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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Midget / Sprite Gearbox

Can somebody tell me if there is a part number on it and where that part number might be ?

The car was a 1098 which then had a 1275 fitted, I think the original gearbox is still in it, but need to be sure.

thanks.

Malc
Malc Gilliver

There are 2 differant boxes...

Ribby and smooth box....im guessing yours maybe a smooth box

Check moss catolog, it will show NLA, but I think they actually post the part number

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Thanks Prop,

It's a ribbed gearbox, what I'm looking for is a place on the gearbox with a part number, so I can buy the right bits for it.

Malc
Malc Gilliver

on the top, there should be a date stamp

if it is a rib case built after June 1964, then you should be all set (someone correct me if I am wrong, but IIRC they were all the same until the end, 10/'74).

There was a brief mish-mash rib case run, between Feb ~ June '64, where the old "A" gears were used, with the new synchros, in the new rib case box. After June '64, they all had the "B" gears and synchros.




Norm
Norm Kerr

On the first motion shaft is a part number that relates to the gear ratios - and as Norm has pointed out there are A and B types that are not interchangeable.

If you open up the inspection hatch (watch out not to loose springs etc) it is just possible to see the part numbers on the laygear cluster.

Moss do a good free parts book which list all the bits - also on line.

R.
richard boobier

as richard said first of all, there's a number stamped on the input shaft (first motion shaft). You will almost certainly need to remove the thrust bearing from the arm and then clean the shaft before you can read it - it's stamped round the shaft not along it. A bit easier than taking the side cover off to read the laygear cluster. Post the number(s) and we can identify it
David Smith

The gearbox is still in the car, I was hoping to find a way of identifying the gearbox before taking it out.

Is that not possible ?

Malc
Malc Gilliver

according to the reprint of the Factory Parts Catalogue - 'the Gearbox Number is stamped on the left hand side of the gearbox casting' - it shows in the drawing as being just before the start of the funnel bit at the front

whether you can get to see this number with a camera, or lights and mirror I don't know and how much information that number will give you I don't know but usually somewhere someone has tables on such things
Nigel Atkins

nope, it could, for all you can tell, be a Morris Minor 1000 box with the plain bushes as the casings are identical externally.
David Smith

The gearbox number is just a serial number. I don't know of any reference material relating to that.

As David S said, the casing numbers don't tell you anything. The number on the first motion shaft is easiest to see and will identify which gears are fitted.

There were at least three different Spridget ribbed case gear sets.
Dave O'Neill2

sorry I was wrong then, often it seems someone, somewhere has information on serials numbers or casting numbers but not this time

smoke and mirrors will be of no use this time
Nigel Atkins

Some while ago I picked up a couple of free spare gearboxes which I have in store. I wasn't sure what they came from so gleaned some notes about the input shaft numbers to look out for. From my notes I have:

Moggy 1000 box: 22A 141 (smooth case box)
Sprite MK 1: 22A 141
1098 midget/Sprite: AEA 3032 I think this is an early rib case, but maybe not ?
Later Moggy: 22G 171 (rib case, type A)
Midget/ Sprite: 22G 172 early rib case, type A
Midget/ Sprite: 22G 229 later rib case, type B

This is from an amalgam from different sources, but I don't remember where from.
Guy W

Yes the numbers equate to the various gearboxes I have. Although I cannot confirm AEA 3032. I think the only one to go for in a 1275 Spridget is the later type B 22G 229. Most parts for this 'box can be obtained but watch out for wear on the third motion shaft spigot which fits inside the 1st motion shaft. The needle roller bearing works hard here and can go through the hardening on the shaft. As far as I know the only place you can get these shafts is from Denis Welch at a cost of £400!!
Bob Beaumont

Guy, also add 22G1117 which is an equivalent to 22G229 in being found in 1275 Midgets with B type gears. I've not yet managed to work out the significance of this different number, if any. Could just be from a different OEM supplier?
There's a pile of part number info here:
http://www.britishcarforum.com/files/tpl.xls
but I can't vouch for its accuracy. Note that AEA3032 is shown as the 3rd gear in a Sprite Mk3 box.
David Smith

Edit timed me out;
I do have AEA3021 as the original BMC part number for a new 9CG Spridget box (smoothcase) so could have been a typo back in history somewhere?
David Smith

David,
It looks very much like it. That link you have posted is to one source of the information I have. You very likely provided it to me when I copied and saved it previously! And on that table that AEA3032 number is listed both for the MK11 input shaft and for the MK111 3rd gear. One of them must be wrong! It does look like the AEA3021 is what should be listed for the smoothcase input shaft.
Guy W

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2013 and 30/04/2013

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