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Hi all. I've had a TR7 sitting in my garage for the last few years and the clutch was siezed on. Last week I removed the gearbox to free the clutch. I noticed that when I turned the input shaft on the gearbox, there was some side to side play and when I drained the oil there was quite alot of metal filings in the box. I've only driven it about 50 miles since I bought it in 1990. Anyway, I plucked up courage and split the gearbox open, to find the bearing between the input and output shaft completely collapsed and the inner part welded itself to the end of the output shaft. The box looks like it has been incorrectly reconditioned before I bought it, there is no wear on the gears at all, they look new (with orange paint on them). Some of the washers, that you should choose the correct thickness, to give the correct end float, had just been ground down to fit (what a bodge). After alot of dremmelling, I finally got the bearing off and smoothed the shaft end, the best I could. So finally, heres my question. Theres an oil pump in the rear section. Is that just to lubricate the 5th gear, or something more? also, I've read that AFT does not lubricate enough and they are advising to go back to MTF. What are your thoughts? Many thanks, Keith

The oil pump lubricates the entire gearbox - the reason these boxes cannot be towed without dying.
My guess is your box have been towed...

You should use the GM or Pennzoil "Manual Synchromesh Transmission Fluid":

Not knowing what country you are in limits our advice.

If you in the USA, Victoria British is a 'good' source of LT77 gearbox parts. Except, that is for the bearings. Buy your bearings from a local and reputable bearing supply house. Avoid like the palgue any bearing made in India, China, ****stan, or any other less developed country and any off brand bearing maker. Buy only the highest quality brand of bearing you can find even if it costs twice what the cheapos are priced at.

To preserve the life of the rear most main shaft ball bearing, buy a ball bearing that is shielded on one side as this will prevent the ingress of grit and dirt into the bearing and the back of the rear extention. The oil seal back there is has effective as a screen door on a submarine.

We have good articles in the forum on this topic, use the SEARCH function to access them.

Mildred Hargis