Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, today my Morris did clunk and stopped working, AA had a look it and probably my timing chain has broken because he didn't see any rockers move when I started. Got home on the back of a lorry...

Can anybody tell me if on a Morris in this case the valves are hit by the pistons, and so also are broken ?

regards,
Pim

Its very rare for a timing chain to break as the usually become very noisy and usually get changed out of the owner wanting a bit of piece and quiet, was yours excessivley noisy beforehand and if it did break I would have expected more than a clunk.

Kevin, the engine was not noisy at all at first, it was a fairly loud clunk though.
Do you have any idea what else could cause the rockers to stop ?
Thanks for your answers.
Pim

Hi Pim
What engine do you have in it, and do you mean the rockers would not move when you were trying to start it ?
will it turn over on the starting handle at all ?

Kevin, I mean when I started it the engine was turning but the rockers weren't moving the valves (the AA man did see that through the oil filling cap) My main concern is if the pistons are hitting the valves if the valves don't move. My Morris is a 1964 two door saloon with a 1098 cc engine.

regards,
Pim

I don,t think the starter motor has enough power to turn the engine when all the valves are closed.I think the best thing is to remove the rocker cover and turn the engine with the starter engine then you can see what is actually happening

Janstolp, the wegenwacht told me the rockers weren't moving when I started, do you mean that when the timing chain has broken, all the valves close by themselves ? (grappig om met elkaar the mailen in het engels he... )

You have no worries whatsoever about the pistons hitting the valves on your
engine with a broken timing chain or camshaft.

Yes exactly and that is why Willie says you don't have to worry about pistons hitting valves.But ,alas, that doesn"t mean your worries are over yet.

Pfffffff, thanks Willie and Janstolp, that's a great relief !!!!!!!
I think that would have sky rocketed the costs of repair, any further ideas on what could have gone wrong ?

Where in holland are you? Surely there must be more Morris people near you (unless you live up north like I do)

Onne, I'm in Delft
I'think I will take it to Classic Car Parts in Schipluiden, only a few miles from here.

He knows his stuff, Leo Nolden is a good guy. Good luck, I will be passing Delft on the way to Hoek van Holland on Tuesday (august 1st)

Ok, so you're from Holland and live in England, have a good trip home !

Well, I still live in holland now, I must admit, but I will be moving on said date to the SW

Great, have been shooting twice in North Devon...beautifull country !! Nice to live in the S.W. !

Pim ,I think the heat struck me yesterday evening,because if the man said the rockers didn"t move but the starter turned the engine than the valves and the pistons have started their own live .I am afraid that then an opened valve will meet an upgoing piston sometime in the not to distant future.But I am sure you must have heard the noise!!
Again open the rocker cover and turn the engine with the starter handle.

I have never heard of a timing chain breaking - but I suppose there is always a first time. Valves and pistons will not make contact. Some valves will be standing open but most will be closed and indeed the starter will be struggling to crank it.
Could be chain snapped or come off, or timing gear somehow come loose on the camshaft - or possibly broken crankshaft. Has the engine recently had any work done to it ??

Well, it's geting more of a mystery to me what's happend, one thing I know..it's gonna cost me....

Hi, update for those interested.
The timing chain was broken and so was one of the gears. Nothing else was broken and after installing two new gears and a new chain the engine was up and running again.
Tomorrow I get the bill

Chears
Pim