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Loose ball bearings in bell housing in mg-ta with MPJG engine

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Loose ball bearings in bell housing in mg-ta with MPJG engine #1
burtonbob Bob Burton Regina, SK, Canada Sign in to contact 1937 MG TA 1964 Triumph Spitfire 4 (MkI)	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 24, 2024 10:41 PM Joined 8 years ago 12 Posts

We have been working our way through this MG-TA engine and during final disassembly we found 5 loose ball bearings in a rail (see picture) and one in the bottom of the bell housing. We are looking for info on the purpose for them. There is nothing holding them in place except gravity. We are trying to find out what they do so we can put them back in proper place on rebuild. Thanks in advance for the great help we have been getting from the members on this forum. Bob Burton

20240412_100503.jpg 48.3 KB

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Re: Loose ball bearings in bell housing in mg-ta with MPJG engine #2
MG-TC ROGER FURNEAUX LIFTON, DEVON, UK Sign in to contact 1946 MG TC 1981 MG MGB	Apr 25, 2024 10:31 AM Top Contributor Joined 5 years ago 240 Posts

hi Bob - I'm not an expert on TA engines, but I believe the clutch release id a ball thrust bearing (originally LJT35, the same as used for the crownwheel). This is the only source for these balls, so check the bearing: it is probably about to fall apart!

Roger
TC0978

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Re: Loose ball bearings in bell housing in mg-ta with MPJG engine #3
Tpss Tim Parrott Stroud, gloucestershire, UK Sign in to contact 1938 MG TA	Apr 26, 2024 03:45 AM Joined 8 years ago 851 Posts

I achieved the same with my TA engine. Yes, I over thought it.
I put the release bearing in back to front. On first release of the clutch I heard the balls rattling around the bell housing. When I removed the engine and split the bell housing I could not find all the balls. I then removed the flywheel and found the rest in the oil return gallery.
I suspect the same has happened and the bearing replaced without the owner removing all the debris.
With due respect to Roger Furneaux, I would be very surprised if the release bearing came apart under any other circumstances unless a plain rather than a thrust bearing was used.

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Re: Loose ball bearings in bell housing in mg-ta with MPJG engine #4
Tpss Tim Parrott Stroud, gloucestershire, UK Sign in to contact 1938 MG TA	Apr 26, 2024 04:03 AM Joined 8 years ago 851 Posts

Episode 2
As you found with splitting the gearbox, the clutch release fork has to come over the top of the bearing.
The clutch is released by the fork pushing the bearing towards the gearbox. Engines with dry plate clutches release by pushing towards the engine. Hence with not a lot of thought I put mine in the wrong way round.
Yes, Murphy is alive and well and very ingenious.
Noting that you found one ball in the oil that had not been removed, I suspect that your car was rebuilt and never used as the clutch would not release.
It is possible to reassemble the bearing. You need to so that you know that you have all the pieces.

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