Morris Minor Owners Club

Actually, I forgot to mention- while I was under the car, I did find oil coming from between the rear engine plate and the sump. Not much, but some...
I'll have another look in the gearbox, too.

Slight leakage between sump and backplate is not unusual - but shouldn't get to the clutch.

Incidentally, if it's not oil on the clutch, why is the clutch slipping?
And is that clutch slip? When the whole car jerks and the engine cuts just as the clutch bites?

Paint it orange with a confederate flag on the roof, weld the doors shut and name it 'General Runningproblems'. Just don't get caught by Boss Hogg
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I won't, don't worry... This baby can jump a truck with the best of 'em...

And is that clutch slip? When the whole car jerks and the engine cuts just as the clutch bites?

I assume that you have the clutch adjusted properly as it sounds like its way out of its adjustment and its to fierce.
Clutch slip is when the revs increase but the car speed doesnt increase in proportion, its normally noticed when going up a hill and the engine revs up faster than the car is going.

To be honest, I didn't do anything with clutch adjustment! I just assumed that since it was fine before, it still would be I was reluctant to fiddle with the clutch, because of all the dire warnings in the HBOL!
So, how does one adjust the clutch?

First step - make sure there is some 'free play' on the pedal. Push it down with your fingers - this should be easy for about 1" as you press against the little external return spring - and then it contacts the pressure plate and becomes basically too heavy for your hand! If the free play is much more or less than 1" then adjust the nut on the threaded rod under the car until it is right. Simple test for 'slip' - car parked on the flat (clear road in front!) with handbrake pulled on hard. Clutch down - into top gear - rev up hard, and lift foot straight off the clutch. Engine should stall virtually immediately - if it keeps running (with burning smell!) then the clutch is slipping. This harsh treatment is not to be done regularly - it's just a one-off test - but it may remove any 'high spots' on the clutch plate and so the snatching etc you have may be a bit better.

All right, I'll give it a try... Once. It's not something I'd fancy trying too often anyway!
But I'll wait til I've adjusted the clutch- if that solves everything, I'll not try the clutch bashing...

The factory recommendation is 3/4 of an inch for MM. S2 and 1000 948 engined cars, and 1.37 - 1.50 inches for the 1098. Sorry about the mix of measurements

Which is why I rounded it off to a nice easy 1 inch! As long as there is clearance - it's then down to personal preference on where you want the clutch to bite.

I'm going for about 1.2 inches... Not just to be different, but it's about the most comfortable for me I think. I'm going to be out there doing that in about two hours...