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MG TD TF 1500 - Gearbox-can't shift

Hello- last night I put my gearbox back together to only discover that it will no longer shift. For reference it shifted smoothly prior to me removing the cover, remote, and bell housing. The only work done was a clean up and visual inspection and exterior paint. The 3 springs and balls are in and the circlip on the 3&4 shaft is there as well. The remote was installed with all 3 shafts lined up like stated in an earlier post. Apart it came. I cannot get any shaft to move in any direction by hand. I have read the shop manual and can't determine what I'm missing. Can someone help me out of his jam?
Thanks- Mark
It's a late '53 box
Mark Butler

Does neutral feel normal, ie can you move the shifter side to side and feel the reverse detent?
George Butz

Hi George- I have removed the top cover and remote to see what might be going on. Shouldn't I be able to move the 1&2 and 3&4 shafts fore and aft by hand? Nothing will move except what little play there is, again fore and aft. I'm not sure what's going on or where I should begin to look.
Mark Butler

No way, have to really push/bump them really hard with a hammer handle or something. The detent springs are really strong. If that works, maybe you had the shifter flipper finger out of the center "groove' made by the receivers on the shift rail. George
George Butz

I took my dead blow and tapped the shafts and sure enough they moved. Then I attached the remote and all was well, forward and reverse. Put the 3 balls and 3 springs in and secured the top cover.
Can't shift any direction now. It's in neutral I believe as it has free side to side movement, less when it contacts reverse.Now that I recall the only time I ran thru the gears was when I rolled it out of the barn it was in when I bought it and again when I was finding neutral to aid in removing the remote. But the top cover was off at that point.
Are those 3 springs that firm and this is normal?
Mark Butler

Try it with the springs removed and the cover in place. There is a slight possibility that the small locking screws on the shift rods are hitting the cover.
Hugh Pite
H.D. Pite

Hugh- works fine with the springs out and cover bolted down. Some days I swear this car is possessed!
Mark Butler

Make sure the ball/springs/rails are really lubricated, if they are dry it may nearly lock. You may need to rotate the input shaft while trying to shift. If that is all fine, really inspect the remote housing/flipper for any problem. Other than that, I have no idea. George
George Butz

It is much, much harder to shift the box on the bench than in the car. Something about being in the natural position.
Dave Braun

My gear lube arrived yesterday. Today I will make sure everything is "wet" before I reassemble. Things seem to be moving a little smoother. Before I put it back together, is the selector lever (in remote) flat on the sides or is mine incredibly worn? See image. The moss/Abingdon pics seem to show flat sides, round fore/aft.
Thanks for all the help George, Hugh, and Dave.. Have a great holiday!


Mark Butler

Flat and parallel on the sides, round fore-and-aft.

Tom
t lange

looks fine to me. George
George Butz

This thread was discussed between 13/12/2013 and 15/12/2013

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