Fitting layshaft spring and ball bearings.

[mark1]

I've just fitted mine tonight, I've done it before and it's a right bloody mither. The best way I've come up with is to fit a toolbox door grommet into the layshaft groove (where the ball bearing fits) and put the spring and other ball bearing in the other end then to press the free ball bearing in with a small flat bladed screwdriver, then to finally push the sliding dog up.
Has anyone got a better way ?

[MK Monty]

Do it inside a clear plastic bag. saves a trip to the shop for more balls

[coaster]

Get a hose clip big enough to fit round the layshaft, put the spring in place and slide the hose clip over it. The clip needs to be just tight enough to be a tight slidding fit on the shaft. Now you will find it easy to push the balls into the ends of the spring. Then push the sliding dog up until it is contacting the clip and then use a couple of screw drivers to lever the balls in against the spring whilst you press on the balls with the screw drivers. It still requires a bit of dexterity but the hose clip keeps the balls contained and gives you something to lever against with the screw driver. Doing it all inside a carrier bag is an idea to, it saves having to search the dark recesses of the shed when they fly out

Anyway, take a look at this chaps attempts and you won't feel so bad. He has over 20 video's on Utube and is riddled with bad engineering practice and ignorance....but the first part of this one is hilarious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkG6Z-hXln0

[Dimitrios_231]

It is an easy task if you have two sliding dogs.
Press them against each other and then select a gear.

[gaz_powell]

He reminds me of Kenny Everetts character Reg Prescott - hapless DIYer

Might help if he took those big gloves off

Nice leather waste coat aswell

just watched number 5 - after he put the drive plate in the wrong way round with the seal in the wrong way (which then makes the seal the right way round !!!)
He like his gasket seal on the mag housing

[Nigel. S]

My method:

1. Ignore all advice and stuff you've read and muddle on in your own way. It can't be that difficult, surely?

2. Spend an hour crawling around on the garage floor looking for lost balls.

3. As per Monty's suggestion.

[Dimitrios_231]

He reminds me of Kenny Everetts character Reg Prescott - hapless DIYer

[Scooterlam]

Like your style Dimitrios123

[Dimitrios_231]

This is the concept.
Once mastered it takes half a minute to do the job.

[grandpa]

Hi Chaps
you can use 2 screw driver bits to press in the steel balls.The bits are a perfect fit into the slots then slide the dog over
Grandpa

[JETEX]

I use a pair of old kitchen tongs ( ground down to fit the slots on the shaft ). Fit the balls and spring, squeeze with the tongs and then slide the sliding dog on. As said though, it's better if you do this inside a large clear plastic bag.

[rossclark]

Always done it with two screwdrivers.

[Captain Pugwash]

I seem to have the knack of sliding the selector over the spring and ball bearings using my thumb and index finger to push the bearings down while sliding the selector into place.
I like Domitrios's fix, next time I replace a selector I will try that as it looks to make the job easier

[Dimitrios_231]

I made a short video this morning,two sliding dogs work perfect for me.
Brand new spring was used,even with uprated springs,it works fine.

[gaz_powell]

nice demo there Dimitrios but not as entertaining as our friend on youtube!!

[bookertmgs1]

Quick one to say thanks for posting this up - appreciate its an old post, but struggled for an hour before I searched on here.

Took 5 mins after watching the video.

Hopefully someone else hasn’t seen and will get some benefit

[Raveydavey]

I've always used two allen keys in the grooves with a cable tie to hold them in place.