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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Input shaft

Hi there, I wonder if any of you guys can help, I have just replaced the gearbox front oil seal, lip type like for like, when I bolt the bell housing up the input shaft is solid and cannot be turned by hand, is this what I should expect or am I doing something wrong? This is my first midget and and can be considered an enthusiastic amateur at very best.

Cheers Rich.
R Dean

Sorry if this is a daft Q Rich. Is it in gear?
Greybeard

Not a daft Q at all, no its not in gear, have tried it without the seal and it turns freely, it feels like the seal is pinching the shaft somehow but I wasn't sure if it would be tight being a new seal.
R Dean

Triumph or A-series box Rich?
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Now comes a dumb question from me Malcolm! How do I tell? the car is 78 but i am not sure if it is original or not.
R Dean

If you pull the gearstick up to put into reverse it's a Triumph Box. With the A series box to get reverse you move to extreme right then back.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

78 should be Triumph.

So, you say like for like, but lets be sure. Excuse the many questions.

- You removed the bell housing and replaced the seal in the back of the bell housing? Right?
- It is the same bell housing you haven't swapped to a new/different B.H?
- Did it have a seal in there before?
- Were the seals the same?
- Do you have a picture of the input shaft and/or the bell housing without the seal in?

There were two types of bell housing and input shafts on the Triumph box. One that used a lip seal, the other didn't (it used a scroll type). Maybe there is a mix up of componentry causing an issue.

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Ok Malcolm.
- yes I did that
- it is the same bell housing
- I think so but am only 99% sure, it was twelve months ago
- I thought they were, I bought a seal and gasket kit from MGB Hive and just put it in
- No but I will get one after work tomorrow and put it on here

Many thanks
Rich.
R Dean

ok, perhaps not an issue there then...

is there oil in the box? there might just be too much friction to be able to turn it.

pictures of it all would be good.

cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

If you loosen the bell housing, does it free off the input shaft?
Dave O'Neill 2

Yes it does Dave.
R Dean

No Malcolm, there is no oil in the box, do you think that the seal should be oiled as I put it in?
R Dean

Here is a picture of the bell housing without seal


R Dean

Bell housing looks correct type for the oil seal. No issue there then.

It might be that it is just a bit tight on the shaft and a little oil on the seal would help. Lip seals are lubricated in service by the fluid they are containing, so they are designed to run "wet".

I replaced the seal on one of my rear hubs recently and the new seal on that made things quite stiff to turn.

Hope you get sorted soon.

Cheers,
Malcolm

Malcolm Le Chevalier

Thanks for your help guys, much appreciated.

Rich Dean
R Dean

Always a good idea to oil any seals before fitting. Especially if sealing moving parts. Use the same fluid that it is containing obviously though..
Karl Bielby

This thread was discussed between 05/10/2016 and 10/10/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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