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MG MGA - Gearbox question

Hi Guys,

I removed the gearbox for cleaning and inspection, also to change the front oil seal of the main shaft, beside your opinions of what else I should look into, I want to know if the oil seal has to be changed removing the front cover with the gearbox standing in horizontal position or in vertical position or it is not critical?.
Any warnings about this?

Also I noticed a small play (probably 5 to 10 mil of inch) in the shaft axis, this is normal?

Thanks for your comments!!
R Garcia

It does not matter which way the gearbox is facing when you remove the front cover, assuming that you have drained all the oil.
An item that needs priority for investigation is the second gear synchro.
Small play in the input shaft is normal as it is only being supported at one end, when fitted to the engine the other end is supported by the bush in the flywheel.
When replacing the cover there is a special tool and procedure for centralising the shaft in the seal, but if careful you can do it by eye and by feel.

Mick
M F Anderson

There are places you cannot inspect without stripping it.The rear layshaft bearing wears the shaft on one side. If you can feel any sideways movement in the laygear, small end, then fix it with a new layshaft at least. A new layshaft can be installed without stripping the box, just insert new one and push out the old, or use a dummy shaft to inspect the one there. Look at the first gear teeth. If these are worn, you will find the steel debris lurking in all the corners of the box and this warrants a cleanout, only possible by dismantling. I was amazed how much I washed out of mine.
Art Pearse

Hi, the layshaft can be removed simply by removing the front cover, standing the gearbox on end, and carefully pulling out the layshaft. If you are gentle, and keep the transmission perfectly still, the layshaft can simply be withdrawn and then dropped back in place. If you do this, be sure to mark the location of the half moon shaped portion of the layshaft snout in relations to the front of the transmission, since it keys into a notch in the front cover. It is possible to rotate the shaft by trial and error, but is much easier to mark it before shaft removal. Glenn
Glenn Hedrich

This thread was discussed on 27/04/2010

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