1275 midget gearbox

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:57 am

Can anyone provide me with any info on this box please?
Is it a straight swap for the minor one? Does it have sychromesh on 1st?
I have a Marina engine on the bench and I know that box is a bit complicated to fit you see.
TIA

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:30 pm

From what I was told by the MG centre in Witton, Birmingham the 1275 box is almost identical to the 1098 minor box (eg most of the bearings and stuff). I don't know what the actual differences are but maybe it is gear ratios or something.
They also told me that they supplied the Birmingham minor centre with some of their gearbox parts!
In the end I bought gearbox bits from the MG centre for doing a complete rebuild, although that was 6 years ago.

I expect the marina box is more robust, as it is often used on tuned 1300's. Maybe CAM or someone knowledgable like that will comment on the marina box?

Post by **Robins** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 7:19 pm

Yep the 1275 midget box is a straight swap for the moggie 1098 box, I've just put one on my traveller. The difference is the ratios.
sychromesh on 1st? I don't think so although I wasn't paying attention, I will go for a test drive and find out.
What I did notice is there is a nice whine especially in 3rd gear, not sure if it's ment to be there (is it??) but it sounds good, maybe its a MG thing and it is a new box.

Post by **Gareth** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 7:22 pm

New gearboxes shouldn't whine... There again, nor should new differentials. Just the same as New Fords shouldn't clatter like dustbins (one for Ray ;)).

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:36 pm

New gearboxes shouldn't whine... There again, nor should new differentials.

Maybe so, but without the gearbox and diff whine, there would be nothing soft to offset the harsh engine growl at higher speeds..

All mine have had a nice whine - I only get nervous when they have very bad vibes (when you can't see properly in the rear view mirror at 40 mph..)

Post by **Cam** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 5:58 pm

The Marina box is a bit of a dog, a modified version was fitted to the 1500 Midget, but that had a dog of an engine as well!!

The 1275 Marina box is supposed to be able to handle more power than the 1275 Midget box, but the Midget box is supposed to be a nicer (if weaker) unit.

If you are using a standard 1275 then either will do the job. Personally I would probably go for the 1275 Midget one, but I would need to look at the ratios first.

If you are going much beyond 90BHP then go Sierra!

Post by **Peetee** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 10:48 pm

Thanks people,
The item in question was on e-bay. It was reconditioned and went for £150.
At that price I would have to know it was stronger than standard and had synchromesh on first.

Post by **Benjy** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 12:45 pm

Why do you need synchro on 1st?

I admit it used to annoy me a bit, but once you know how to handle it, it's not a problem. Besides, how often do you really need 1st anyway except on hill starts!

Ben

Post by **Cam** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 1:08 pm

Synchro on first can be really useful in long slow moving traffic queues, of course you can blip the throttle and still use a non-synchro first but it can be a pain in a long queue. But the Minor is quite low geared so starting off in 2nd is quite easy!

Post by **Peetee** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 8:13 pm

Why do you need synchro on 1st?

It was just another 'want' to justify a purchase. I agree it's something you get used to but then Doris is a summer Sunday car and no synchromesh is another thing to remember after having driven modern tin every day!!

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 3:27 pm

Apparently the parts for the midget box are a lot dearer due to the different types of bearings used and also without going to a hydraulic clutch conversion the clutch is a sort of either in or out action and I found it quite awkward to use (I have driven 2) and they were both the same, part of the problem is that the clutch plate is an 1" smaller or thereabouts.
Pete if you are really want one I can find out the cost of a good second hand one as the Midget engine I am picking up has a box available but I told him I was not interested, but if you are ?

Post by **Peetee** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 5:22 pm

I can find out the cost

Yes please. Perhaps you can establish if it has sychro on 1st too.

Post by **Alastair** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 6:59 pm

I don't know much about the technicalities of Midget gearboxes but after destroying two 1098 boxes attached to the 1275 Ital motor in my Traveller, a friend who knows about these things said ''What you need is a Midget box''. He reckons that instead of running the shafts/gears on plain bushes the Midget employs nedle rollers all round which cope better with the higher speeds and somewhat doubtful lubrication of the standard Minor box. If anyone has a spare, usable Midget unit lying around, I'd sooner fit that than the Ital gearbox sitting in my garden waiting for me to break another Minor one.....

Post by **Robins** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 9:20 pm

Been for a test drive round the block, and no there is not syncro on 1st on a midget box. I used to want it on 1st when I first drove a moggie but now it dosen't bother me. If your stationary when you change in to first gear you don't need syncro. I don't even notice now.
What does really bug me is trying to find 5th gear after 3 years of only driving moggies. I now drive a modern car aswell, that'll make things better won't it!
The 'in or out' clutch mentioned above by Kevin, I have not found this, it's just the same as a normal moggie. The new clutch does bite sooner and harder than before so maybe this was what you experienced.
If the midget box does have different bearings then this could explain my whine. I also have loads of sound deadening now so the engine is hardley heard.

Post by **Peetee** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 7:42 am

What does really bug me is trying to find 5th

does a Midget box have 5th gear then?

Post by **ianselva** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 12:41 pm

I'm afraid you will find that not all Midget gearboxes have the needle roller bearing mainshaft . It is fitted only to 1275 boxes. I'm afraid I dont recall how you tell the difference without striping the box , I seem to remember that there is a difference in the part number marking on the first motion shaft.

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 12:43 pm

No I am afraid not if it did that would make it even more desirable.
Alistair is correct the 1275 midget box does have needle roller bearings.
Pete I will not be finding out about the box until the end of next week and then I will let you know.

Post by **Robins** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 8:04 pm

Sorry Peetee if I built up a false hope about 5th. What I ment by trying to find 5th is moggies and midgets only having 4 gears, and I had not driven a modern car with 5 gears for 3 years, but force of habit still made me automatically depress the clutch and try and change in to 5th only to realise it wasn't there

I then turn my brain back on a have to find 4th again. This can be a pain at times.

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 9:21 am

's ok. I've been there too

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 1:08 pm

Daniel a question about your midget box, what size engine do you have and did you have to fit the midget flywheel and clutch as I have been told that they are both smaller than the Minor one and that the Minor one does not fit the midget one, is it true or false and did you have to alter anything else.