Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi fellas,
Reverse gear on my ribbed 1098 gearbox when bye-byes. So I stripped the box down. Decided while I has here replacing the reverse gear should do the bearings as well.
After investigation it appears I have an early 1098 gearbox, it has bronze bush bearings on 2nd & 3rd gear, and a bronze bush at the end of the 1st motion shaft, where the second motion attaches.

Question, can the roller bearings used in the latter models directly replace the bronze bush bearings??

Most 1098 gearboxes are as you describe, and certainly all Minor/A40 boxes - only the later 1275 version of the box for Spridgets was uprated (possibly all 1098 Spridgets ?- or maybe just the later ones that got the 2" main bearing version of the 1098 engine? Any one know for sure ?) - and I believe very different parts were used. Certainly that is the case with Mini boxes of that era which also were upgraded to proper bearings. If your 'reverse' gear has gone - I imagine 1st gear and the laygear may also be in a bit of a mess ???

bmcecosse wrote:Most 1098 gearboxes are as you describe, and certainly all Minor/A40 boxes - only the later 1275 version of the box for Spridgets was uprated (possibly all 1098 Spridgets ?- or maybe just the later ones that got the 2" main bearing version of the 1098 engine? Any one know for sure ?) - and I believe very different parts were used. Certainly that is the case with Mini boxes of that era which also were upgraded to proper bearings.

Thanks BMC.

bmcecosse wrote: If your 'reverse' gear has gone - I imagine 1st gear and the laygear may also be in a bit of a mess ???

I've been a very lucky boy... the selector wall burst out. The laygear looks fine.

If you go to a bearing supplier you may be able to get needle bearings to replace your bronze bushings, it's worth a try.

How on earth did that happen! ??

bmcecosse wrote:How on earth did that happen! ??

Really don't know for sure. But I'm guessing, but it gave up the ghost about the time the clutch rod broke (was nearly home at the time, 200-300 metres). I stopped the engine at the traffic lights and then when the lights went green started it in gear.
You can imagine my shock, fabricated 2 new sets of rods (1 for spares kit in the boot), thought I take the car around the block to make sure everything is sweet. Tried no back out the garage - no reverse.
The novelty pushing the old girl out of car parks or strategically parking so no reverse was required wore pretty thin after a few weeks.
Anyway now's the chance to get the gearbox sorted - should last the life of the car.

katy wrote:If you go to a bearing supplier you may be able to get needle bearings to replace your bronze bushings, it's worth a try.

Good point. Should give then a try. Thanks, Grant.