Morris Minor Owners Club

My old 1098 gearbox got rather hot on the motorway coming back from London and did the trick of heating things up so that the selector expanded and the stick felt like it was being pushed through glue. This was caused by a knackered bearing (after a chat with a gearbox specialist).

Anyway, out that 'box came and in went a spare I had lying around. That box has no synchro in 2nd and keeps jumping out of 2nd. It also has no 3rd gear at all. To drive the car you have to double declutch into 2nd and hold it there by hand while you rev the nuts off the car and then stick it in 4th. Not an ideal solution.

I have a 3rd 'box that I took out of my Traveller today but I noticed that 3rd gear did not go as far forward as 1st gear did, so I checked the other two boxes and they seem to be the same! Now, is it me or is that normal behaviour for a 1098 gearbox?

When sitting in the car you mean? Will check this very minute

Same here, 1st is about an inch further forward than 3rd

Thanks Onne!

Took me three minutes.

You could have checked the gears on the spare box before you put it in ! At least the 'no third gear' might have shown up. Have a look inside the third box (through the handy side panel) before you put it in - at least the condition of the syncro rings and drive teeth on 2nd gear can be checked out. I have wondered for some time if the all syncro gears from a Mini box can be fitted in a Minor gearbox. Obviously the Minor input sgaft/gear and output shaft need to be retained - but has anyone tried this ?

Aye Cam, with the 1098 box first gear is noticably forward of 3rd, and I think 2nd is noticably further back than 4th (from memory, mind).

Good luck though, with the new one

bmcecosse wrote:You could have checked the gears on the spare box before you put it in !

Not if I did not have a new gasket for the side panel I couldn't. Anyway the 'gears' are more than likely perfectly fine, it's more than likely the baulk rings or gear locking plungers or some such that's at fault.

Actually I DID test that all the gears engaged and the drive was transmitted through the 'box. Trouble was that the 3rd gear problem only occurs UNDER LOAD so I would more than likely have missed it anyway as it engages fine when static.

Have a look inside the third box (through the handy side panel) before you put it in - at least the condition of the syncro rings and drive teeth on 2nd gear can be checked out.

I don't have any new gaskets. I think I should order some. They are about £2.50 a set from ESM. But being as I have time tomorrow to fit the box then I'll do that. Thing is that even if the gears/synchros check out it's no guarantee that the 'box is OK as you can't check the bearings or the condition of the layshaft without stripping it down. I might well do that when I get time just to see what's what and maybe make a good 'box out of the bad ones (perhaps).

I have wondered for some time if the all syncro gears from a Mini box can be fitted in a Minor gearbox. Obviously the Minor input sgaft/gear and output shaft need to be retained - but has anyone tried this ?

Good question. Best speak to a gearbox specialist!

The gasket will almost certainly come off in one piece if you are careful! I would certainly have a look - and a waggle at the gears - befor installing. If the dog teeth on 2nd gear are worn away to stumps it's a sure sign the syncro has had it - and then it is highly likely to do the jumping out trick. Good luck with it anyway - at last the bolts should all come out easily enough!

Well, I might not get chance today after all, but if not then I'll have a play over the weekend. Thanks for the support folks.

Roy,
I have wondered about Mini gears before, asked the same question and got the same reply. Have got a mini box in garage,when I have time I will strip it down and see. Do they come apart easily.
Ian.

Yes ! Easy enough to strip out. Metro Haynes has the very best gearbox strip/rebuild description - Mine cost £1 in charity shop - |I wanted it for the decription of the Turbo system on the MG Metro.
I had a spare Mini gearbox too - but it was a genuine early Cooper engine and box, and i got an offer I just could not refuse! I don't think the A+ gears will go - they have different gear teeth angle - but the earlier 4 syncro gears could well be ok.