[Healeys] BJ7 - CLOSE RATIO GEARBOX

[Mark LaPierre]

Where does one get a magnetic plug for our gear boxes?  Usual suppliers?

Mark


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Salter" <msalter at precisionsportscar.com>
To: "'Alan Seigrist'" <healey.nut at gmail.com>; <scott at scottjgraham.com>
Cc: <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Healeys] BJ7 - CLOSE RATIO GEARBOX


> Michael Salter
> http://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/?p=445
>
> Scott,
> Unless you are abusing it badly a BJ7 gearbox should last for years. Many
> Healey drivers do not realize that 1st gear is not designed for regular 
> use.
> The 1st gear on the laygear is a 13 tooth straight cut spur gear which by
> its very design wears quickly, particularly under high loads. I suggest 
> that
> you start learning to start off in 2nd gear; the car may not blast off the
> line quite as quickly but when all is said and done you will find that it
> will get up to speed almost as fast when you remove the pause caused by 
> the
> 1st to 2nd shift and, in addition, clutches are much less expensive and 
> more
> readily available than gears.
> The problem with regular heavy use of 1st gear is that the hardened steel
> shards which peel off the gear make their way into the laygear needle 
> roller
> bearings resulting in their premature demise; and this is the same reason
> the speed shifts into first or grinding into reverse should be avoided at
> all costs.
> BTW installing a magnetic plug in the gearbox can go a long way toward
> prolonging the life of these boxes. The magnet in the overdrive does help
> but metal has usually gone through the box several times before it makes 
> its
> way back there.
>
> Michael Salter
> http://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/?p=623