Dear all,

I have a question for you.

Last year I bought a S4E, a sleeping beauty what was not used for almost 12 years.
I had to change some gaskets, rubber hoses, changed oil, cooling liquid and restored/renewed the braking system.
The only thing what is a “mystery box” to me is the Cotal gearbox.
It function perfectly, but to keep it in perfect order , do I have to change the oil, as I understand it right, only mineral oil needs to be used?
I heard a horror story that when you don’t use the Cotal gearbox for a period of time, the oil pump has difficulties with pumping the oil and as a result the gearbox is ready for a costly restoration.

Please let me know how to keep the Cotal gearbox in perfect order.

Kind regards, Rene

[amicale.salmson.free.fr]

Hello Rene,

After changing oil of cotal gearbox, it is advised to let the engine working about 10 - 15 minuts before running.
I do always such mith my Salmson and I had no troubles by now.

A+

AL1

Salmson, la sécurité dans la Vitesse !

Hello AL1,

Thannks for your reply.
What kind of oil do you advise?

Kind regards, Rene

To be honest, I don't have any advise as for oil.
When I have renovated my Salmson, one of my friend gave me a jack of mineral Hafa oil SAE 40, and it worked quite well.
Than I tried a special oil made by Total for the Delahaye club according to old prescriptions for cotal gearbox. It worked, but the gearbox was very unpleasant to use and oil was licking under the car.
Later I tried extrem preasure 70W80. It worked very well, but seach oil is not appropriated for some parts made of bronze.

Finaly, in my new gearbox (I've renovated last year) I use mineral 15w40 engine oil, and the result is very good. But nobody knows how old electrical isolators react with this oil...

A+

AL1

Salmson, la sécurité dans la Vitesse !



Modifié 1 fois. Dernière modification le 07/01/07 19:48 par AL1.

Thanks AL1 for sharing your lubrication experience with the Cotal gearbox.

Did you heard of the horror story that when you don’t use the Cotal gearbox for a period of time, the oil pump has difficulties with pumping the oil and as a result the gearbox is ready for a costly restoration?

Kind regards, Rene

It's possible if the bottom of the gearbox is full of mud, but I think, quite exceptional.
You can remove oil and open the biggest yellow cap under the gearbox to check how dirty it is, and to clean it.
Generally it's not very dirty, but if it will be, you can fill with new oil, and change it again after some hours of driving.
Then, it should be OK !

Good luck

AL1

Salmson, la sécurité dans la Vitesse !

Thanks AL1!

Regards, Rene

Where are you from ?
Maybe you could visit us in march in Reims ?

A+

AL1

Salmson, la sécurité dans la Vitesse !

I'am from The Netherlands. Do you mean the Salon de Reims?
I plan to go in Februari to Retromobile in Paris, is the Amicale Salmson also present?

Kind regards, Rene

Yes, le Salon de Reims !!!
But I think the Amicale won't take part to retromobile.

AL1

Salmson, la sécurité dans la Vitesse !

But Amicale Salmson will be present at le Salon du Reims.
If so I will visit it!

Kind regards, Rene

Yes it will.

AL1

Salmson, la sécurité dans la Vitesse !

I confirm, Amicale Salmson will not go to Retromobile, but will be present in Reims, Avignon, Rouen, Epoqu'auto Lyon and perhaps Bordeaux.
Arnaud

Hello Friends..

I noticed the request for the "oil" in the Cotal...I am sure my French friends know better than me....but I have had three Delahayes and now a 2300s. Before I was in France..and the Delahaye were on the road (Not many) but the local services at the time....recommended 20W normal oil...RIght or wrong...I don't know...but I never had any problems...my Delahaye a l949 Figoni Type 175 and later a Chapron 135MS.....

The Amicale offers "huile Yacco boite Cotal bidon 2L"
Presumably this is the correct oil!
No doubt a can or two could be taken to Reims