External gearbox components for the 1275cc BMC A-Series ribcase gearbox include the remote housing cover and its gasket, the gear lever anti-rattle kit, the front cover and its oil seal, the rear extension housing and oil seal, the speedo pinion and housing, the reversing light switch, and the drain and filler plugs.
Gear Lever
The gear lever anti-rattle kit, sometimes called the ’zizzle kit’, is one of the most frequently replaced items on the A-Series gearbox. The kit consists of bushes, plungers, springs, and a button that sit within the remote housing and dampen the fine vibrational rattle that the gear lever transmits from the gearbox internals. This rattle is particularly noticeable at cruising speeds and on the overrun, producing an irritating buzzing through the gear lever that can be felt and heard throughout the cabin. The anti-rattle components wear quickly and should be renewed whenever the rattle returns, the job is done from inside the car by removing the remote housing cover, without needing to remove the gearbox.
Speedo Pinion Selection
The speedo pinion is driven from the gearbox mainshaft and is available in different tooth counts to match the final drive ratio and tyre size. The correct pinion ensures an accurate speedometer reading, if the speedo reads consistently fast or slow, the pinion tooth count may be wrong for the car’s specification, particularly if the rear axle ratio or tyre size has been changed from standard.