Morris Minor Owners Club

The nut on the clutch rod indicated with an index...[frame][/frame]

In regard to the clutch friction plate. I just looked at a new one on ESM spares and it appears mine is worn totally flat. Could this be the cause of the problem? When I rotated the gearbox (once it was out of the car) I was able to engage all gears which I couldn't do when it was in the car.

If I need a new friction plate, is it a case of swapping it for a new one or are there bearings etc to remove/replace?

i would replace the clutch plate, as i think it should have little ridges on it. that "spacer" would suggest the thrust bearing is knackered, so i would replace that too. is it a wheel nut?

haha, I think it is, ill check all my wheel nuts are there as well!

Where is the thrust bearing. Is it easy to get to and replace?

Ah, just looked it up. I know what the thrust bearing is. So that effects how far the clutch release is pushed in. (my pathetic mechanical knowledge showing.)

If you buy a complete clutch kit (probably a good idea) it will come with a new thrust bearing.

alex_holden wrote:If you buy a complete clutch kit (probably a good idea) it will come with a new thrust bearing.

My clutch plate appears to be ok and a clutch kit is £100 where as the 2 parts I need only come to £42 so I dont think it's be worth it.

This is my thrust bearing (hopefully!). Anyone know if this looks ok?[frame][/frame]

That looks OK too,
However the spigot bearing , that the end of the gearbox shaft goes into looks a bit odd.

Is that in the middle of the flywheel? Why does it look odd, is it because its just a bit grubby and worn perhaps?

A bit hard to tell from a picture but it looks off centre.
The nut on the rod may just be because there wasn't enough thread on the rod to take up the slack, some have more thread than others.

The spigot bearing is in the end section of the crankshaft - not the flywheel. It does look knackered. The gearbox - you only show 3rd and 4th gears-and they are fine looking - they 'never' wear. We need to see 1st and 2nd gear - and - it's not the 'gear teeth' you are looking at (well - it IS with first gear which can't be seen - and the matching teeth on the laygear!) - it is the little 'dog' teeth that engage into the syncro hub and transmit the drive through the box. The ones you show on 3/4 gears are fine - let's see the other gears.

bmcecosse wrote:The spigot bearing is in the end section of the crankshaft - not the flywheel. It does look knackered.

When I hear crankshaft and knackered in the same sentence I panic! Can the spigot bearing be accessed and replaced from this side of the engine without the engine being removed or dismantled in any way?

I'm away from home until at least Monday, then i'll take a look at the gearbox and get a look at 1st and 2nd gears. How do you access them?

Also, just out of interest, why is a new 2nd gear so much more expensive than a new 1st gear?

Thanks for the help so far everyone. Hopefully i'll be able to sort all this out, otherwise.......anyone want to buy a semi-dismantled Morris Minor?!

davidpidge wrote:otherwise.......anyone want to buy a semi-dismantled Morris Minor?!

that all depends on whether you kept the headliner intact david.

marcusthemoose wrote:that all depends on whether you kept the headliner intact david.

Actually it has a nice furry orange headlining.

Yes - spigot bearing is easily and cheaply changed. Just move the camera to show us 2nd gear! The dog teeth on 2nd gear wear out like mad - when folks don't double de-clutch - and it is a lot more difficult to make than 1st gear which is just a very simple straight cut gear with no syncro complications! I wish ALL the gears were like that - what a glorious noise there is running straight cut gearbox!

davidpidge wrote:

marcusthemoose wrote:that all depends on whether you kept the headliner intact david.

Actually it has a nice furry orange headlining.

i know david- thats why i asked, and i left the smileys- i went and looked at it before you bought it,remember?

haha, I catch on quick. Don't you wish you'd bought it now! All the clutch fun your missing! The MOT's coming up, then the real fun begins. I see trunions and brakes being replaced. Brilliant.

bmcecosse - From what I remember (I'm not at home this week) the other gears looked as good as 3rd and 4th. I compared them with my new gearbox and they look identical so I think I can safely assume that all my problems were my worn clutch plate. I've ordered a new spigot bearing, clutch plate and clutch release/ thrust bearing and will be fitting them next week. Before I do, is there anything I need to know in relation to alignment of parts or anything I wouldn't even think off. I can get torque settings from the manual. A good excuse to buy a shiny new torque socket.

Don't worry about torque settings - just pull everything up tight with a ring key. They are the length they are - for a good reason!

he he, i have had my own clutch problems, so thats why i know stuff about it! good luck with the MOT mate, keep the beasty living on! that clutch overhaul should do the trick, otherwise i'm stumped!

It'll be a learning experience at least. That was the point of buying the damned thing!
By the way, what's a ring key?