8 replies to this topic

[Austin mini 30]

Hello everyone, 

 

Gears are tight to move from side to side and into reverse. I suspect this is the reverse idler gear bushes (1989 mini 30, 105,000 miles). 

 

Has anyone done this job? what does it all involve ? anyone got a list or something? I mean I can take engines out no bother I have a month off from uni and an engine lift etc.

 

 

 

Any pointers will be much appreciated,

Thanks in advance.

 

Angus 

[kezzkitkat]

Hello everyone, 
 
Gears are tight to move from side to side and into reverse. I suspect this is the reverse idler gear bushes (1989 mini 30, 105,000 miles). 
 
Has anyone done this job? what does it all involve ? anyone got a list or something? I mean I can take engines out no bother I have a month off from uni and an engine lift etc.
 
 
 
Any pointers will be much appreciated,
Thanks in advance.
 

Angus

Get/ do all your gearbox and go through it with me baulk rings etc
don't buy the cheapest bearing as possible get proven ones,buy you baulk rings from mini spares as they are brilliant
If your unsure of how to do your gearbox have a look on YouTube or if you feel that you can't yourself then get John at guesswork to do
Only major i can think that important is get the tolerances all good and take time

[Swift_General]

Get an (old) Haynes manual.

In all seriousness the engine needs to come out, gearbox separated, and then stripped and so if you havn't done it before you really need a step by step guide. But mini gearboxes are very straightforward with relatively few crucial measurements so if you take your time and are careful it's definitely a DIY job.

Good luck.

The newer manuals don't cover gearbox rebuild by the way.

Edited by Swift_General, 09 December 2015 - 09:47 PM.

[jsiggee]

My old engine suffered from this and got to the point where i was the only one able to drive it. I am yet to do this job but i will be doing it next year.

[kezzkitkat]

Get an (old) Haynes manual.
In all seriousness the engine needs to come out, gearbox separated, and then stripped and so if you havn't done it before you really need a step by step guide. But mini gearboxes are very straightforward with relatively few crucial measurements so if you take your time and are careful it's definitely a DIY job.
Good luck.
The newer manuals don't cover gearbox rebuild by the way.

  

My old engine suffered from this and got to the point where i was the only one able to drive it. I am yet to do this job but i will be doing it next year.

I've not read. The new Haynes Manuel but doesn't sound great what does it actually have in it ? Seem like most of the new stuff they publish is rubbish
In my case I wished my car would only allow me to be able to drive it everytime the girlfriend uses it it always has no fuel and some horrible perfume

[Midas Mk1]

I had the reverse idle gear bush go, not being able to get past 2nd gear on a motorway was fun!

[sledgehammer]

confirm this with others - but  IIRC

 

the long single bush is better than the later short double bushes

 

the later bushes fall out easier than the earlier long single bush

 

hope that made sense ?

Edited by sledgehammer, 09 December 2015 - 11:35 PM.

[Spider]

confirm this with others - but  IIRC

 

the long single bush is better than the later short double bushes

 

the later bushes fall out easier than the earlier long single bush

 

hope that made sense ?

 

Yes, the single long bush is the go.

 

If the Gearbox is otherwise OK, you can lift out the Laygear and then remove the Reverse idler without stripping down the whole box, but at 105 000 miles, I'd say the whole box would be up for an overhaul.

[Guess-Works.com]

Fitting a new one piece bush is the best thing to do, but.... They are a split steel backed bush which needs to be reamed or machined to size once fitted, so unless you have the tooling to perform the job in house, much quicker to just replace the reverse idler with one which has a single bush already fitted... or just push the bush back in with a bit of loctite.