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MG MGA - Pilot bushing lubrication

I'm about to install my new 5 speed gearbox to my 1600 engine. What type of lubrication do I need in the bronze pilot bushing, if any, for the first motion shaft.

Thanks Andy
Andy Preston

Andy,
Soak in regular motor oil for at least 24 hours.
Tony
Tony Shoviak

Hi Andy. Soak the bushing in motor oil for at least 24 hours. Hot motor oil is better than cold, since it is absorbed into the bushing better. At least so I have been told. I always coat the bushing and the tranny input shaft with a light smear of grease before bolting the tranny to the engine. Cheers, Glenn
Glenn Hedrich

The part is a sintered bronze bushing (looks like a sponge under a microscope). Position one hand fingers straight up and thumb extended. Place bushing one end down on your thumb with thumb closing hole in bottom end of bushing. Fill bushing to brim with oil. Place other thumb on top to seal top end of bushing. Pinch thumbs firmly together to compress oil inside for several seconds. You will see oil droplets seeping out the sides of the bushing like it was sweating. Instant lube of porous bushing without having to wait 24 hours.
Barney Gaylord

If it is a Hi-Gear Sierra 5 speed the bushing is supplied installed in an extension. I lubricated it with the thin red grease supplied with the clutch kit as the instructions indicated.

Image of the Hi-Gear bushing attached (Speedo angle adapter or right).

Jim


Jim Ferguson

Andy,
Is your gearbox from a FORD Sierra (UK) or FORD Merkur (North America)? If latter, see article on Barney's site describing the variations of this gearbox in NA, and some of the things that have to be done to accomodate them.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Jim, it's the Hi Gear Ford Sierra gearbox. Thanks for everyones reponse. I found the thin red grease in the clutch box which I didn't see earlier. I used that to grease the pilot bushing (in addition to the engien oil I had in there) and the splines on the input shaft.

Is the speedo angle drive available directly from Hi Gear in England, and does this negate the speedo cable crossing over the passenger floor?

Thanks Andy
Andy Preston

Andy,

Yes the Angle adapter is available from Hi Gear. It is expensive (90GBP) but you don't have to drill holes in the tunnel and you use the standard MGA cable. Search the archive for: "angle adapter transmission".

I installed the adapter last month on my 1800 with 5 speed upgrade and it works great. Peter Gamble does recommend a support for the cable at the transmission as some people have experienced problems. I made a bracket and bolted it to the transmission using the unused hole on the right side. An image is attached. Steve Gyles has his speedo retrofit experience in the archive.

If you don't want to make holes in the tunnel install the angle adapter before you do final attachment of the new cross member. The clearances are very, very tight. You must move the transmission to the left as far as possible and vertically to get it in. (Attach the cable first). The snap ring is extremely hard to get seated properly. Just take your time and don't give up. I have a picture but I can't seem to find it now. The clearence of the adapter to the side of the tunnel is <1/4".

Also if you ever want a back up light, get the Moss switch and install it before the final bolt down.

My Speedometer works fine and is very steady although about 25% off. (It is off for recalibration now).

Jim




Jim Ferguson

This thread was discussed between 11/11/2008 and 15/11/2008

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