This is my first rebuild of a MF5 and I ned some help. I'm not sure which way the 3 little Shift Plates go back into the Synchro Hub. Does the raised part of the shift plate face towards the centre of the Synchro hub or should the raised part face towards the Synchro Sleeve. Just so I'm not confusing myself or anyone the Fifth Gear Synchro assembly in my repair manual says it comprises of the following parts: Insert Retainer 3 x Shift Plates 3 x Springs Synchro Hub Synchro Sleeve Synchro Ring I took images of most things but when I dismantled the Synchro assembly 2 of the shift plates came out except for one as I fumbled to keep the other one in its place. Err, it would have been funny if anyone was watching this amateure at work Anyway, I've stuffed up and need some help please Cheers (Later on in the day) Ok, this may sound like a dumb question but now I deffinitely know why I'm having problems with which way the shift plates should be orientated. They'll work in either orientation! Or Will they? I suspected that the box had been split open before because the Mainshaft Nut staking and the Layshaft Nut (27mm) staking had double marks about 10mm apart which indicated someone else had had a go many years ago. I rang the bloke I bought the car off and he said he had had a noise in the box (Reverse gear knocking)when he bought it new and that about 3 weeks after purchasing it new in 1988 that it was returned to the dealer and they pulled the rear of the box down. Anyway, before I pulled the box apart I took images of everypart before and after and it would appear that the "Fifth Gear Shift Plates" in the rear of the box by the main shaft nut were, or may have been, put in the wrong way, ie the lumpy part down and the flat side up. In the workshop manual the shift plates appear to be installed sitting on the spring with the lumpy bit up (or facing you) so that they engage the centre of the Synchro Sleeve when it is moved forward or rear by the shift forks. I'm still not sure of which is right but this lead me to check a few further things on the rear of the box that didn't seem right The sequence for installation of the thrust washer, needle roller thrust bearing, locating pin and thrust washer was also out I checked the images I took before I did the strip down of the MF5. I re-installed (did the build) the shift plates, as per the "before dismantling shot" (Strip down). As I read out the sequence from the workshop manual I relised that who ever had worked on the box before had got the instal sequence wrong. They had the needle roller thrust bearing hard up against the Fifth Gear and the Needle Roller Bearing it was sitting on; what should of been there was the thin thrust washer, then the needle roller thrust bearing, the locating pin and then the big thrust (slotted) washer and the large mainshaft nut. Maybe, the person who originally put the box back together was rushed or just inexperienced (remembering that this was back in 1988) but it would appear that the rear end of the box is where the trashed Layshaft bearing (original problem for me) was and that perhaps these over-sights (That's if they are???) caused and still causes confusion for me as to which way the shift plates should be orientated. If it is at all possible; if someone has put the MF5 Fifth Gear Synchro assembly back together could you please let me know the correct orientation of those little itty bitty shift plates with the little coil springy things. Or if you have a descent repair manual may be that may give a clue, I'm working off photocopied parts of a Gregories repair manual and the detail just isn't available. (They have even stuffed up the way parts should be reassembled Like on page 120 the Insert Retainer is in the correct orientation but then if you look at page 122 the Insert Retainer is in the wrong orientation for assembly. The repair manual also doesn't show a picture of the "thin thrust washer", or "needle roller thrust bearing". No wonder people get confused Anyhow any help would be great and sorry for the long winded comments The Fifth Gear Synchro assembly is my main concern especially the orientation of the small shift plates Cheers Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The Fifth Gear Synchro assembly is my main concern especially the orientation of the small shift plates<<<<<<<<<<<<< I've been advised that the raised surface of the shift plate should be upper most. The box is back together now minus the Bell and extension housing Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Bit off topic but did you remember to lap the syncro's?

larry thanks for the advice mate. The car I've got was purchased off my Father Inlaw and is an excellent condition. When I pulled the Tranny down it appeared to be in really good condition considering the Ks. The Synchro rings looked crisp and in great condition. The gears etc in general had bugger all wear and to tell you the truth I treckon most of the bearings and gears looked un-worn. The box has been treated well throughout it's life except that the main bearing next to reverse ****e itself. There's many things I should of done and could of done but you can only do as much as you know. I'm a fastidious old prick and it's taken me a long time to get my VL goin but I know she's a beaut car and a fab box! For my first attempt, everythings gone well, the gears select well, the Synchros engage well and it's tight. I'm not a rev head just an ordinary bloke tryin to save a few bucks by doin things me self and havin fun. The lappin of the Synchros from what I've read is more applicable to new Synchros and new gears. If the old gears and their matching synchros are in good nick and the brass is in good nick and relatively unworn as is this box then theirs no need. Having said that, I'm just a dumb old bloke and if you could elaborate of how and why you should lab the Synchros beyond the standard procedures please put pen to paper:-)

When I put my current MF5 in my car the synchros looked brand new, but upon driving it they were bad to start with and have deteriorated something shocking.

When I rebuilt my old mf5 the first time I forgot to lap the syncros and they weren't gripping properly resulting in gear clash. Stripped it again and lapped the syncros and they were bitting nice and hard then no clash.

Cool, thanks for that, looks as though I might be spending some more time learning about gear boxes. Crikey! I hope the gears don't clash Anyway, thaks for letting me know about the lapping Some original photos have not been recovered yet.