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Re: 1275cc engine questions

To: pasgeirsson@juno.com
Subject: Re: 1275cc engine questions
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 09:22:16 EST
Cc: eriks@netspace.net.au, spridgets@autox.team.net
References: <48.1c58ed4.25dd7a91@aol.com><20000223.055754.7703.0.PAsgeirsson@juno.com>
Erik,

Forgot to add this bit to the last message about buying a gearbox at a
swap meet..  

As far as I'm concerned, all used gearboxes are suspect for condition, so
watch out!  Taking the side cover off the gearbox doesn't give you decent
view access to the condition of the laygear or the first gear ring, so
you can't really tell the condition of them unless you do a partial
disassembly. So what I have done when I see a gearbox for sale is this. 
Negotiate a price and when that's over say you will pay that if you can
disassemble it in front of the seller to determine if it's OK.  I can do
that in about 20 minutes or so.  If it's good, I pay, if it's shot, I
walk away and he has a cardboard box full of parts.  My usual reaction
from the seller is this.  "I can't sell a box full of parts for this
price!"  My clue from that is it's no good, and I walk away.  If he says
"OK", I usually will just pay and take it.  Rarely do I get a bad one
using this technique.

Paul
PAsgeirsson@juno.com

On Wed, 23 Feb 2000 08:58:26 EST Paul A Asgeirsson <pasgeirsson@juno.com>
writes:
>Hi Erik,
>
>I wish I knew a way to identify the difference between the Morris 
>Ribcase and the Spridget ribcase.  Perhaps there is a way, but I don't 
>know it.  Cases do have numbers, but they are all suspect because so 
>many gearboxes have been rebuilt and parts swapped around.  Loads of 
>the "Silver Seal" and "Gold Seal" rebuilt gearboxes sold as Spridget 
>boxes were in fact made with the Morris gears inside and the resulting 
>change of ratios.  Morris had a smooth case box for a few years that 
>was coupled to the 1098 engine and it had the internal gear set of the 
>Morris ribcase.  This was a baulk ring set up not to be confused with 
>the later Bugeye smooth case with needle bearings that had brass 
>synchro cones.
>
>There are at least 7 different sets of gears in the two types of 
>gearboxes that I'm aware of.  Could be more lurking around, too!  Sort 
>of a rebuilders nightmare!!
>
>Paul 
>PAsgeirsson@juno.com
>
>On Wed, 23 Feb 2000 19:43:52 +1100 Eriks Skinkis 
><eriks@netspace.net.au> writes:
>>Paul,
>>
>>Is there any way to externally tell the difference between a Sprite 
>>and
>>Morris Minor gearbox? For example if you came across one at a swap 
>>meet how
>>could you tell?
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Eriks Skinkis
>>
>>
>>
>>Paul A Asgeirsson wrote:
>>
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> I'd like to make a correction on the difference between the Morris 
>>rib
>>> case and the Spridget ribcase gearbox.  On the Morris ribcase, it 
>is
>>> referred to as a wide ratio box and all the gears are evenly 
>spaced.
>>> First gear is much lower than on the Spridgets and second gear on 
>>the
>>> Morris Rib is close the same as the Spridgets first gear.  The 
>>Morris Rib
>>> is also a bronze bushing vs the needle bearings on 2nd and 3rd 
>>gears.
>>>
>>> Now the smoothcase on all but the later sprites, they have the big 
>>gap
>>> between 2nd and 3rd.  Makes you wonder sometimes if you skipped a 
>>gear
>>> while climbing a hill with a 948!  Especially in a Morris as it 
>>weighs
>>> about 500 lbs more than a Spridget!
>>>
>>> Paul
>>>
>>> PAsgeirsson@juno.com
>>> On Sun, 20 Feb 2000 18:33:50 -0000 "rob thomas"
>>> <rob@thomasr.greatxscape.net> writes:
>>> >
>>> >----- Original Message -----
>>> >From: <Metallian6@aol.com>
>>> >To: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
>>> >Sent: 17 February 2000 16:23
>>> >Subject: 1275cc engine questions
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> Hi list. Is the 1275 a very dependable engine? How dose it 
>>compare
>>> >with
>>> >the
>>> >> 1098 on reliability? > Jamie
>>> >> 1962 AH Sprite MK II (under restoration)
>>> >>
>>> >The 1275 and the later 1098 (with block numbers starting with 
>10CC)
>>> >used
>>> >larger main bearings than the earlier 1098s (10CG) and 948s.  For
>>> >reliability I would start with a 1275 at a low power output rather
>>> >than
>>> >stretching some power out of a 1098.  Later 1275s with the oil 
>>filter
>>> >above
>>> >the dizzy are reputedly stiffer and less prone to vibration.  Get
>>> >everything
>>> >statically and dynamically balanced and you are less likely to 
>have 
>>it
>>> >throw
>>> >out a bearing.  For gearboxes(Tranny) you should be certain that 
>>your
>>> >rib-case is a Spridget one and not a Morris 1098.  There is a
>>> >noticeable
>>> >extra space between 2nd and 3rd when you are accelerating up 
>>through
>>> >the
>>> >gears due to the selection of a closer ratio gear set in the 
>>Spridget.
>>> >Spend the money now on cleaning the block oilways, getting it 
>>balanced
>>> >and
>>> >seal every damn gasket as well as is humanly possible ( It will 
>>still
>>> >leak!)
>>> >
>>> >Good luck
>>> >
>>>
>>> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
>>
>>

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