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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Type 9 gearbox - awful whirring/whining

Fired the midget up last night, to move in/out of the garage. This is a new build so haven't run it much lately.

I had the 2 gaskets between the main casing and the tail section replaced by a specialist last year, so the rear end of the box would have been dismantled.

When idling, there is no noise from the box at all. However when I put it in gear, it starts to whirr a bit, as I release the clutch the whirring gets much louder.

Depressing and releasing the clutch while out of gear makes no noise at all, so I don't suspect the release bearing.

I'm dreading to think that it's the box. Up to now, have only ran the engine for maybe half an hour in total, but that was without oil in the box tho. Before the engine rebuild the box was fine, the only change between then and now is that the gaskets have been replaced.

Any opinions from Type 9 users?

thanks
Matt
Tarquin

have you got the rubber/metal gear lever turret/gaiter/gasket fitted and carpet fitted and all other transmission tunnel appetures grommeted and covered?
Nigel Atkins

"Up to now, have only ran the engine for maybe half an hour in total, ----- "but that was without oil in the box tho"

Ihink this mayd be something to do with it?
Lawrence Slater

No, there is no turret/gaiter or carpet fitted. I know it will sound worse without it, but wouldn't have thought it be that bad.

Lawrence, i thought that too, but it would have some assembly oil on the bearings etc, I wouldn't have thought a bit of running would damage it that much. But not sure.

I'm thinking a run round the block to help get the oil towards the back of the box, might help.
Tarquin

fair enough, what type of oil and level but if the noise is that bad this migh not matter either

apart from a bit of heat transfer why would running the engine do it

if you have a drain plug you could drop the oil and look for signs

would jacking the front of the car up before the run help
Nigel Atkins

I have a fairly steep driveway so that should help the oil running to the back of the box.
Tarquin

ah, there you go your car is facing the wrong way :)
Nigel Atkins

Running the engine with the clutch engaged and no oil in the box is a bad idea as it'll still spin the input shaft, laygear cluster and the gears on the mainshaft even if in neutral so you'll be relying on the remaining oil in the box or the lube applied during assembly. If any of those bits is getting dry then you could do some damage so best to put some oil in PDQ.
David Billington

Hi Matt,

Probably the lack of oil as DB says. May quieten down with the correct quantity of the correct oil.

Only other thing is that in order to replace the front one of those two gaskets the 5th gear assembly has to be dismantled and removed. And that involves undoing a large nut which sets a specific gear end-float. I cannot see why a specialist should get any of this wrong though - it isn't complex to do.

Could it be the speedometer drive pinion gear not meshing properly? - Certainly easier to fix if it is!
Guy Weller

I got the wrong end of the stick, so it only had the putting the parts together oil/lube rather than a bath of oil that's why I wondered about type and level of oil

well you've no doubt seen the Mobilube oil I use and alternative

check things out and put in a good oil and hope for the best as I've soaked up a lot of type-9 bad luck for you

I hope it's the speedo drive and the fact when you've not been in the car for a while you forget how noisy and how many noises and how cramped Spridgets seem coming to them from other cars but after a short while you get used to the car again and everything fades back a bit
Nigel Atkins

After you refill with oil, how about putting the whole car level on axle stands and running the car through the gears without the wheels touching the ground? Less stress on the box if the oil needs to get around without doing any damage.
What oil are you using? I used a 75W90 fully synth (Castrol EX?).
Bob T

(unless you're pullimg my leg)

if it's Castrol SMX S 75w-85 it's been replaced with Castrol Syntrans Multivehicle 75W-90 Fully Synthetic MTF - http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-739-castrol-syntrans-multivehicle-75w-90-fully-synthetic-mtf-replaces-smx-s-75w-85.aspx

I've used Mobilube and found it give better gear changes than the recommended Comma SX75-90
Nigel Atkins

Ran the car to the bottom of the drive and back a few times. Think it's the release bearing or clutch. The noise is only there when pressing or releasing the clutch, while in gear. Not there when running.
The release bearing is a Mondeo hydraulic concentric homebrew version. All I can do now is get some miles on it and see how it goes.
Thanks all!
Tarquin

Matt,
Same concentric as mine then (Fiesta).
Coming back from a Yorks MASC meeting a couple of years ago with lots of flooded roads mine began making screeching noises. Just when changing gear (clutch pedal depressed). I sprayed some penetrating fluid - or WD40, I forget which, onto the bearing face that contacts the pressure plate, using one of those extension straws via the inspection window. Actually not sure exactly where I sprayed as you cannot see, but just waved it around in the general area of the release bearing. Anyway, it cured it - and didn't make the clutch slip! I expected it to be only a temporary fix, but the noise never came back.

Might be worth a try.?
Guy Weller

I will try, thanks guy. Talking it over with Andy, we reckon it can only be the clutch plate. Let's see how noisy it is on the road, then we can decide whether to pull the engine and take a look.
Looking good tho! The front might need to be lowered a bit if it doesn't settle on the road.
Will upload a pic when I get to a proper computer.
Tarquin

Here she is:


Tarquin

Impressive!
But why do you call teh car a she?


Compliments on the tidy garage, ive seen it differently in the past... :)
Arie de Best

That's nice Matt. Pity you didn't take the opportunity to change the colour though!
Guy Weller

Guy, thats harsh!
Tarquin

Guy, you know the lad is a bit oldfashioned. :)


Lets see how long it takes before he slams this one also into a rockwall. LOL!!!


Matt, wait until youve done some miles as the frontsprings could be sinking in a bit more.
Arie de Best

the more I see it the more I like that colour, I almost bought one in that colour

as Arie's put give it a while for things to settle before thinking about lowering the front

if you're younger you probably don't realise how high a well set up car used to sit and from new when these were new

I want my car at a good standard ride height so that I can maintain speed on the roads I enjoy

photo of a two up probably well abused press car


Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2012 and 18/06/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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