We are going to replace the various bushings and fiber washers on our 1960 MK2, Moss gearbox with OD shift linkage.

Since the console and fiberglass cover are off, it seems that one could remover the entire top cover to inspect the shift forks and the condition of the gears inside.

If I understand the manual, it appears it should come straight off.

Of course one must be very careful to clean around the cover and to ensure no debris enter the internals.

So has anyone done this? Are there any gotchas? Etc.

Thanks

jjsandsms

 

I have done it many times on moss boxes.
First ever on a MK7 in 1963
Plenty of times since then in MK1,2 and other assorted manual Jags.
Just remember the moss box top cover used British BFS bolts as opposed to SAE used elsewhere by Jaguar.
cheers

 

Thanks for the quick reply,

So disconnect the switches, unbolt and remove. I would assume to do it neutral. Thanks for the tip on the bolts.

As for the gasket, looking at the ones for sale by the various vendors, one could make them pretty easy. Just wondering where it is cork, or the thicker paper, etc.

By looking at the gear cluster might give one peace of mind or nightmares going forward.

Got any photos with it off?

Thanks
jjsandsms

 

As Bill said, it's pretty straightforward. So much that I can't remember any particular points to be careful about. Depending on how far you want to go, you can remove the lever and upper part of the selector mechanism without removing the main cover, just the smaller cover at the back. For me, that's the area that can benefit most from improvement, especially where the selector finger engages with the selector shafts (striker rods). I think it's possible to get the notches out of neutral.

 

i have zero experience with the trans on a mk2, but i know there are british gearboxes from the era that contain detent ***** and associated springs that will want to pop out when the top cover is removed. if that's the case here (and i have no knowledge that it does), sempre paratus.

 

That will not happen with a Moss or Jaguar gearbox as long as the striker rods are sensibly handled. All detent ***** & springs are held in place by the rods when the top is lifted & a bolt/bolts for reverse gear. Take the top off as a complete unit ~ do not undo any ***** springs & bolts. Suggest you remove the gear lever for convenience.

 

I don't recall what the gasket materials were. I don't think they were cork. However, the ones for the top cover and top housing are so cheap, it's not worth the effort of cutting them out.

Most of the rubber and fibre bushes and washers that I can think of are on the end of the gear lever or inside the top housing (which is on top of the top cover). They can all be reached without disturbing the top cover of the gearbox

I'm not sure if visual inspection below the top cover without serious dismantling is going to show you very much unless you are already suspicious of a particular fault. The best approach is probably to drive the car a bit and listen for noises and see if the box changes gear as well as a Moss box can (which some will say is never better than awful). Some potential wear areas are the two large bearings, mainly the one at the front which will make a kind of whirring noise when the box is in neutral, and the thrust washers, which will seem like worn synchromesh, and of course the synchromesh sleeves themselves. You might be able to check the end play of the thrust washers by trying to move the shafts with the cover off, but if everything is working why worry?

As a preliminary diagnostic tool, draining and examining the oil might be more useful than looking inside the gearbox. See what you can fish out from the oil with a magnet and also pour the oil over some white paper and see what particles are left behind. If you want to be more scientific, you could send a sample to an oil analysis laboratory. Good oil analysis can warn you of things going wrong well before they turn into a failure. That's one of the reasons why Formula 1 drive trains are so reliable these days.