The 'E' Type Forum

I need your opinion & advise about the condition of my reverse gear, on main shaft, of my gearbox.
As can be seen on the photo for 2 of 3 of them, some teeth are slightly nibbled:


Would you guys advise to change or can I live with it? (before I close and reinstall the gearbox+engine in )

Thanks

I'm no gearbox expert....but if something is worn a replacement would be better....but are they available?...Steve

Are a couple of the teeth chipped with sharpish edges? If so I'd lightly grind these a bit smoother and happily live with the result for another 50 years ...

Steve: a quick look at the usual's catalogues shows that the answer looks like negative. Ebay propose some used parts, but what about their condition?
Colin: all edges are sharp. I was considering loading those decays with my MIG, then grind them to shape. How about that? Maybe overkill?

Don't go near them with a welder, you'll destroy the heat treatment. I would just live with them, unless you do a lot of miles in reverse.

Thank you for the advice Sean (not to drive too long in reverse, that is )

Always carry a passenger to push you back?

As per Colin's advice.

Get a carborundum stone and gently remove any sharp edges and radius off any crevices that could potentially lead to cracks forming but be careful not to remove too much material. It might also be worth doing a dye penetration test to look for any cracks that might not be visible to the naked eye. If there are any cracks then try to find a replacement.

You have the gear on the bench, you might as well do everything you can to prevent a failure in the future.

Regards

I imagine all reverse gears look like that.

Was it a problem when you were using the trans in the car?