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[matada34]

I managed to get the misses in the landy today to take her to the local m n s food hall, there was a big flood on the entrance with only access by 4x4.
Anyway we went the long way..... (ha ha!) to go through another closed road due to flooding.
I got part way and thought this is getting to deep, so I stopped, put her in reverse and she just slipped (clutch), misses was stressing, im feeling a donkey, few poeple watching.... after a few mins I managed to get her moving in low ratio.
After a but of research ive found I didnt put the wading plug in on the bottom of the flywheel housing so I could keep an eye on the new crank seal I fitted!! I can only assume its that!

Anyway, we got on out way and to m n s (the flood there wasnt as deep) and we got home!

Lesson learnt!

[LandCasco]

Good you can escape!!
Anyone know the thread size of the plug?, I don´t have any one.

Cheers

[Wittsend]

1/4" BSP

A very common size in plumbing circles...

[LandCasco]

Thanks!

[winchman]

You often get nice plastic ones in new valves to protect them whilst in transit

[matada34]

I’d prefer a plastic one!
Can’t say I’ve seen any amongst plumbing parts though.
I see these are advertised as for a 2A, what’s the difference?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F221931859006

[oddjob]

I might be wrong but water shouldn’t have made the clutch slip should it?
Putting the wading plug is is a double edged sword. If you go deep enough for the water to go in via the clutch mechanism it won’t be able to drain out.
 

[Gareth]

I’ve never fitted a wading plug and have done plenty of deep water driving over the years. I think you may have a weak clutch?

[matada34]

hmmmm, my gutt feel is exactly what you say.

The only thing that makes me think other wise.... the day before I was pulling a mates landy out, my rear wheel/s were spinning in the mud. If I had a weak clutch wouldnt it have slipped then aswell?!

[Robin]

Water lubricates the friction material - the same as losing brake efficiency after wading, so can make the clutch slip.

The wading plug should only be fitted when you expect to be wading, and removed afterwards, otherwise any oil leaks from the gearbox input chaft or crankshaft seal will build up and contaminate the clutch.

The main reason for fitting a wading plug is to stop dirty water getting in as grit in the water will cause wear of the clutch. Clean water shouldn't be a problem as long as you're gentle with the clutch and not asking it to do too much, as you found, and it will soon dry out once you are out of the water.

If you go deep enough for the water to go in via the clutch mechanism it won’t be able to drain out.

Officially you shouldn't be wading that deep (I know, we all do it   ), but the official wading depth is up to the wheel hub, I think.

Robin.

[winchman]

I would guess they are about £1 in a plumbers merchant, they might even have a couple of plastic ones
https://mocap.co.uk/general-purpose-plugs-bsp-threads.html

[Dentman]

Plumbers merchants? You saved me there, I was on my way to the Land Rover main dealer 

[matada34]

It was to floor level.... still seems very odd!

[Smokey 11a]

1/4 BSP plug, 50p cash lol, from my plumbing merchants. Keep it on the side of the dash near the door, nice off set hole for it to fit and keep clean and rust free.

[Wittsend]

Type "1/4 BSP plug" into eBay and all sorts come up - galvanised, brass, s/s, plastic - something for everyone.

e.g.

auction: #323899234488


On the LWT there's a special bracket fixed to the crossmember to keep the wading plug...




If just going through river/flood water I wouldn't bother with fitting the wading plug.

On many of our Land Rovers the clutch actuation cross shaft gaiter/gasket is missing, or broken, or not fitted correctly and so the bell housing is not water proofed.
So water/mud/grit is going to get in that way.
The presence of the wading plug just means the water/mud is going to slop around in the bellhousing 

However, if I were at a pay-&-play mud pit off-road site then I would definitely fit the wading plug.

Clutch slipping after hard work or getting wet could be a sign that the friction material is worn down a bit, or the heat generated from hard work (slipping the clutch pedal) has glazed the plates a little. It should wear off with steady use. If you think the clutch plates are contaminated, you could fit the wading plug and fill the bellhousing with genuine full fat Coca-Cola followed by a rinse out with clutch/brake cleaning fluid.

The question is: What's the state of your clutch - when was it last changed, how many miles has it done