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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Early shift lever in rib case gearbox

A 1275 with rib case gearbox is going in my bugeye. I prefer to use the original shift lever without the vibration damper. There appear to be differences between the two levers in length below the ball. Is this is straight swap, or must I do something else to make it work?

I have the smooth case remote unit as well as the rib case remote, which is on the transmission.

Thanks, Jim
J Scott

The ribcase gearbox was introduced in about 1964, and the gearlever with the damper in about 1970, so if you find a gearlever from between those years it will suit your purpose. Note that the lever retaining plate changed in 1970 too. If you don't have a parts book then study the diagrams on the Moss website closely.
David Smith

Your best bet is to use the early remote to suit the gearlever
Dave O'Neill2

The smoothcase lever will work, but it gives a very sloppy gear change, because, as you say, it is shorter below the ball than the ribcase.

You could cut off the upper part of a smoothcase lever and weld it to the lower part of a ribcase lever?

We have a Toyota 5-spd, and the damper above the ball is even worse looking than the later midget, so that is what we did - Toyota ball and below, A-series above the ball.

Richard
Richard Wale

Thanks for the replies. I need to think this through.

It seem the shorter throw below the ball would result in less fore and aft movement of the shifter levers, no matter which remote is used. To make up for the shorter throw the knob end would need to move more.

I have read some early reviews of the bugeye where the reviewer noted his hand hit the dash in first and third. Extending the length below the ball in the later transmission might have been a correction for that.

Or, the later transmission might require more movement to shift the gears, in which case the length below the ball was extended. I sure don't know.

Maybe welding the old lever to the new bottom is the safest solution.

Jim
J Scott

or do as I suggested and fit the correct undamped lever from a ribcase between '64 and '70. I think I have a spare somewhere if you can't find one locally.
David Smith

I bit the bullet and welded the smooth case lever to the rib case lower. It seemed to be the cheapest and quickest solution.

Thanks again to all for the responses. Jim
J Scott

The gearlever of the smoothcase does not fit to the ribcase: it jumps out of reverse. 1 - 4 are ok.
J.W. Vlaanderen

This thread was discussed between 15/05/2013 and 25/05/2013

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