The only problem with that is that the first thing you do is drop the layshaft into the bottom of the gearbox casing. Once the laygear cluster has been dropped down, by driving the countershaft out towards of the back of the box you can pull the input shaft out forwards, and the main gear cluster out backwards.

You have to completely remove the laygear cluster because all those pesky nedle bearings will drop out of place. When you come to re-assemble you 'glue' them in place with vaseline/petoleum jelly, be generous about it.


The trickiest bit is on re-assembly. It is very easy to dislodge the locating keys inside the engaging sleeve forwards of 3rd gear. If you look at the syncro cone you'll see there are 3 cutouts that the keys sit in. If it doesn't line up properly, or indeed if it does engage properly and you then carelesly allow the mainshaft assemly to slide back slightly during re-assembly they will move out of line and the box won't work.

This is a real trap for the unwary on an M41. You can't at that stage bolt the rear extension housing on permanently. It has to be twisted out of place because the next step is to put the laygear cluster back into place. There is a tag on the rear housing that stops the countershaft from coming out again, so it needs to be twisted.

You turn the box upside down and the laygear cluster drops into place. At this point the thrust washers can come out of place, or the needles can come out, I normally feel with my little finger whether it's all lined up. If you attempt to line it up by driving the countershaft through you'll merely dislodge the needles. It only needs force for the last 2 cm or so because that is an interference fit.

Once you've got the cluster in place temporarily hold the rear bearing housing in place with a short bolt, you don't want the layshaft sliding back remember. You can't yet fit the overdrive extension, because that stops you from fitting the selector rods.


So the order of the day is selector rods, then the extension.

Regards


Pete