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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 - Type 9 problem

Can anyone assist please? My Type 9 developed a horrible noise. I have taken the gearbox out and am told by a local engineer that by using a magnet he has identified bits of syncro insert and blocker bar in the housing. This will involve the box being stripped and the damaged bits being replaced. Should I have it rebuilt or try and find another working one. It's the V6 box. Any advice welcome.
Neil (K series)

advice?

no but all the parts you need are constantly being advertised in EvilBay. Just type 'type 9' into the search pane and you will be swamped by hits for boxes and bits
bill sdgpm

Thanks Bill. Am weighing up the value at the mo of rebuilding or buying another.
Neil (K series)

Hi Neil,

Have you got an estimate for rebuilding ?
I would have included new bearings / seals etc just in case etc.

Then have a look around for available boxes.

The trouble I find is often you end up with numerous slightly dodgy boxes requiring lots of work to fit and find out !

If its not too expensive and the remainder (gears / synchros etc) are thought to be in sound condtion I would go for a rebuild if funds permit.

R.

richard boobier

I have the necessary gaskets for my box, just working out whether I can afford a bearing set too or wait til it scr*ws up next time... :(

Overhaul first would make most sense of course
bill sdgpm

I think that a full set of bearings, gaskets and layshaft cost me £100 a couple of years ago. I took a chance and re-used the same synchro rings as they would have added another £80. I should have bought the 1st/ 2nd ring...
Guy Weller

I hear what you are saying and am thinking at least with a rebuild I would know what I've got. The risk of buying another 2nd hand box is that I might be in the same position again in a short while. I don't want to make a habit of taking my K series out! At this stage the guy I know is talking about 3-350 to rebuild. A lot of money I know. And I want it ready for MG Live, so not much time. It's a bugger, the car was going so well too. Whilst I did the conversion myself I have never tackled a gearbox and wouldn't know where to start. Hence I will be paying labour charges which goes against the grain!!!
Neil (K series)

Neil, while your throwing with money anyway why not get a type 9 from BGH?
Yes, some pennies more then you planned to spend but the longer 1st gear makes up for so much.
Im now the "King of the trafficlightraces" LOL.
They are much stronger(mine up to 240bhp) and have a better oil/lubricating system.

1st gear on a standard type 9 isnt very usefull, it gets you in motion but thats it.

Best bit about the BGH boxes is: they look the same from the outside as original type 9s so you wont lose points at concour-elegance! LOL


"Yes sir, thats the original factory K-series engine with the matching numbers 5 speed type 9, you see the original factory crayon writing? it says: Abingdon." ;)


Image: BGH box with drain plug.


Arie de Best

Neil. I think Arie's suggestion is worth seriously considering. I know it means biting a large bullet, but at least you'll know that the 'box is right and you won't have to take it out again, plus as he says, the first gear is better than standard.
I feel for you mate and I think I was very lucky to get my 69,000 mile Sierra 'box for £70 from a scrap yard. To date it's done about 1,000 miles in my car and is as sweet as a nut. Oops. Have I just put the mockers on it?

Bernie.
b higginson

Bernie, I have done 900 miles in my K and the car was running so sweet. My wife and I went out for a drive and I was only saying to her how chuffed I was with the conversion and the car and a mile later, the gearbox sounded like a bucket of nails!!!! Be careful, be very careful saying things like "sweet as a nut"!!!!!!!
OK Arie, give me the bottom line. How much? Go on, sock it to me. I'm destined to a life of poverty I know!!!
Neil (K series)

OMG, just looked at the BGH website. I don't think I'm in your league Arie. I've got kids living at home you know and a wife who likes handbags.
Neil (K series)

Neil, I have no kids(that i know of anyway) or a wife and have no need for handbags myself.
But seeing your fleet of cars i dont worry about you being poor and if your wife allows you 3 spridgets she cant be to bad now can she? ;)

Cant your kids get jobs to fund your hobbies?
Kids in India do the same for their parents. LOL



Btw, i bought the gearbox last year januari when the pound crashed and paying by euro gave me a rough 30% discount.
Because of the original price it wasnt on my list anymore but by then i rapidly changed my mind.
Never leave a bargain when its in your reach! :)
Arie de Best

There's no getting one over on you Arie!!!
OK, I know it's going to cost me money. I just have to decide how much. The trouble is now that I have had the thrill of driving my K for 900 miles, I can't be without it. Already having withdrawl afer just 6 days off the road!! This fix has to be quick.
By the way, did I tell you the one of how I overtook a Lotus Elise in my hunble old '64 midget. The look on his face was a treat!!!!
Neil (K series)

I'm with Arie buy a BGH with the long 1st gear its the best mod I have done to the car... worth every penny.
Give them a call they are very helpful.
The type 9 has a problem with high revs so at the very least have the oil way mods done.
tim
Tim Dalton

I'm getting depressed. I thought that type nines were almost bullet proof. I'm going to a car show at Gawsworth Hall Cheshire tomorrow. I guess I'll just have to keep the revs down after reading what Tim says. Mine's only a 1098 though, not as much grunt as a K like Neil's

Bernie.
b higginson

Bernie there's absolutely nothing wrong with a well-built ribcase box and it will cruise all day at the legal speed limit on a 3.9 diff.
David Smith

Bernie, just for the record, I do not think my type 9 gearbox problem is attributable to excess power from my K series. In fairness I bought the gearbox 2nd hand without any history bar a comment that it had covered only 10,000 miles. However it had been in a caterham and in fairness, if these were track miles then therein may lie the problem. Also I had let it run low on oil not realising it had a leak. Whoops!
Neil (K series)

I've just been under the car to put the exhaust back on again & my T9 is leaking oil from the speedo cable, theres oil all the way up to the speedo. Any ideas what is causing this?
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

My enquiries tell me that the speedo drive is a vulnerable place for leaks.
Neil (K series)

Neil,
do you know what the fix is?
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

I wish I did. I know bu**er all about gearboxes but I do read alot and have read of this problem. Google the phrase. I'm trying to sort out my own gearbox problem at the moment and the Bank Holiday Monday is getting in the bl**dy way!!!!
Neil (K series)

Its a seal, not sure how easy it is to change though.

http://www.bearingkits.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/139

http://www.tran-x.com/spares/spares-t9.html
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

its the small one that looks like a black polo mint

pushes in from the outside ISTR

take the leaky one out first


bill sdgpm

Thanks Bill,
i've just ordered one.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

OK, looked at BGH and Hi Gear. Can anyone suggest any other reputable but cheaper suppliers of reconditioned type 9's?
Neil (K series)

Just put a new speedo seal in, i was expecting a gush of oil & lots of swear words due to no access, but it turned out to be a 20min job from when i first jacked the car up.
The old seal was very brittle, so the others probably need changing as well next time the engine is out.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Here's an update. I have had the box stripped and examined. A blocker bar has come out of a syncro hub. All the gears are intact. Phew! These parts will be replaced together with the new kit of bearings, seals, gaskets etc and I'll have it back next week. Not as bad as I thought. Will still set me back a few quid but what can you do?
As an aside, trying to locate a replacement 2.8, V6 type 9 with the heavy duty laygear isn't easy. I made lots of phone calls to be told that such boxes are not readily available in a rebuilt format. Even Tran X and Burton couldn't supply one. There is a guy on Ebay that would sell one but I preferred to stay local and have mine fixed.
It's worth checking your oil regularly. Believe me!!!
Neil (K series)

Neil,
There is a reason for the blocker bars to come out. This can happen if the baulk ring is worn - or more specifically there are some stepped sections in the outer edge of the rings where the wall is very thin. These thin bits can wear or break away and this then allows the blocker bars to tilt and come out. Check carefully that your baulk rings are not damaged in this way. It isn't immediately obvious unless you are looking for it. It may not apply to your box, but worth checking!

Guy
Guy Weller

Thanks Guy. The gearbox is now with West Wales Rally Spares who specialise in all things Ford. They are involved in some very serious rally car preparation. A type 9 is a very basic gearbox in their eyes. However they have been extremely helpful.
http://www.westwalesrallyspares.co.uk/
Neil (K series)

Ah Neil, I thought you were rebuilding it yourself. I was just quoting from an article on type 9s.

Guy

Guy Weller

Guy, I would love to tinker with the gearbox and strip it down. However time is not on my side. I've got lots planned for the car over the next few weeks and months and I want it back on the road asap. I'm getting withdrawl symptoms from not being behind the wheel. The performance is brilliant!
Neil (K series)

Neil,
I have 2 Type 9 boxes, so when I did have problems I was able to work on one myself whilst the other was still in use. One certainly learns a lot if one has the option of doing them "hands on". Hope you get it back quickly, and at least you should be able to rely on getting a good job done.

Guy
Guy Weller

Yes, they say it will be done next week ready for me to pick up at the end. The company are in Ireland this weekend supporting a large rally. The cars they had at their workshop were awesome. A different league to my humble K conversion!!!
Neil (K series)

Hi Neil

Any car that can do 0 - 60 in under 6s doesn't need too big a dose of humility!

Tell us how you get on... might consider them for BRB T9 rebuild... unless TimD persuades me to DIM; at least for this box, unlike others I've rebuilt in the past, I have a manual.

A
Anthony Cutler

Ant,
I know you wouldn't want to be without BRB for too long. Might be better to pick up a cheapie T9 off ebay and strip that one in preparation.
Neil (K series)

I've decided to bite the bullet and rebuild the type9 I bought the other week, I have the gaskets just the bearings and two of the oil seals to buy

And a lot of nerve to produce before the start

Fingers crossed, I am not at home inside a gearbox
bill sdgpm

Bill, have you got the type 9 Haynes manual?
Neil (K series)

Bill, have you got the type 9 manual?
Neil (K series)

No, only the description in the Haynes Sierra manual on gearboxes

Guy seemed to be able to work with it and other snippets from other places

Suppose I ought to scour the boot sales for one
bill sdgpm

Ring me on 07980 726201
Neil (K series)

Bill

If you havn't already got a manual I can e-mail you one.
I have a Biggles one - very good and a Ford srvice manual, although this is in German.
I found the Type 9 is easy to strip and rebuild. The biggest problem I have is knowing if the syncho's are ok or not.
Had to use an impact wrench to loosen the big nut on the layshaft which holds the 5th gear in place, I think its a 36mm socket. The gear itself was also quite tight to get off. Other than that its easy - dont forget to replace the speedo cap (see my thread re oil leak)!

Les
Les Robinson

Have you sorted the leak now Les?

I have seen odd pages of the german manual I think Guy sent me a page or two a couple of years ago

I would appreciate a copy of either or both :) Thanks

Neil I'll call for a chat this afternoon or evening, gotta go out shortly

cheers
bill sdgpm

Bill

Yes oil leak is now fixed thanks.
I will send you the manuals but it will be Monday if thats ok. The file size is 50MB, too big to email, but I will be able to send you a link but need to speak to out IT to see how its done.

Les
Les Robinson

Bill,
I can e-mail you the German Manual in full if you like, but it is a large file, about 10Mb I think.

Guy
Guy Weller

This is great, three offers of manna from heaven



Guy yes please, any of my emails that you have, if you think it will make it through...

I have decided to use some of the dosh I'm not spending in France inside the tunnel

The transmission tunnel
bill sdgpm

Often threads end with a possible diagnosis but with no conclusion. Well here's one. My gearbox has been stripped and the following bits replaced:
3rd and 4th syncro ring
1st and 2nd syncro
Syncro Unit
5 speed service kit installed

A piece of blocker bar had dropped out of the syncro hub pssibly caused by the previous owner being over enthusiastic on their gear changes.

Gearbox back in the car now. Brill

Neil (K series)

Good news on the synchro replacements Neil, where did you get the service kit from?

Good news for me was that Guy sent me manuals via email.zip and Les sent me a lovely little memory stick jampacked with type 9 info

So soon it will be up to me to post a "whats inside?" message

my present box has coated the entire underside of the car with life preserving deposits, labelled 75/90 Ford and Comma EP90 (just happened to have that lurking around a cupboard for twenty years)

So apart from a minor boot rear wall weldup job the car should be good for another twenty years :-)

I do have to be extra careful where I put the jack in case she slips OFF though...
bill sdgpm

This thread was discussed between 01/05/2010 and 19/05/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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