How to build a Spridget Gearbox - Part 1 of 2 (Race or Street)

[@olddirtbeard]

Thank you so very much, Steve, for your excellent, detailed, step-by-step instructions in this two-part video. I had never rebuilt a Spridget gearbox previously and I surely would have made several critical mistakes had I not spent hours literally viewing, reviewing, and pausing on various portions of your videos both prior to commencing the work and while doing the work. I am particularly grateful for the additional annotation and text you added to the video at several complex steps. It was terrific. I moved a laptop computer to the garage next to the workbench and had you and your videos playing while I completely rebuilt my gearbox after blowing out second gear and the layshaft, and it works better now than it ever did before. You truly are both a gentleman and a scholar for sharing your great knowledge and expertise in such a kind and accessible manner. Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!

[@jptoro2007]

Excellent video and instructions. I am about to do this for the first time during winter. Easy to understand and follow. I truly appreciate the explanations. Thank you.

[@dazblow1112]

So very clear. Thank you!!

[@kathysarmcandy1992]

Nice library.

[@javonallen1662]

I really enjoyed watching your video, very thorough, and it helped me on my journey

[@cherrypicker8897]

Excellent video, the best on youtube.

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

Thanks!

[@1straightcut]

Thank you for this very excellent and informative video, Steve! Maybe you cover it in the Part II video, but I've always wondered how you determine when a gear or synchro hub are too worn to use - I'm speaking specifically about the pointed gear that meshes with the synchro ring. You often hear a vehicle seller say, "oh, it's just a $15 synchro" (never mind the R & R labor...). It's been my experience that when the synchro has failed, typically the gear and synchro hub are also worn to where I feel they should be replaced. Still, I would like to know the fine line of accept or reject on those parts. Thanks again for your excellent video and all of the time you put into it!

[@eggybreadplease]

Really excellent video, top effort 🤔 I’ll be sharing this with the Morris Minor and MASC groups 👍

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

Thanks! I appreciate the support…

[@MikeAarset]

My biggest fear has been tearing apart ANY transmission. But with your excellent camera work and the clear precise manor of your voice (Reminds me of Mr Rogers, especially with the background smooth jazz :) ) I feel like I can tackle this. Especially since my bugeye smooth case keeps popping out of second gear when downshifting. But I don't think you can get parts for those. But I have a spare ribcage I can inspect. Great video! Thanks so much.

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

Thanks for your kind comments and I’m so glad that maybe I can help just one fellow enthusiast…or encourage someone to just give it a go…because you never know what you might learn… I have a solution for your 2nd gear problem coming up in Part 2. Sometimes it’s just a worn out synchro , and those are available. Sometimes it’s a worn shifter fork, sometimes you need a little washer on the shift rod… More coming…and thanks again…

[@MikeAarset]

@@allthingsvintageracing8656 oh can't wait

[@mundanestuff]

Excellent. I have at least a dozen transmissions from two separate parts hoards, I need to give this a try! Really demystified it. Have you published an engine rebuild video of the same type? Or a block in one video and a head in another?

[@nedwagon]

Excellent video! Perfect mix of detail, verbal descriptions, fast motion, camera angles, and mentions of tips. I recently rebuilt a smooth case transmission for my street Bugeye, but have a ribbed case transmission with straight cut gears to rebuild. This video gives me inspiration to get at it!

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@smorgasblogg1]

Best video yet Steve, please keep them coming! There’s plenty of info out there on the A-series motor but relatively little on these boxes. And yes, a disassembly video would be great. Take your time and go slow and detailed!

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

Thanks!

[@Jagmandave1]

Did I miss where you showed folks how to get it apart? Especially those two pins on 2nd gear under the lock plate?

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

No, you didn’t miss that, as this video is about assembly. And yes, that’s a bit tricky to take 2nd gear apart. I’ll need to make a video on taking 2nd and 3rd gear off the main shaft…. Which I will do… Thanks…your feedback helps…

[@philsyratt7198]

Really enjoyed and appreciated how you covered all the steps I’m a complete newbie and I believe I could follow this. Are you going to do this with a 1275 sprite engine, I believe would be hugely popular, I know I would appreciate it

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

Thanks! Yes.. 1275’s are in the works…

[@philsyratt7198]

@@allthingsvintageracing8656 Fantastic can’t wait to see it, I’ll promote this to my local car club 👍

[@philsyratt7198]

@@allthingsvintageracing8656 when is part 2 being released please

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

@@philsyratt7198 within the next week. I’ve just about got all the editing done….

[@ethan073]

Any tips for removing the main motion shaft? Mine won’t budge. I’ve pulled out the selector rods and forks, lay shaft and reverse shaft, and the main shaft circlip. Is it suppose to tap out now or is there something else retaining it?

[@allthingsvintageracing8656]

Hi Ethan, There is a circlip on the bearing on the first motion shaft on the bell-housing side. Once you have the main shaft and all it’s gears removed from the back of the case, I generally just remove the circlip from that first motion shaft bearing and the first motion shaft and it’s bearing fall into the case. It it’s tight, a little tap with a piece of wood and a mallet on the spigot end of the first motion shaft should pop it out. Cheers….Steve

[@ethan073]

@@allthingsvintageracing8656 thanks Steve. I ended up taking an air hammer to the the inside of the bearing housing to ram it out. It seems the bearing housing was just an extremely tight fit into the bellhousing of my box