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MG MGA - Grinding Out of First Gear

I have a few hundred miles on after the tranny rebuild. I notice that when I shift out of first there is a bit of a grind as teeth disengage. I thought maybe the clutch was not fully disengaging but tranny also does this when I hold the clutch down a few seconds before I shift out of first. It sounds and feels like teeth are still engaged and getting pushed out of the other gear. (I guess it would be first gear against the laygear.) I put in a new laygear and shaft.
Ideas? Normal?
Steven B

Unlike second and third gear, which have the their load bearing drive gears permanently engaged with the corresponding gear on the layshaft, the first gear is straight cut and disengages from the corresponding gear on the layshaft when another gear is selected. (See attached photo.) Perhaps this explains the difference in sound. My MGA's gearbox, which I've been using since 1976, often makes a sound similar to the word "chick" when disengaging first to shift into second.


Steve K

Steve, did you install a new first gear as well. If not the old first gear will be worn and not mesh perfectly with the new laygear and could be the source of the noise while changing out of first. I has a similar problem with an early B gearbox which I rebuilt using a new laygear but old first gear. It went away when I installed a new first gear outer ring.

Andy
Andy Preston

The gearbox in my ´63 MGB also often makes this "chick" sound from first to second, particularly when the oil is still cold. I overhauled it three years ago, with new laygear and first gear. It is not what I would describe as grinding, but it feels as if a little force has to be used to push the gears out of mesh, even if I hold the clutch down for some time like Steven says. Always wondered about this.

Tore
Tore

Andy -

You are correct, I did not replace the first gear when I put in the new laygear, first looked good but I understand how the wear on the faces of the gears would make the mesh different. I am not going to worry about it.
Thanks all for your input!
Steven B

This thread was discussed between 22/09/2007 and 28/09/2007

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