There are quality layshafts available with the followings specs;
EN36T steel
Case hardened all over by a special process
Rockwell hardness of 64.
Made in the UK by a specialist gear company.

Hope this helps.

that is very useful information

I spoke to my toolmaker friend today and he agreed with the idea of using a bush, and then he went into all the different bushing materials we could use and settled on a work hardening something or other - I think I'll be talking him into making me some bushes

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Just a question on the oil feed line . wouldn"t you have to seal the cluster gear to maintane oil pressure ? other wise it would be like breaking the oil pipe to your gauge, easy way out , reduced oil pressure to every where else ???????

No, you would put a restrictor jet in the feed line, same as for a turbo oil feed.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks doc , restrict the pressure before it enters the cluster ?

Yes. you don't need much pressure there, for roller bearings anyway.
As for how much oil feed with bushes there, I dunno.
pros- reverse gear has a bush and it seems to last OK.
cons- BMC got rid of bushes on the mainshaft in 1963/64, after failures in competition use. I seem to remember the problem was they broke up or seized.

I have heard that shady gearbox reconditioners (read: wreckers) years ago used to recondition Holden boxes by fitting layshaft bushes. Cheaper than buying bearings.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Swiftune sells a purpose made layshaft(s???) for customers who run their wonderful dog gearsets that are made by Quaife. This layshaft(s) are made of a hard steel with a high RC number. Swiftune did not want any of their customers to experience gearbox failure because of installing their excellent Quaife gearsets with customer layshafts of unknown quality. Not sure if these improved layshafts are available for remote shift sets.