Syncro rings

[oxford]

Hi everone
could I have some expert opinions please? I am rebuilding my BN4 gearbox and I'm wondering if I should replace the syncros. I am happy to do it, but from my experience with my MGA I'm wondering if worn original syncros are better than reproductions. The new ones I put in there don't give me a better change than the worn originals and I think replacement parts are often suspect. I've included a picture. I think I could probably keep the third and fourth, perhaps swap them over, but should replace the second. What do you think?
Thanks
Matthew

 

[Brinkerhoff]

The rings from Denis Welch work. The std. replacements from Moss ( 20 yrs ago) did not.

 

[Superwrench]

Brink is right ! The Denis Welch ones work. While it is apart, put them in. You don't want to tear it back out !

 

[57_BN4]

^^Yes. The brief pain your wallet will feel is the comfort of knowing you'll never have to have the gearbox apart again for synchros. Check the archives for a few other BN4 gearbox tips and tricks.

 

[Randy Forbes]

It's the inside of the synchromesh rings that wear the most, and I can see by looking that yours are shot__I don't even need a better view from the underside of your first pic.

I didn't have any trouble with the last few side-shift boxes I've built, so I'd have to say that the Moss ones must've improved (I did have an issue with the clearance on some rings back in the 1980s though). That's not to say the DW rings aren't better, but I have no firsthand experience with them.

Here's a link to some albums of s/s xmsn's I've rebuilt in the last few years:
https://www.spcarsplus.com/gallery3/index.php/LS-BN4-XMSN-O-H
https://www.spcarsplus.com/gallery3/index.php/Boz-Koz-XMSN

This link contains multiple embedded albums, and probably has the most detailed pictures (the KOZ-XMSN one shows how wrong a box can be put together__By Others...):
https://www.spcarsplus.com/gallery3/index.php/Healey-at-home/gearbox_work

These are the two (2) main breakout albums from above:
https://www.spcarsplus.com/gallery3/index.php/Healey-at-home/gearbox_work/overdrive_assembly
https://www.spcarsplus.com/gallery3...e/gearbox_work/sideshift_xmsn_assembly?page=3

Voilla!

 

[oxford]

Thanks Randy (and everyone)
I think I'll replace them, not a pleasant job to pull it all again. Does anyone have any experience with the AH Spares syncros?
Matthew

 

[59BN6]

I fitted the uprated synchro ring set from Moss to my BN6. I can't say how they compare to some of the other brands mentioned, but I am very very happy with the gearbox now. I was having a little bit of trouble going into second beforehand (becoming a lot of trouble in the end), where as now it changes so nicely! The rings that came out didn't look as worn as yours either, so personally I wouldn't be putting them back in, but it seems you've come to that conclusion. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

 

[DerekJ]

I fitted AH Spares rings about 12 years and they were fine. If anything, the quality may even have improved since then as they are constantly involved in upgrading their products.