9 replies to this topic

[catkins]

I have a mini cooper s . it has been in the garage for 4 weeks (dont ask) the mechanic asked us to get the parts. new clutch , clutch housing ,gaskets and idler gear. we phoned around for best price and picked one up. took it to mechanic , but he told us it was wrong size. we need a 31 teeth idler, not 37 as we were told when looking for one (we know nothing about cars!!!!!) when i phoned different people told me that for a 1994 mini cooper s ( presume its SPI)
i would need 37 teeth idle gear.
only had my mini since last sept and husband threatened to scrap it today, because all problems

[DaveRob]

just wondered why you need all these parts...... what was the fault in the first place......

Rob

[Guess-Works.com]

what is the car, a 1994 cooper Spi, then yes you will need a 37 tooth A+ idler...

I make the assumption that your idler has let go and lost some of it's teeth... taking the transfer case with it, and probably the face of the gearbox too..

If it has then any self respecting mechanic would be stripping the gearbox off the block and removing any particulates ( there's that posh word for cr*p again ) from the gearbox and also replacing the oil pump..

If you need any/all these parts I can locate

Please note an injection transfer case is not going to be cheap... !

Unless of course some previous owner has changed them to SC drops ( but I think then you would have noticed the really loud whine when driving along ) other than a recent appearance of a really loud whine as the idler breaks up...

Edited by GuessWorks.co.uk, 15 May 2008 - 05:28 PM.

[catkins]

what is the car, a 1994 cooper Spi, then yes you will need a 37 tooth A+ idler...

I make the assumption that your idler has let go and lost some of it's teeth... taking the transfer case with it, and probably the face of the gearbox too..

If it has then any self respecting mechanic would be stripping the gearbox off the block and removing any particulates ( there's that posh word for cr*p again ) from the gearbox and also replacing the oil pump..

If you need any/all these parts I can locate

Please note an injection transfer case is not going to be cheap... !

Unless of course some previous owner has changed them to SC drops ( but I think then you would have noticed the really loud whine when driving along ) other than a recent appearance of a really loud whine as the idler breaks up...

its definately a 31 teeth, found out today as the 37 one i got is too many teeth to fit other parts. what are SC DROPS??? , and yes it does whine.
idler didnt lose teeth, cant explain what it is as husband knows and is out ( bars either side of wheel wore down) if that makes sense
gearbox has been strippedand syncronized
sorry about explanation not being too good

[Guess-Works.com]

what is your car and is it the original engine and gearbox... as the idler you are describing is an A series idler which was last fitted to a production mini in 1979...

this may explain why the idler is in bits, as some 'numpty' has fitted A series drop gears ( common name for the Primary, idler and input gear ) to an A+ gearbox and transfer case

ONLY fit an A series idler into an A series gearbox and how it was running an injection system with an.... oh god I think I've just realised what's happened.... A+ transfer case for the injection...

*shakes head*

[Sprocket]

Please note an injection transfer case is not going to be cheap... !

Last I seen, Wood and Picket were selling these brand new for £50 at Bingley


Gearbox may have been replaced with an 'A' box and the transfer case is fitted with one eof thise conversion bearings for the idler, and the whole drop set is pre A+

Thing to check is the part number on the gearbox casing under the oil filter, if its 12g**** its pre A+, if its DAM its A+

[Guess-Works.com]

Is the person doing the work 'Mini savey' ? may be best to take a few photies and post them up before any more damage is caused.

[catkins]

the mechanic used to do minis years ago.
it has J.Cooper SI pack
it has had a new engine , but cant find out when, but in the "history" i have a OAP paper "care and protection of new engine" also reciepts say 12,000 mile check
2002 engine and gearbox rebuild ( wood and picket)
gearbox rebuild:
strip gearbox to remove piston swarf
rebuild as required using new 3rd motion shaft double roller bearing
2003 (mini speed)
the gearbox was replaced with a straight cut item with x-pin diff
fly wheel housing, idler gears and bearings were replaced as they had previously collapsed and worn the gears and casing
also on receipt is conversion set 1275 part

[Guess-Works.com]

if it's got a SC gearbox and an X-Pin, the I'd put odds on it having SC drop gears...

You need to find the type/manufacturer of gears ( if minispeed did it then it could be any old toot - or possibly Jack Knight but we'll not pursue that story any further ) to get a match on the idler.

A set of SC drops look like these

[attachment=58100:A_SCDROPS.jpg]

Edited by GuessWorks.co.uk, 16 May 2008 - 09:12 AM.

[catkins]

Thanks for all your help
I managed to get a 31 teeth idler gear, original part(cheap) but still need the thrust washers for it
found out what clearence it needs and part number.
mechanic says gears were messed up, but its been sorted he seems to know what hes talking about,