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 MGA - Replacing gear shift lever

1958 1500 MGA, stock.

I'm looking to replace the gear shift lever on my MGA and I'm looking for hints on how to proceed.

Before I remove the circlip I'm particularly interested in how to push back the pins to remove the old lever and also the difficulty in compressing the assembly when I install the new lever. I've reviewed both the workshop manual and Bernie's site.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Brian Denis
Brian Denis

Fairly straightforward Brian. Under the cover held on by the circlip is a fairly strong conical spring. When you have figured out how to compress the circlip which does not have the usual holes, suggest you place a towel over it to prevent the cover and spring going into orbit around the workshop. Once the cover is off you can then lever the pivot pins out just far enough so that the gear shift clears them and can be removed.
Refitting thecover can be a bit tricky but if you look at Barneys site he uses a piece of pipe to compress the spring using the thread for the gearnob allowing the circlip to be replaced.

You can do this whilst the turret is attached to the gearbox or you can remove the turret taking out the four bolts and take it to the bench which may be easier. One very important word of warning be very careful when you remove the turret as on the bottom of the gearshift lever may be a bronze collet which is very easy to loose into the gearbox. If a plastic one has been fitted its not so critical as they are a snap on fit, whereas the bronze collets are only held on with a fairly weak wire circlip.
Hope this helps
AR Terry

I assume you read this article
http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/gearbox/gt114.htm
Makes changing easy
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

AR, thanks for your suggestions & Mike, yes I did see that article and will follow the recommendations.

Thanks for the input so far.

Brian Denis

PS.... don't know where "bernie" came from. My apologies to Barney.
Brian Denis

This thread was discussed on 26/10/2016

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.