It is an odd place for an oil pick up as it is on the wrong side and not in line with the ring gear. I wonder if it was not for a plug but maybe part of an assembly for a foot feed throttle? It is on the carb side and I see it is a 26-27 transmission cover. I really don't have a clue and whoever did that might not have either!
Tim Moore
Could very well have been a casting defect, simple fix drill, tap and plug. KGB
I have a late transmission cover with a plug in the back right below the rear of the inspection cover where the case slopes down to meet the flange for the ball cap. I just assumed it was for an outside oiler of some kind.
Rather perfectly placed to clean the internal oil line, isn't it ? (A little hard to tell without a shot of the whole hogshead)
A small piece of 1/8" copper tubing attached to an air gun and bent at the right angle would make cleaning the oil line easy.
Bud, you got it right, along with Jeff and Steve.
Was drilled for use of a wire cleaning tool to free up the internal oil line.
As posted too, here is the Hudco cover, which had that kind of opening too to assist cleaning out the line. Normally to clean the line the front plate has to come off, that's a lot of work.
FordOwner
and here is one accessory that seems real neat, a short length of removal section of the oil line that can easily be reached thru the crankcase inspection plate.