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MG MGB Technical - Laygear Bearings

I an currently over hauling my 3 syncro gearbox and am having trouble removing the retaining clip for the inner laygear bearing. The replacement bearings comes as a single cage supporting both inner and outer bearings so this inner clip would not be used.
Any thoughts on the inner clip removal. Thanks Alan
Alan Wright

Alan, I made this tool for the job. Worked well. Start with an old hacksaw blade. Weld it on to the end of a 1/4" bolt and make a handle on the other end. Then grind a sharp hook as shown in picture. The hook fits in the circlip groove, and when you turn the handle it lifts one end of the clip, while the back end rests on the other end of the clip, stopping it from just rotating.
Why don't you need the circlip with your caged bearing?
If you do need one, get the type with ears for pliers, but grind the edge almost to the holes to clear the layshaft OD.

Art Pearse

Alan-
Caged bearings? Are you converting to the later four-hole layshaft?
Stephen Strange

I too am fighting a losing battle trying to remove the last circlip. I have over four hrs invested and nothing has happened. I have no welding machine. Are there any other ways to remove this stubborn ring.
I an replacing the current laygear with the larger later gear. Do you need circlips with the later gear set up? Thanks, Neal Turner
neal turner

The "standard" method is to break it in half using a steel punch, but I did not dare do that for risk of scoring the bore, or screwing up the groove. The standard replacement for the old needle set is a caged unit, for the old type laygear. They have fewer rollers and probably wear the shaft faster. Lots posted about how to install a second roller set in the rear bearing area.
Neal, you could probably make a similar tool w/o welding. Cut a slot in the end of a long bolt, solder in a scrap of hacksaw blade and grind it to the pick shape. I gave my tool away to Glenn Hedrich.
Art Pearse

I use a sharpened up concrete nail to punch the circlip about a third of the way round from the gap. This bendes the circlip & then it can be levered out with a small screwdriver.
I have measured the rollers on the replacement bearings and the rollers are approx .1mm undersize so you end up with an extra .2mm (.008")clearance on the shaft. And, most of the new shafts are soft (I get my own made). I always use the 8G2404 needles each end and shorten the rear the spacer to suit & make a new one for the front (cut off from a spare spacer). This set up has lasted about 4 times longer than the caged rollers on my 66 GT
Garth
Garth Bagnall

Thanks for the ideas guys, I had a closer look at the new replacement caged bearings they are single units so the inner clip will return.
Thanks
Alan
Alan Wright

This thread was discussed between 19/06/2011 and 24/06/2011

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