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MG MGB Technical - removing gear lever with o/d switch fitted

Because my o/d switch is faulty ( in gear knob 1978 GTB model)I have a replacement gear lever to fit so avoiding stripping down the switch.
Any advice on how I go about fitting the new gear lever and any likely snags to deal with on the way.
Many thanks
si robathan

Si,

Can't help you with replacing the gear lever. Haynes or the workshop manaul must show what you need to know.

You don't need to replace the gear lever if the only fault is with the switch. Pop off the top of the knob (there is a screwdriver slot on the front side where you can't normally see it. There are two wires with round bullet type connectors that will pull off the switch. The switch is held to the top cap with two little self tapping screws. Five minute job.

The switch comes apart fairly easily if I remember from four years ago, with a brass roller making contact inside which is probably covered in old hard grease.

But you may also have a wiring fault. Since the lever moves every gear change, the wire can chafe at the base of the lever and break or short. Access to that is via the four screws that hold the chrome bezel in place. Pull up the gaitor and you'll see the wire.

If you need to replace the wire, then you will need to remove the knob by undoing the chrone lock nut just below the knob (spanner flats), and then undoing the ring nut inside the knob with a screwdriver. Then you can see how the cable gets up the side of the lever and into the knob. It is well worth adding an in line fuse to the feed from the wiring loom where it goes down towards the gearbox from the engine bay. Shorts in that wiring have caused fires I beleave.

If you are going to bin the old knob, I'm looking for one.

David
D Balkwill

If you're are going to to replace the shift lever, no matter where the fault lies, remove the 4 screws that hold down the ring around the shift boot. Lift up the shift boot and you will see 3 7/16" bolts around the shift lever. Slowly remove them, being careful not to loose the spring washers that are underneath the bolts. These serve a very important function. Once the bolts and washers are removed, you can now slide the shift lever retaining plate away from the shifter and remove it. Next, disconnect the 2 wires running down the shift lever from the od switch. Now, slowly raise the shift lever, with the trans in neutral, being careful not to lose the anti-rattle plunger located at the 5 o'clock position on the rear of the trans. Re-assembly is the reverse. RAY
rjm RAY

Thanks David for the tip on releasing the switch cover. having done that and finding no power to the switch, I am now going further and checking where next in the wiring I need to check for power?

I may be able to let you have the spare gear stick complete with knob
I will need your forwarding address!!
si robathan

If you have no power *either side* of the switch you need to check the connectors where the switch wires join the gearbox harness wire (probably white), and where the gearbox harness joins the main harness near the fusebox (probably white and white/brown). Check both sides of these connectors i.e. for power coming out as well as going in, there are two connections inside the connector.
Paul Hunt 2010

This thread was discussed between 07/06/2010 and 14/06/2010

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