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MG MGA - shifter bushing insertion

Good evening,
I know from reading that everyone who has removed, rebuilt, reinstalled a gearbox has dealt with this. I cannot get the split bronze bushing on the bottom end of the front arm to slip into it's hole in the selector shaft below. Can anybody suggest a trick to help line it up/orient it?
I have read one suggestion to put the bushing in it's place in the selector shaft, than lower the shifter arm into place. Will the shifter arm go all the way into the bushing so it snaps onto the arm?

Thanks for your suggestions!
Thad
John Bissett

I did mine many years ago and it was tricky. Best advice I can give is to try to position the bronze bushing in the center of where the shifter would be in the Neutral position before attempting to install the shifter, as per picture. If everything aligns, the ball of the shifter should slip in. The risk is always present that if alignment is off, bushing may slip off and down; not a pleasant experience. I've heard others using heavy grease to pack the inside of the bushing in the hopes that the stickiness of the grease will aid in install retention.



Nick Kopernik

Thanks Nick,
Possibly getting in position to see it from the side would help. The heavy grease sounds like good insurance - I have already had one experience of fishing the brass pieces out of the oil below!

Many thanks and best wishes,
Thad
John Bissett

Have had success by fitting the bushes to the ball and holding them in place by stretching a rubber band around them--the rubber band holds them nice and firm/straight on the ball ,the bands don't hurt anything and eventually dissolve away

willy
William Revit

Thanks William,
Nice thought - the rubber band. That and the grease might do it. How did they do it at the factory? Probably before the bix went into the car.

Thanks again!
Thad ( and his Dad)
John Bissett

Thanks for many helpful suggestions. I finally got it in by using some heavy grease to help it stick in place. Also taped a small flashlight on top of the tunnel to help me see the bushing. Then, holding the shifter turret and lowering it with my right hand, I used a thin blade in my left hand to help control the bushing's entry angle. Whew, lot of trouble for such a simple result!
Best wishes to all,
Thad (and Dad)
John Bissett

This thread was discussed between 25/05/2024 and 29/06/2024

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