QuestionQUESTION: Hi Barrie-
You helped me back in April. I have a new issue.
The car was driving GREAT and suddenly today there is a
grinding noise when the transmission is engaged and it is
very rough when going into reverse. When the clutch is
pressed or the car is in neautral, the noise is gone. I as
thinking that it might be the tranny fluid/oil?--I have NO
IDEA how to check it on this car.--Is there anything else it
could be? It seems to be worse in 3rd and 4th gears. I am
hesitant to drive it until I figure this out and the
mechanic that I knows MGs has closed his shop for a month.
ANSWER: Hi Kit. The fact that the noise is there until you select neutral or put your foot on the clutch indicates a fault in the gearbox.
Please do not use the car until you know what has happened. Driving it without oil could do more damage and cost you a new gearbox.
I would start by checking the level of oil in the gearbox.
The gearbox lubrication filler/level plug is situated on the gearbox extension. It is reached by lifting the floor covering inside the car and removing the large rubber plug on the left hand side of the gearbox cover. Assuming your car is LHD, that is the driver's side. If you need a lot of oil to bring it up to the full mark, then probably the rear oil seal needs to be replaced.
If it is not a shortage of oil, then there is probably internal damage, such as a broken layshaft bearing. This requires the removal of the engine and the gearbox, so it would be expensive to fix.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Barrie. Are you talking about the TINY little hole in the
floor? I can feel a rubber thing with the tip of my finger but
how the heck do you access it? I can't grab that thing or even
get to it. If I AM able to get to it, what do I fill it with?
Regular motor oil or ??
AnswerHi Kit. It depends which Midget you have. They changed the design in the fall of 1974, so a 1975 USA-spec Midget could have either engine. They used totally different gearboxes. The 1500 engine was basically a Triumph Spitfire unit.
If you own a 1275cc Midget then my advice is:
Look for a big hole, oblong about 3 x 4 inches under the carpet on the left hand side of the transmission tunnel. There should be a BIG rubber bung in it with a handle in the middle. Look high up, on the transmission tunnel by the driver's right knee. The correct oil is the same as you use in your engine. I recommend 20W/50 unless you live in Alaska.
If you own a 1500cc Midget then my advice is:
There is a combined filler/level plug about half way up on the right hand side of the gearbox. It is hard to reach, but it is accessible from underneath the car. You will need a plastic bottle of EP80W/90 transmission oil for this gearbox. Buy one with a tube attached to the cap. You can squeeze and collapse the bottle to force oil into the filler hole.
