Gearbox cradle - different versions?

I have a cradle from a -71 Commando and the engine is an 850 from -73. This combo is a "PITA" if you need to remove the gearbox because the crankcase of the -73 850 is different than the 750 and is in the way when you twist the box to pull it out (see pic). I´ve looked at the parts drawings on AN web site and there all the cradles have the same parts nr, but I know I´ve seen pics with another type of cradle which has a larger cut out in the top left, just below the "rubber tube". So I guess that the cradle was changed from -73 onwards because of the 850? But why do all of them have the same nr at AN, strange..... Anyway, I have to go looking for a used later version cradle.

The 1971 cradle is thicker/stronger at that area circled than the later cradles (850)
The 850 is thinner but it still does not help being beyond the back of the engine case.

Ironically you can almost get the gearbox out but not quite unless the cradle was relieved at the upper rear location.

Maybe they did something on the MkIII ?
Perhaps AN supply the same cradle for both the 750's and Mk1-A / Mk2-A 850 even though they were not exactly the same including the two oil filter unit holes.

It's the 850 Mk3 cradle where the gearbox can be removed without having to move the engine (either 750 or 850 I believe, as described in the factory manual section D7) as the Mk3 had the fixed gearbox, therefore, no need for the pre-Mk3 adjuster so the hole in the cradle plate was enlarged where the adjuster would've been on the previous models.

Cradle on left is cradle pre mounted centre stand, cradle on right is a RGM pre MK3 cradle but with holes for MK3 cotter pins. May give a clue as where to take the metal away so your current cradle can allow the gearbox to be removed.

kommando said:

Cradle on left is cradle pre mounted centre stand, cradle on right is a RGM pre MK3 cradle but with holes for MK3 cotter pins. May give a clue as where to take the metal away so your current cradle can allow the gearbox to be removed.

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Great pic, you see quite clearly there´s a big difference in the shape of the hole. On the cradle to the right the opening is much lower down on the right side, which probably is the reason there is so little material removed on the top left of the opening. Dispite these differences AN sells only one model from -68 all the way up to -75 which I find pretty strange..... And unfortunately every pic of the cradles on their site is from the left side.....

fiatfan said:

Dispite these differences AN sells only one model from -68 all the way up to -75 which I find pretty strange.....

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That's RGM's own modified 06-6972 (cottered) cradle.

AN's 06-6972 cradle has the standard shape pre-Mk3 opening.