Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi

My little moggy jumps out of third gear - it seems increasingly often.
It seems to happen randomly and just unexpectedly jumps out of 3rd and into neutral. I think it happens more often when the engine is hot, but that might just be another coincidence.
Makes driving a lot less enjoyable!
Any advice, dire predictions, what to do, or likely costs?

Thanks

Barry

Right 1st thing does it happen just on overrun, and can you live with it as it may carry on like this for quite some time if you can put up with it.
Worse case reconditioned gearbox £300 + clutch £80 + Labour.
Better case keep an eye out or ask around for a known good 2nd hand box £30 upwards depends how lucky you are and DIY labour when it needs to be done and you cant put up with it any more, you will probably have to replace clutch as a matter of course and the input shaft bearing (as this is often overlooked and is only £2)
Have you joined the local Branch as there maybe someone there that can offer help advice or free labour.

As Kevin says - likely doing this on over-run and just indicates general bearing and selector/syncro wear in the box. If it is jumping out under power - then it's alot more serious and it could let you down anytime. Advertise in the 'wanted' section here! And keep an eye on ebay/local papers. Until something comes along - minimise use of 3rd gear.

Some people get away with using a bungee cord around the gearstick to help it stay in gear - might be worth a go while you sort out a new box.

jumps out under power - eg just after a roundabout going up a hill, in fact thinking about it think it happens more when going uphill! should i be saying uh-oh? will it spread to other gears? and is there anything in the interim i can do that might help??

thx

You should be saying uh-oh. DO NOT use anything to hold it in gear - this just wears the selector fork away and makes matters worse. Yes it could spread - it certainly won't heal up - look for another box urgently. Often boxes are advertised as Sprite/Midget to get a higher price - it's the same box. And you want a 'rib-case' box -- not a smooth case.

great is it worth getting the selector forks replaced, or better to go for a whole new box?

It's probably the syncho bits on the gear , not the selector forks. Don't bother to do anything to the present box . concentrate on looking for another one, although you have to take pot luck on any second hand one - you cant really tell if its any good until you fit it.
You should check the teeth on 1st/reverse whenyou buy it , which you can see by removing the side cover. If they're worn at all don't buy it its a good indication the rest will have had a hard time. Probably best to try and buy a S/hand one from a morrie specialist as at least they will probably replace the box if it turns out to be no good

The selector forks don't hold the gear in place - they just put it there when you move the gearlever and then littleballs/plugs fall into place and hold the gear in. To try to hold in place with the gearlever just wears the fork - fills the box with brass. If it's going to be scrapped then I don't suppose it matters - but I always view these things as being re-buildable - so no point in damaging it more than necessary.
You've only just bought this car - was it jumping out when you bought it - or is this a new problem ? What's the vendor got to say about it ?

Some people get away with using a bungee cord around the gearstick to help it stay in gear

Hmmm must be a Cambridge thing as Ive not come across that before.

we drove it a fair bit before buying it and it didnt jump out of gear except when we went over a speed bump a bit too quickly! so thought it was OK. will email the vendor - he's a really nice guy, see what he says.

I've seen the bungee cord 'fix' on a couple of Landies - seems to work ok as a tempoary measure. I didn't realise it'd kill the box further

Bizarro day yesterday - drove all the way into the office in the city centre. Didn't jump out of 3rd once all the way in.

2 hours later left to drive home, and as soon as I used 3rd on the road out of the carpark, moggy jumped into neutral!

Have just moved house, and finishing work at the end of next week, so should then have time to play around for a while!

Well - if you make it to the Biggar classic car show on sunday - I can have a look at it with you! OE white Traveller - HDM 113 C.