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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Stiff Gearchange


The Gear change on my 1275 MK111 is smooth as silk for the first 20 miles or so, after which when it gets really warm, it gets quite stiff, and its sometimes difficult to find neutral. I don't know how many miles the box has done, but the car has over a hundred thousand on the clock. The original owners did not keep bills, the only thing I know is that the engine was a gold seal. (it was painted gold and rust anyway).

In this hot weather this happens earlier of course. Anyone know the reason, and or a cure.

Thanks Dave

PS I have tried changing the oil, SAE 20/50
Dave Barrow

good to hear you've changed the gearbox oil, many owners don't even check it's level or top it up let alone change it, as it's engine oil I consider changing it again in 3 or so years and when drained you can see if there any metal also comes out

is it that the gears are difficult or that the clutch makes the changes difficult, when was the hydraulic fluid last changed
Nigel Atkins

That's exactly what happens on worn 1275 gearboxes. Next comes the noise and jumping out of gear.

Only cure is a rebuild I'm afraid, or put up with it until you have to rebuild it.

Glad I now have a T9.
Lawrence Slater


Thanks guys, looks like a job for next winter then. Its definitely not the clutch, as all the seals are new, and it was bled with enough new fluid to solve the national debt, and as I say its fine for the first 20 miles or so.
The transmission is noisy, more so with the hood up, but I was not sure if it was the gearbox or the axle. I did check the axle with the prop shaft disconnected, and it seemed to be fine.

Nigel, the lever just gets stiff to move.

Dave
Dave Barrow

Dave,
possibly g/box then but never discount the poor quality of modern rubber, many times it can be more effective to change the cylinders rather than just the seals now

my old g/box was very noisy especially in first but I could have stuck with it for another few years, now I'm told my r/axle is noisy but it doesn't seem bad to me it depends on what you're used to I suppose

as is very cheap and easy to do I'd do a thorough oil change on the diff to see if that helps any with noise reduction and see if any metal bits come out

have the axle oil as warm as possible before draining and leave to drain as long as possible to get all the old oil and muck out and see if there's metal in there
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 05/07/2013 and 06/07/2013

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