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MG MGA - Broken Shifter

I finally complete the carpet in the car and wanted to go out for a spin. Twenty minutes in I go to shift and the knob just breaks right off at the bottom of the threaded portion of the shift lever. It's actually kind of a pain to shift without a knob.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is the shifter easy to remove so I can clean it up, tap it and re-install the knob?

You just have to love these old cars.
Tommy

Tom,
The shift lever is really easy to take out-- take off the sheet metal cover, and the rubber boot, then there is a large circlip holding the assy in place, remove the circlip, the cover for the spring and the spring. The shifter should lift right out.
P.S. how did you make out with the engine crank drawings??
/ gil
gil

Gil,

Strange you should ask. I never got around to making one, but I had the drawings out just this morning, put them in a place where I won't forget them, and am going to the home center tonight to get the stock. I will be using stainless steel rod with a steel roll pin. I even installed the trunk clips on Sunday as I was finishing up the carpet.

Thanks for reminding me. It takes me a while to get to things but I always get to them at some point.

I'll pull the shifter out and tap it this weekend.

Tom
Tommy

Tommy,
The knob screws onto the shifter, not into the shifter. If it snapped off at the base of the threaded section, you will most likely have to take the shift lever to a machine shop, have it turned down, then cut new threads. You will also have to remove the broken piece from the shift knob. That in itself can be a trick.
Good luck,
GTF
G T Foster

I'd say just put some threads on it and use a universal knob. You should be able to use a die on it without taking it off. Then look for a good used shift lever, it might take a while to find another.
Tom

Try Todd Clark for the part. You have to weld on a new stub and then thread it and re chrome it to re-new the part. The shifter is much thicker at the point where the threads broke off.
JEFF BECKER

A new shift lever is a bit pricey these days. There are a few ways to repair a broken one. Welding on a threaded stud is a bit messy. Rethreading the broken lever leaves it shorter.

The lever is large enough diameter to drill and tap the top end to install a threaded rod (with a touch of Loctite). This makes a nice repair which looks original. You should use a long hardened steel set screw for the threaded rod to have good strength so it doesn't break again.
Barney Gaylord

Hi guys,

I think I will go with Barney's idea. Thanks to all for your suggestions. Fortunately I have access to a good drill press and can pick up threaded rod anywhere. Ironically, I can't (easily) find SAE fine thread bolts/nuts, but I can find fine threaded rod. Go figure.

Rain is forcast for Saturday. Looks like I have my project. Well, that and the crank handle.
Tommy

Great solution, as always, Barney.
Tom

Tommy, A final comment to put you off buying a new gear lever is the quality of repro. items. I recently bought a new one from Moss and I didn't consider it over expensive at around £35. However, on getting it home I noticed black specs on the chrome and within a half hour I'd peeled off 25% of the Cr plating with a finger nail! I got a replacement which I've only looked at so far but the plating on this doesn't fill me with confidence as I can see small areas of the copper used as an underlay! Mike
m.j. moore

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2006 and 14/06/2006

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