I was a transmission shop the other day and was on the subject of the wavespring.

I was told that it is almost always the cause of our transmissions catastrophically failing.
The most interesting part was that he said if I bring him the transmission it would only take 2 hours to replace the wavespring.

Is this true that it only takes 2 hours to replace?
If the transmission was out and on the table, would anything else need doing?

It seems maybe spending a couple of hundred $$$ and a few hours of your time would be worth it to potentially save thousands in repairs?

That seems like a lot less labour than I've heard before?

Yes I was also surprised.
I was told before (on these forums) that the wavespring is deep inside and would essentially mean the whole transmission was pulled apart.

What didn't sound right to me was that he said he would charge for 8 hours if they took out the transmission and only 2 hours if I gave him the transmission.
6 hours to take out and reinstall the transmission sounded like a lot for professionals to me?

Yes I was also surprised.
I was told before (on these forums) that the wavespring is deep inside and would essentially mean the whole transmission was pulled apart.

What didn't sound right to me was that he said he would charge for 8 hours if they took out the transmission and only 2 hours if I gave him the transmission.
6 hours to take out and reinstall the transmission sounded like a lot for professionals to me?

So you are saying a single 8 hour working day is enough for this guy to pull out the trans, clean and dismantle, replace wavespring, then reassemble and reinstall the gearbox?

My hat off to this guy!

If 6 hours seems a bit long to pull and reinstall a gearbox, try it yourself and time the process. You'd be surprised how time consuming this is.

Actually, if you are so concerned about that gearbox spring, why not get a second hand box, get that overhauled, then wrap it up in waterproof material and put it in the shed for that day when the spring in your current gearbox craps itself.

I know it would take me much longer, but these guys have done this 100s of times and have all the tools.
I've pulled a manual box out with a friend and neither one of us really had much knowledge and it took about an hour. This was on a hoist with tools.
A transmission shop should be able to do it in half the time.

It'd be much more cost efficient to get it done to my transmission than spend the few hundred dollars to buy one and then get it done.
I have thought about buying a spare transmission and just storing it in case I need it.

For someone who has taken out a Magna trans previously it is about 4 hours max to remove and re install

As for this being the main cause all I can say is bull shit. I see many transmissions here blown and there are other causes like oil pumps, planetary gear failures, torque converters die and send bit of metal through the box also.

Mal, so you think since it could be any number of things that can potentially go wrong to leave it unless it causes issues?

Leave it until it dies and have another gearbox ready. It might never fail and youd be burning money

Actually, if you are so concerned about that gearbox spring, why not get a second hand box, get that overhauled, then wrap it up in waterproof material and put it in the shed for that day when the spring in your current gearbox craps itself.
While i expect you're being sarcastic there, Max, i actually think the idea is sound. The trouble is that the box would need to be filled with oil otherwise i assume seals would dry out. Also theres the issue of where to store it, not everyone has the room.

Leave it until it dies and have another gearbox ready. It might never fail and youd be burning money Problem is that the boxes will get rarer and rarer. Or do you think there are going to be parts available for the next few years? So all the gears, springs, seals, cogs and all? How long will the supply last?

While i expect you're being sarcastic there, Max, i actually think the idea is sound. The trouble is that the box would need to be filled with oil otherwise i assume seals would dry out. Also theres the issue of where to store it, not everyone has the room.

No sarcasm intended. I've done this in the past with alternators, starter motors and manual gearboxes. Borg Warner Sigma boxes were prone to problems, so it was handy to have a spare ready to go.
With multiple cars in the family these days and more reliable alternators etc. I don't bother though.

Doing the wavespring was also a peace of mind thing too.
For example, if we listen to Murphy the wavespring will fail when I am in the middle of a highway and it will cost more to tow and repair the car than the car is worth.

I had a friend with a 4 speed that hadn't done a single service to the transmission and thrashed it daily, at 360,000km he gave the car to be parted but not because of the transmission.

Problem is that the boxes will get rarer and rarer. Or do you think there are going to be parts available for the next few years? So all the gears, springs, seals, cogs and all? How long will the supply last?

Well from the looks of it with the amount of cars getting wrecked over the past year, people have been having trouble giving away automatic gearboxes, face it everyone who owns these magnas in a few years is more then likely going to want a manual because they are an enthusiast, if people want a daily auto in years to come they will opt for something safer, more fuel efficient and better value for money. Lack of automatic gearboxes won't be an issue,...

Magna's are a dime a dozen. Most wrecking yards have heaps of them. There were a couple hundred thousound made, it doesn't take much to write one off and send it to the wreckers yard due to their low value. Should be plenty of 2nd hand parts around for at least 10 years.

If I had the 4 speed I wouldn't worry as these transmissions are everywhere.
The 5 speed though especially here in the ACT is impossible to come by.