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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Gearbox removal after engine?

I have removed the engine on my 1500 midget and am going to now remove the gearbox however I have a few questions?

The Haynes manual states the prop shaft has to be undone near to to the diff? Can you not undo it from the back of the box?

Also removing the speedo cable does this just unscrew?

How the heck do you separate the reverse light wires when they are all the way inside the car? There is what appears to be a double connection but they don't want to separate?

Many thanks in advance.
C Carter

Christian, I think it's to do with the lack of access in the gearbox tunnel.

On the 1275, the prop just slides out the the end of the g/box, but on yours, there is a bolted flange, that I think slides into the front of the prop.

Getting that back in afterwards is easier done outside the car. ----- I think.

Cut the cables in an accessible place, and put an easy to remove connector there for the future.
Lawrence Slater

Yes there is a bolted flange that connects the gearbox to the prop shaft which I presume you must be able to undo otherwise you wouldnt be able to remove the engine and gearbox in one.
C Carter

On the 1275, the front UJ is connected to the female spline, and that slides into the g/box.

On the 1500, the flange is connected to the tail shaft of the g/box. The UJ at the front of the prob, is connect to a flange, and a splined end. That slides into the prop.

to remove the box, you could just pull the box clear of the front of the prop. But putting it back is supposedly more difficult that way.

But actaully, the same is true for the 1275, and I just reach in an couple the two as the box is jiggled back with a helper.

Or you take the prop off the diff.
Lawrence Slater

I undid the diff to prop flange bolts, simply because they were easier to access. But if I recall you can just about squeeze a spanner down the gear lever hole?!

Reverse light switch was as Lawrence desribed (if I remeber correctly) either that or there was an access hole in the gearbox tunnel that it poked through.

All the best, just about finished my 'box rebuild.

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

The cabling for the reverse light switch should come back from the engine bay, and be clipped to the tunnel side by a metal tag which can be reached. You half remove the gearbox, bringing it forward until you can reach to unplug the cable. The difficult bit is to remember to plug it in again at the right moment when replacing the gearbox.

Later 1500 have the underfloor pan cut back further beneath the front propshaft flange to make it easier to reach. A simple modification if yours is one of the earlier ones without that extra access.
Guy

Thanks for the answers, Malcolm I was thinking that maybe it could be undone through the gear lever hole however I think it might be easier to undo at the diff end.

I presume then I undo the bolts marking which bolt goes wit which with a mark then slide the gearbox out a little until I can reach the gearbox flange bolts then lift out the gearbox?

Seems simple enough.

I have been reading about your gearbox rebuild Malcolm and I was hoping to do mine however I am sending mine off to have it professionally looked at due to time constraints on my rebuild.

C Carter

I was due to put up a quick post about my rebuild. I need to thank the good Dr J. Barber too. The pictures of his recent rebuild were a great help.

Might get round to it tonight, I have a question about a spacer that I'm not sure if I have lost or just doesn't exist!

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

As stated earlier, the 1500 has an access hole under the tranny tunnel to allow access to the U/J bolts on the back of the gearbox. This makes life very easy. If you have a Heritage bodyshell it comes with that access hole regardless of which model the body relates to.
Chris H (1970 Midget 1275)

This is not me Lawrence. Chris is a different C Carter with a 1500 who is also in the middle of a gearbox removal. Tis a small world.

Christian
C L Carter

Hah, thanks Christian, I hadn't noticed that. :)
Lawrence Slater

This thread was discussed on 20/02/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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