Slot on bellhousing?

[Baasvark]

Hi Guys,

I see that on the bottom of the bellhousing there is an opening/slot.(on the front side where it bolts on to the engine)

After searching the net (it's a 5vzfe) I found a few photo's showing the same slot.

Here's my question: Surely it will fill with water if you do a water crossing? Won't your clutch then become wet & lose traction/grip?

What do you guys think?

[Mars]

I'm not that worried about it getting wet that much but what about all the mud and grime that can get in there and cause wear on everything including the thrust bearing, clutch lever etc.

[ink]

On my lexus to hilux belhousing I have the same, and worried about stones and stuf that can damage the ring gear. I'm in the proses to make an cover plate to cover the gap

[Baasvark]

Ok so there are 3 of us with the same concern.

Where are all the fundi's with the answers?

[The Legend]

Surely there should be a reason for that whole/slot.I am going to take a big change - Is it not to pick up gearbox oil leaks at a early stage before it gets on the presure/clutch plate.

[Mud Dog]

A lot of bells have this, some even have a plastic grid insert that goes in there. A bell is not a sealed component, even if the slot were not there, the rubber boot over the fork (if there is one) is really more of a prohibitive measure against dust. However, a clutch plate itself produces a fair amount of fine dust as it wears and perhaps that slot is there to vent some of it and lessen the build up. Consider also that the release bearing is a sealed bearing type, obviously to protect it against water and dust but the clutch dust is fine and I would imagine more likely to penetrate over time than the coarser road dust.

Whether or not this is the reasoning behind the manufacturers / designers to incorporate the slot, I doubt they wouldn't have put it there without good reason.

Dawie also makes a good point. If the rear crank seal starts to weep, it's better for that oil to discharge rather than find it's way onto the clutch plate and of course you would pick up that is leaking a lot sooner.