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MG MGB Technical - Gear Shift Vibration

My 73B has recently started to have rattle associated with vibrations in the gear shift lever. A very light touch of a finger on shift knob is enough to stop the noise. Touching the shift boot does not stop it. There is no noticable change in the shift function or vibration level when holding onto the shift knob. I've checked the tranny oil level which is ok. The noise is more prevalent in 3rd an 4th gear at rpms of 3000+. It dimishes when I back off on the accelerator.

I removed the shift boot but there is not much there to vibrate. There is a small cover plate that I tightened up but it made no difference.

Would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

Mike
73B
Mike

there is a little anti-rattle cup or plastic sleeve that most probably slipped off your gearshift...check a moss book for the part number..it's an easy fix.

rn
RN Lipow

Mike. Actually, there is a nylon sleeve that fits on the bottom of the shifter and engages the shift linkage and an "anti-rattle" brass plunger and spring. Remove the shifter cover, then remove the three bolts and springs holding the shifter hold down in place. Carefully lift up on the shifter and remove it. The plastic sleeve should be on the shifter on in the linkage. The anti rattle pluger is about the 5 O'clock position when you look downwards from the top. It can become fixed in place due to the build up of crud. Remove, clean, use a little dry lubricant on it and see what happens. If the nylon sleeve is missing, replace it. Easiest to put it on the end of the shifter, then insert the assembly. Les
Les Bengtson

Mike,

What kind of shifter knob do you have? The logo insert on the after-market wooden knobs can loosen over time and create a slight rattle. If so, you can shoot some silicon caulk into the cavity - not too much, or you'll pop the insert out when you screw the knob back on the shifter.
Joe Cook

This may sound extreme as a fix but it did work, or it at least masked the problem well enough. First I checked for all the anti rattle components, nylon bushing, spring/plunger etc. All were there and seemed in good shape, still I had the rattle with the aftermarket wood knob with MG logo inlay as Joe described. I stuffed some foam rubber up in the knob as tight as I could and then screwed it back on. Problem solved. It forces the logo inlay against the wood enough to stop the annoying rattles. Good luck. The rattle seems like such a minor problem to those that haven't experienced it but it is very very annoying if you have it.
Brian

I had the same problem with two wood aftermarket knobs. Silicone solved the problem for me. FWIW, Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Mike,

You can see we're pointing you two different ways. Take off the shift knob and go for a ride. That'll tell you whether your rattle is in the knob or the bottom of the shifter.

And just to throw my hat in the ring, I too have a wooden shift knob with the metal MG logo. When the metal logo loosened up, it made an annoying rattle that sounded like it was deeper in the tranny.

Shortly after, the logo fell off completely. I glued it back on with gorilla snot. Problem solved.
Matt Kulka

Some gear knobs have a rubber core. This dampens vibration. At least some of the original equipment ones were like this.

If you look at the gloss black plastic gear knobs with the change pattern under a clear cover on the top you will find they have a rubber core. These are the knobs fitted prior to the overdrive change on the stick type. Generally people don't like them and change them for an after market item. the replacements often don't have the vibration properties of the original. You can be sure that if the car didn't need the rubber damper the factory would have just used a solid plastic item.

David
David Witham

This thread was discussed between 29/07/2003 and 31/07/2003

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