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MG MGB Technical - REVERSE LOCK

Anyone know of a good reverse lock for a racing B?

No point in reinventing the wheel if someone does one!!

CP

Colin Parkinson

Colin,

a simple design of barrel lock is common on different race cars and can be fabricated easyly. Mounted on top of the tunnel, it works perfect.

Ralph
Ralph

Colin, I too am interested in this conversion. Being a LHD car it's really easy to pull into reverse in the heat of the moment. I like the barrel lock idea but would like to use the rubber gaitor too.
John
JohnB


Gentlemen,

I was interested in something like this too, however, I must admit my ignorance...what is a barrel lock? Where would you get one?

Thanks

Martin


Martin Connolly

Martin,

so called barrel locks are common in maritime fittings, my translator also told me LATCH or BOLT or BAR.
This type of a reverse lock cn be fabricated from light alloy and fixed to the cover plate of the tunnel to restrict the movement of the gear lever.

Ralph


Ralph

Ok,
Thank you Ralph
Martin Connolly

Ralph,

I think I understand what you mean by the plate. This would be a simple flat plate that blocks that side of the gear lever hole.

IS there any option where it is still possible to have a lock where you can get into reverse when required??

Grant
Grant

Grant,

sometimes it is difficult to explain things if you have learned a language only by reading workshop manuals and listenig to the radio, so i just try to explane it:

On the tunnel, there is a black plate made of steel, quoted 'cover-gearbox-remote control HZA1431' in the spare parts catalogue. It is the sheet metal where the gear lever prolects through, normally covered by a centre console or carpet. This plate is bolted to the tunnel and can be modified with a custom made locking mechanism, using a long bolt that can be slide into a locking position or some kind of a latch that can be secured just to block the motion of the gear lever.
It is an easy to fabricate mechanism and was the style many racing cars made use of up to the 70's.
Going this way, it is possible to engage reverse only when this 'lock' is open.

Hope this helps

Ralph



Ralph

Ralph, that is very well explained! That is exactly it.

So back to my question, does anyone make one or has a drawing?

Colin
Colin Parkinson

Colin. What Ralph is writing of is the common door latch attached to a screen door, etc. as a form of security. Another German, Paul Mauser, looked at one and used it as the basis for his rifle pattern.

This for of lock has a U shaped receiver to receive the bolt. The bolt is contained in a longer U shaped holder having two notches cut into it. The bolt has a short projection, or handle, allowing it to be slid sideways into engagement with the receptor. The handle is, then, turned downwards, engaging the forwards notch, so that it cannot be jiggled open. A rearwards notch is provided so that the bolt cannot move forwards as the door is closed and accidentally engage the receptor, thus inadvertently locking the door.

One way to make up such a device, based on Ralph's suggestion, would be to take a spare gearshift gaiter hold down ring and attach two U shaped brackets to it, in a position to block the lever from moving to the left sufficiently to go into reverse. For racing use, a rod would be inserted between the two brackets, held in place with hairpin clips (a smaller version of a "hitch pin clip" and looking somewhat like a "bobby pin" used by women to put up their hair). This rod could be removed after the race and the normal function of the transmission restored.

The use of the stock rubber gaiter, to keep noise, hot air and road debris, out of the cockpit would be compromised. Perhaps two holes or a slit on the left hand side to allow the bolt to be used? It might also be possible to set up such a system that would work with the rubber gaiter, but I have not experimented with this.

Les
Les Bengtson

Thanks Ralph and Les, that's made it clear.
Grant Stubbs

This thread was discussed between 21/05/2007 and 25/05/2007

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