MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Gearbox problems

Hello all, can anyone help please? My son had to be recovered home today when my 72 MkIII midget would not disengage first gear. There were no unusual noises or other symptoms of impending doom. He stopped at traffic lights, engaged neutral and pulled away normally in first gear as soon as the lights changed but when he went to change up to second the gear stick refused to move.

Sensible as always he pulled over and called the rescue service. The RAC technician took one look and called recovery to bring the car home.

I've since restarted the car (with clutch fully engaged) and driven the car around the block but it will not disengage first no matter what I do.

I fully expect to need to drop the gearbox and probably rebuild but before doing so I'd be grateful for any hints or tips. Is this a recognised problem? Is there a "trick" to disengage first or is it best to just accept the inevitable and pull it apart? If I need to strip the gearbox what should I look for and expect to need to replace?

Any and all suggestions will be much appreciated.
WC Mexson

Bill, yes - happened to me as recently as Longcross on Easter Monday. Method of getting it out is easier to demonstarte than explain, give me a bell at work asap and I'll pop round and give it a try for you....
David Smith(davidDOTsmithATstonesDOTcom

Bill,
A fairly common problem.
Often exacerbated by waiting at the lights with the car in gear and foot down on the clutch, and hand resting on the lever. Or perhaps trickling along in 1st, again with hand resting on the lever.

They can usually be disengaged by driving and repeatedly dipping the clutch / accelerating / decelerating etc whilst pulling back VERY FORCIBLY on the gear lever. A bit brutal, but eventually it will probably pop into neutral.

The cause is the 1st gear selector moving to far towards the rear of the box and allowing the 3 detent springs to pop out too far and jam on the selector hub. This prevents the gear from moving back along the hub into the neutral position.

If you can get it out of first, and take care not to drive with your (or your son’s) hand resting on the gear lever when at the lights, it may not happen again.

If it does happen repeatedly a practical cure is achieved by adding a washer as a spacer shim on the selector shaft, between the 1st gear selector fork and the casing. This will limit the travel of the selector and prevent a repeat occurrence.

Guy
(cross posting!)
Guy Weller

Driving with it stuck in first can quite quickly destroy second gear synchro, requiring not just a new synchro ring, but a new second speed gear.
Dave O'Neill 2

A million thanks to Dave and Guy for their comments. First gear is once again one of 5 (including reverse!) that may be selected with ease.

Dave, you would of course be welcome to pop round as discussed but you need to know that thanks to your endorsement of Guy's suggestion over that Starbucks on Friday everything is now OK.

Thanks again.
WC Mexson

Really glad you fixed it. This happened to me once. I looked like a rather big muppet driving up and down my road in first for half an hour
Rich Amos (1330cc Blaze Red '72)

As a matter of course now, I always shim the first gear selector rod when I rebuild these gearboxes (and I've done more than a few...!).

Mark.
Mark Boldry

If it helps, here is a pic of the offending balls sticking out.http://www.spritespot.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=toomanyspridgets&id=first_jammed
The bronze-y selector rod has gone too far.[I cheated in this pic and slipped it too far, but you get the idea.] Compare it to the picture before this one.
rob multi-sheds thomas

Very helpful pictures Rob.
WC Mexson

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2008 and 05/05/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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