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MG TD TF 1500 - Cluster gear free play

Good day to all,

I am beginning to reassemble the gearbox on my TD. I have what I am afraid is excessive free play in my cluster gear. I have new bushings on both ends, but my free play is about .009". Barrie Jones puts it at .002". Dave Braun mentions his was .004"and it doesn't appear that Dave corrected his. However, mine is still more than twice Dave's. My front and rear thrust washer plates may be slightly worn, but I didn't want to spend $130 at Moss until I checked in here.

I started thinking about the thin shims in my steering assembly and thought that maybe I could shim .003" on each end but I don't have any experience with custom making a shim. Is this a viable option?

Advice?

Jim TD17744
JV Smith TD17744

“Do it right, do it once” is my philosophy.
$130 against perhaps pulling a gearbox again, or having issues... I’d spend the $130 to set it up properly.
My 2 cents.

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Excellent advice Tom. Penny wise and pound foolish.
gl rombough

My concern sounded like it was primarily about money. The question I have is whether the replacement thrust washer plates will be the same thickness as the ones I have. I can't find any data on the factory thickness of the bearing surface of the thrust washer plates.

In theory, it seems like the thrust washers would wear before the plates since the thrust washers are softer than the plates and the cluster gear. If that's true, then replacement thrust washer plates would not solve the problem.

Thanks for your input,

Jim
JV Smith TD17744

Have you requested dimensions from the sellers? My experience is they are pretty accommodating.
Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Bob used to have oversized thrust washers. Contact him- http://www.ttalk.info/Grunau.htm
George Butz III

Tom,
I just received a response from Abingdon Spares. They only have a new front plate, and Martin gave me the thickness at .073". I am half way there. I have not heard from Moss yet.

Thanks George, I will check with Bob and see what he says.

Thanks for your help,

Jim
JV Smith TD17744

Good day to all,
So, I have heard back from both domestic suppliers.

Abingdon Spares says their front plate washer is .073”. That is thinner than mine, so no help there

Moss sales told me that theirs is 2mm or 1/16”. Since we are dealing in .001” increments, 2mm does not equal 1/16”(unless my math is off). In any event, either one of those measurements is thinner than mine.

Bob Grunau no longer sells the thicker thrust washers but he did agree that .009” end play seemed excessive

I am back to considering very thin shims on the non bearing side of each plate washer. This would put the shims between the plate and the gearbox case. If I did that, I would need shims of .0025” to .0035”. I’m thinking .003” on each end would be a sweet spot.

What do you think?

And if you think this is reasonable, where would you look for shim diameter choices?

Thanks for all of your help,

Jim
JV Smith TD17744

Pull out a .006 feeler gauge and look at it. Then look at the primitive and sloppy design of the gearbox. Also the major slack on the 1-2 hub, etc. I don’t think that will make any difference whatsoever. This isn’t piston or valve clearance, and it is running is thick oil. Modern synthetic oil will make up for the extra thousandths of clearance anyway. Just my opinion. You could try a good machine shop as they may have some shims that would work. George
George Butz III

Not a fan at all of thin packing shims in gearboxes, but if you're going to do it, I'd go for just one thicker shim on one end, it'll have a better chance of lasting
William Revit

This thread was discussed between 06/02/2021 and 13/02/2021

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