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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - MKIII gearbox down...

Hi All,

MKIII, 1973, standard 4 speed, bearings changed approx. 10 years ago.

Today I stopped at the traffic lights and when I tried to use 1st gear and drive, some strange sound came out of the gearbox and engine went off. I tried neutral and to restart the engine, but one of the gears was still engaged, no matter what I tried to do with the gear lever or clutch.
After few minutes of gentle trying to do something I somehow managed to have it in neutral, start the engine, push the clutch and move 2nd gear there, but with the lever in N position...!

With gentle use of clutch I made it all the way (10 miles) back home with 2nd gear only.

So, now I have 2nd gear in, no matter what I do. It is impossible to get back to N again. The clutch seem to be fine, everything else as well. Oil in the gearbox changed 2 years ago, correct 20W50 used.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Stepan
Stepan Marek

To fix this you will need....

2 virgin sheep, a witch doctor, some Beatles music on a record player... and lots of fire

1st play the music backwards until you here the words "paul is dead, paul is dead, paul is dead"

Next sacrifice the witch doctor in the fire, then force the 2 virgin sheep to watch you have sex with the tail pipe of your car... when your done

Bobs your uncle....your good for another 86,000 miles

Happy motoring

Considering how black art the ribby tran is, im probably not to far off.... im taking a long hail mary deep throw into the endzone and going to guess synchro rings

Good luck

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

.
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

As Prop advised in his own style: take the gearbox apart. Using plastic bags, when trying to get the balls and springs where they belong, is something that is not mentioned in the handbooks. It is helpful.

Flip
Flip Brühl

Well?

There is flips more modern version...sounds boring

Haha
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Well, reading a bit of related archive section I think that 5 speed conversion time has come...
Sierra box is waiting in my garage anyway.

By the way, this summer I fitted 3.7 diff, anyone here with this combination?

Stepan
Stepan Marek

I put a 3.7 in my Frogeye when I did the Type 9 conversion and found it wasn't really happy at 30mph in 4th. The engine was modded by +60 overbore, Kent Cams 286, MG Metro large valve head, HIF44 carb and electronic ignition with standard exhaust manifold and single box silencer. It wore standard 145/80 tyres on standard wheels.

The engine tune might have had something to do with it but in 4th (1:1) at 30mph the engine wasn't really happy about town. I put a 3.9 in and it was much better.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Stepan.
If you select 3rd or 4th does the box tie up, if it does the 1st/2nd gear selector fork location bolt has fell out or come lose, A.T
andy tilney

Andy,

Thanks. At the moment I can't change the gears at all, the gear lever goes only to position of 2nd and 4th gear, but it is not changing the gears, 2nd is somehow "locked". Will need some free time to investigate what happened, but will update this post once I find the root cause.

Happy and prosperous 2016 to all!

Stepan
Stepan Marek

This thread was discussed between 28/12/2015 and 01/01/2016

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