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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 Gearbox Story Part 2

Evening gents,

I am following on from John Barbers thread "1500 gearbox story" from last month. My last post (and the last one on the thread) I said I was ready to strip and rebuild my 1500 'box.

Anyway, long story short I dismantled the box over a number of evenings by torch light! As it was cold and dark I didn't pay a great deal of attention to carefully dismantling it. I have been rebuilding in the warmth of my flat :-)

Things are pretty much back together but I have some questions... Refering to the moss diagram:

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=1324

1. Should there by a no. 22 spacer? If so I have lost it! Or does it just not exist? Looking at Johns photos in the previous thread I can't see one...

2. Should there be a no. 11 locking ball? It is refered to in the Haynes and on Moss. I looked for a hole in the mainshaft for it to go in but couldn't find anything. Also, if it does exist, I have lost the ball too! (Again, this doesn't appear in Johns photos).

If I don't need these bits I am good to finish things off. Woo! Thanks in advance for your replies.

Cheers,
Malcolm

P.S. A picture of the mess I made in my flat for your indulgance... :-)


Malcolm Le Chevalier

Wife happy with the flat/garage workshop arrangement is she? :)
Lawrence Slater

Happy is such a strong word... She is tolerant. I think she thinks (although she won't admit it) that the MG is actually pretty cool! And I pay the rent! ha ha.

And she isn't my wife... yet! :-)

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Hi Malcom, I have my gearbox all nack together and hav taken lots of photo's of how to do it. I should be able to help you out with this question.. I am trying to get the photos on a site with some limited explanation of what to do - hwoever you don't want to wait for this to happen - give me some time and I will try to seek out the answers and some matching phots for the BB.. back soon
John Barber

Just quickly the 11 locking ball is in the sychroniser assembly - the synchro centre part can have three positions and the ball and spring act to give a detent action.. So unless you took them apart you won't see it..

Regards the spacer - I didn't have one and also the MGOC spares site doesn't show it either..

John Barber

This is the 3/4th gar synchro hub end and shows the retaining washer - with castellated internal diameter to fit the fluted shaft. next the circlip goes on.. next pic


John Barber

And the next pic the circlip going on pushes back against the washer mentioned above. The whole mainshaft goes back in and then the input shaft goes on the unsupported end - needle race and spacer inside the input shaft with spacer nearest the clutch side..

So no spacer on the end of the mainshaft as far as I can say...


John Barber

Yep, got all that thanks John. You are a star, I owe you a beer!

The locking ball (according to my Spitfire Haynes) goes into a hole in the mainshaft for some reason?!? (note the Moss diagram noting the synchro balls under different numbers too) But I won't worry about it if it appears not to exist. I found the ones in the synchros (by accident on disassembly!) but got them all back together. :-)

Thanks again John!

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Malcolm I thnk this is misplaced in this photo on the Moss website - I believe its the ball for the selector shaft detent which sits in the extension housing..
John Barber

Thanks again John.

Pretty much back together. Need to take the box back to the garage for some hardcore bearing hammering! They were a bugger to get out, so I am expecting the worst getting them back in.

Cheers!
Malcolm Le Chevalier

I have one of these

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/hydraulic-workshop-press/10-ton-bench/hbp10-10-ton-h-frame-bench-hydraulic-press

But all you need is some box section welded together squarish... and a bottle jack... you'll only need a low rated 1 ton to get a gear box bearing in.

C L Carter

Also, once you have a bearing press (either purchased or homemade) you can make your own cider! What an investment!
C L Carter

Where do you keep that Christian? In the bedroom? It's a bit big for the understairs cupboard, and I didn't think you had a garge.
Lawrence Slater

All back together now (well, bar the rear extension and bell housing being bolted back on). A big thanks to John and everyone else.

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

For those interested I am builds a reference site of my re-furb - take a look and let me know if its useful or pants.


http://midgettybits.freewebspace.com/index.html

John Barber

Lawrence, when Christian says he has one, he means we do!
Christian and I are two of a team that look after some of the motorised mascots of Imperial College (where we go/went to University), "Jez" a 1916 Dennis fire engine and "Clem" a 1926 Morris Commercial drop side truck.
These vehicles have a decent bit of garage/workshop space which we occasionally borrow to work on our MGs!
Josh L

Follow up question on the 1500 gearbox.

I've had the bell housing off, and am interested to know what torque you have used when reattaching it.

I'm also keen to know whats going on with the washer situation for these bolts... mine seemed rather odd (can't remember now whether there was only one, or one of them didn't have one... there was something weird anyway)... has anyone else seen this/know what it should be?

Christian
C L Carter

According to haynes 44 Nm.

Washers, yes please! :-) I would check here...

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID005698

Note one of them is slighty shorter so it doesn't foul the gearbox internals and has a copper washer by the looks of things.

Rimmers is excellent for 1500 engine and gearbox diagrams etc. They even list the bolt sizes!

Cheers,
Malcolm

(P.S. I am assuming you mean the bellhousing to gearbox casing bolts, right?)
Malcolm Le Chevalier

The lowest bolt takes a copper washer from memory something to do with sealing off an oil leak path if I recall crrectly..
John Barber

Pic - the one at the bottom takes the copper washer - its not tightened up in this photo as I lost the washer ( damn !)


John Barber

Thanks chaps. Thats good to know
C L Carter

Anytime! :-)
Malcolm Le Chevalier

This thread was discussed between 20/02/2012 and 08/03/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.