Morris Minor Owners Club

When adjusting the clutch today (too much free play) I noticed that my gearbox steady cable has snapped. I hadn't noticed any difference though! Is this something I really need to get round to or can it wait? Also when I fit a new one how tight should it be?

It shouldn't be 'tight' - imagine it more as juat a seatbelt!
If you do an emergency stop (or even run into the back of someone) it stops the whole engine/gearbox assembly bouncing forwards, smack into the back of the radiator!

It's not vital, but is there to stop clutch judder* and the fan going through the rad in an emergency stop. As for how tight, not so that it's like a steel rod - loose enough to move SLIGHTLY with finger pressure.

*I've never really believed that, but usually, if I don't write it, several people post to say it.

Just logged on to ask a similar question, except I didn't know what that cable was.
Just having a look underneath, before the MOT (passed first time, only 2nd time in 18 years its' managed that) and I noticed a cable coming from the back of the gear box and being anchored in the cross member. Mine is rather knackered i.e. only a few strands left. Is this the gear box steady cable ?
My MOT'er didn't know what it was either !

Anyone want to buy a 1969 2 door saloon ? Full MOT, dodgy gear box steadying Cable !

That's the one

Can't really see the point of the cable - yes it's supposed to stop the engine unit lurching forwards - but surely the steady bar on the engine will do this anyway. I know it's at a bit of an angle - well, quite a lot of angle really - but should stop the lurch!

That would explain why it broke then, the other day i was forced to pull up very quickly on a bit of a hill (upwards) and i braked so hard the oil pressure light came on despite the oil being full. I was sure I heard something.

Odd that - I'd always thought that there was probably a reason for it being introduced, but Morris Minors are notorious for the inclusion of non essential mechanical parts, aren't they.

Morris Minors are notorious for the inclusion of non essential mechanical parts, aren't they.

but surely the steady bar on the engine will do this anyway.

If the engine and gearbox mounts are pretty shot, then no - it doesn't do enough to stop the fan hitting the rad. On my first Minor I had to leave the cable off as the threads were stripped out of the gearbox.
My sis had the car and after an emergency stop the fan was in the rad. Apart from burning the fan belt there was no damage but it goes to show why it's there.

I then made up a heath robionson extension for the cable using long piece of threaded bar and anchored it to the engine backplate instead - this was used for about 8 years until that gearbox packed up

rayofleamington wrote: On my first Minor I had to leave the cable off as the threads were stripped out of the gearbox.

I've had one pull 2 of the 3 bolts holding the retaining plate for the cable free of the gear box too

I don't have one on my 4-door car (Sierra gearbox) and have never had the fan/rad issue on emergency stops. Interestingly, the Series MM and virtually all the SII cars did not have this cable and they did not seem particularly prone to fans whacking into radiators which really should not happen if the engine/gearbox mounts are in good condition.

The top engine steady bar was also not included on the MM & early SII either. This was introduced to stop clutch judder as I suspect the bottom cable was too. I think the bottom cable is multi-function though: helping prevent the engine moving forwards and helping prevent clutch judder.

the Series MM and virtually all the SII cars did not have this cable and they did not seem particularly prone to fans whacking into radiators which really should not happen if the engine/gearbox mounts are in good condition.

I guess it came as an after thought when the older cars started to get worn out mountings. If the engine and gearbox mounts are good there isn't much chance to get the engine to move far enough for this to happen.

The wire is to stop foward movement of the engine, it is also useful in that
it prevents misalignment of the clutch linkage which is mounted on the chassis
on one side but the gearbox on the other. The top engine steady is meant to
control clutch judder and would be useless in controlling a forward lurch in
an emergency as it is at too great an angle.

Well there we are then - all nicely discussed without anyone getting hot under the collar!

well done guys all righty