Gearbox rebuild
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- 998 Cooper
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Gearbox rebuild
As Im just in the process of re-building my 22G333, I thought that I might compare the box to the 22G382 three synchro Mk 1 non S gearbox that I have under the bench..unless Im missing something really obvious, the two gearboxes casings seem to be almost identical?
Why would the casing numbers change..I appreciate that the internals do?
Why would the casing numbers change..I appreciate that the internals do?
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- 850 Super
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
I can't answer your specific question, but I was interested in how difficult you've found it collecting the parts for your rebuild? I have a pair of 12G333 gearboxes that were presumably removed from running cars, but have been sitting open, in a garage for 30+ years.
I'm assuming that to get either of them functional again, I'll need to replace a number of pieces.
I'm assuming that to get either of them functional again, I'll need to replace a number of pieces.
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- 998 Cooper
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
I'd say the idler bearing is different, otherwise should all be the same, ie, you can swap the gearset from one to another.
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- 998 Cooper
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
Hi Ricardo, the idler bearing is the same.ricardo wrote:I'd say the idler bearing is different, otherwise should all be the same, ie, you can swap the gearset from one to another.
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- 998 Cooper
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
Hi Benny,Benny wrote:I can't answer your specific question, but I was interested in how difficult you've found it collecting the parts for your rebuild? I have a pair of 12G333 gearboxes that were presumably removed from running cars, but have been sitting open, in a garage for 30+ years.
I'm assuming that to get either of them functional again, I'll need to replace a number of pieces.
Im lucky enough to have enough spares to enable a few rebuilds, but I think most of the parts can be sourced new, albeit some other parts may need a bit of detective work.
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- 998 Cooper
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
Interesting, my 2 333 boxes have bigger (4 synchro type) idler bearings where my 22G68 and 22A1288 boxes have smaller '3 synchro' ones. I thought the bigger bearing was only on S boxes.
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- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
id say that the casing number would indicate to the production line what was inside the box without the hassle of having to count the teeth or remove the box from the engine if it was already built
please note, these are my own, individual sales, nothing whatsoever to do with my employer, minispares
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
Sorry to raise an old thread...
but I am currently going through what AppK was quizzing. I am building a 66 cooper S and everywhere I look tells me that a 22G333 gearbox was particular only to the Cooper S
I have a 22G333 "Q" casing with the 1" idler bearing, serial number 12FA 13109. I keep getting told it cant be a 'S' box with the small bearing
Why would they have 2 different sizes?
Is there a possibility that bigger bearing 333 cases were a fix, not factory supplied? Should the idler bearing in the clutch housing be of the same size then?
I also have a 12A1288 gearbox with a 12FA serial number with the bigger bearing just to confuse things even further, but here in Australia there seems to be a consensus that there were some late MK1 "S" cars with this box before the Mk 2 with the 4 speed came out here in 69.
Can anyone shed some light on this?

I have a 22G333 "Q" casing with the 1" idler bearing, serial number 12FA 13109. I keep getting told it cant be a 'S' box with the small bearing

Why would they have 2 different sizes?
Is there a possibility that bigger bearing 333 cases were a fix, not factory supplied? Should the idler bearing in the clutch housing be of the same size then?
I also have a 12A1288 gearbox with a 12FA serial number with the bigger bearing just to confuse things even further, but here in Australia there seems to be a consensus that there were some late MK1 "S" cars with this box before the Mk 2 with the 4 speed came out here in 69.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
1966 Cooper S
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- mini63
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
from memory the 3 syncro idler gears had same length shafts and 4 syncro idlers had a longer shaft on one side. Never really new why this was.freddo wrote:Sorry to raise an old thread...but I am currently going through what AppK was quizzing. I am building a 66 cooper S and everywhere I look tells me that a 22G333 gearbox was particular only to the Cooper S
I have a 22G333 "Q" casing with the 1" idler bearing, serial number 12FA 13109. I keep getting told it cant be a 'S' box with the small bearing![]()
Why would they have 2 different sizes?
Is there a possibility that bigger bearing 333 cases were a fix, not factory supplied? Should the idler bearing in the clutch housing be of the same size then?
I also have a 12A1288 gearbox with a 12FA serial number with the bigger bearing just to confuse things even further, but here in Australia there seems to be a consensus that there were some late MK1 "S" cars with this box before the Mk 2 with the 4 speed came out here in 69.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
Thanks Mini63,
Interesting thought about the idler gear shaft lengths
To clarify my earlier post, small '3 synchro' idler bearing has a 1"OD and the 4 speed (not A+) larger bearing has a 1 1/16" OD... both share the same ID so standard idler gears are interchangeable. A+ is bigger again and uses a different idler gear altogether
Interesting thought about the idler gear shaft lengths

To clarify my earlier post, small '3 synchro' idler bearing has a 1"OD and the 4 speed (not A+) larger bearing has a 1 1/16" OD... both share the same ID so standard idler gears are interchangeable. A+ is bigger again and uses a different idler gear altogether
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
According to Factory documentation, all 3 Synchro Boxes only ever came out with the 1" OD Idler Gear Bearings and that included the Transfer case. The 1-1/16" OD Bearings for both the Gearbox and the Transfer Housing were not officially fitted until the release of the 4 Syncho Box (in the 22G1288 Cases).
The very last of the MKI Aust Cooper S's did indeed have the all synchro box.
Edit: Just saw the post on the Idler Gears. They also fitted the long / short shaft Idler gear with the all synchro box so they could fit circlips on both sides of the gearbox idler gear bearing.
The very last of the MKI Aust Cooper S's did indeed have the all synchro box.
Edit: Just saw the post on the Idler Gears. They also fitted the long / short shaft Idler gear with the all synchro box so they could fit circlips on both sides of the gearbox idler gear bearing.
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- 998 Cooper
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
Both my 333 cases, Q and Y type use the larger bearing. No groove on the outside for the circlip. I don't think they have been modified in any way.
This is the Y type:
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This is the Y type:
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Re: Gearbox rebuild
Thanks Ricardo,
It may be the case that they exist with both bearing sizes. I was told by another forum member that the larger bearing was put in some rally/comp boxes to cure a tilt in the idler gear which used to destroy the gearbox and clutch housing faces due to the amount of punishment they received.
By the way, I'm a big fan of your blog
Great work
Cheers,
Fred
It may be the case that they exist with both bearing sizes. I was told by another forum member that the larger bearing was put in some rally/comp boxes to cure a tilt in the idler gear which used to destroy the gearbox and clutch housing faces due to the amount of punishment they received.
By the way, I'm a big fan of your blog

Cheers,
Fred
1966 Cooper S
Seamist Green/Toga White
Seamist Green/Toga White