Morris Minor Owners Club

Recently in our club down here in Dorset a member made the observation that rubber hoses are not lasting too well on the Minor.This was also the case with the all important fuel hose which is hidden under shiny stainless braiding.
One that had been fitted for only a couple of months had split.It was de-sheathed and found to be of un-reinforced construction.
I decided to replace mine with standard fuel hose from a motor factors as a matter of course and sure enough the rubber had started to perish badly under the braiding.Mine was only just over a year old.
My advice is to fit one you can keep an eye on as a leak above the manifold is not to be recommended.

Aye - I had this happen a few years back. Driving along and had strong petrol smell, pulled over and that very hose was spraying petrol onto the hot manifold. Cue a very anxious return to the house (less than half a mile away) and immediately ripping out the hose. Still looked shiny and new.

That was lucky then.I'm sure there are more people that have had the same happen.The modern hoses seem to lack the fibre reinforcement of the older items.Coolant hoses despite being sold as Kevlar reinforced seem to be no better.

again trawl through ebay and auto jjumbles for old stock items

i bought a complete set of original hoses for a morris minor at an auto jumble for £15.00

that will last me another 20 years

I've had similar problems with the top and bottom radiator hoses on my 803cc - the standard ones look ok when I buy them but they last about a year and then they're shot. I've also tried the 'kevlar reinforced' and they seem absolutely NO better!! (they don't look as nice either imo)

Surely the suppliers can do better!?

I found the kevlar hoses are a pig to fit.
I have used the modern re enforced rubber fuel hoses from Halfords and and have not had any problems.

Personally, I'd use the stainless braided Goodridge stuff. OK it doesn't look original, and it's expensive, but much more desirable than a burnt out car.
If you look at Classic Car Weekly this week, there's a cautionary tale involving a previously-immaculate Renault Dauphine and fuel hoses.....

This lack of quality on fuel hose is quite worrying when you think that most modern fuel-injected cars run fuel pressures of around 3 bar!!

I've had braided hoses wear quite quickly and when dismantled, the perish cracks matched the weave of the braid. Perhaps oil or water got onto the braiding. In any case I now prefer a plain rubber hose that I can see the condition of every time I open the bonnet.

That is the key, beng able to make an inspection should prevent a catastrophe.
What worries me is that sub-British Standard parts are being funneled into the Classic car parts market without any apparent checks on quality.
I would rather pay a bit more and have the right part for the job especially where a failure could right off so much hard work and money.
I think if sellers of Minor parts want to show they care about their customers, things as important as this should be addressed.
In view of the potential for loss of car/life maybe the club should get involved on this one.

What worries me is that sub-British Standard parts are being funneled into the Classic car parts market without any apparent checks on quality.

What responsibility lies with traders to sell BS standard goods?
I can't remember the last time I saw a 'kitemark' on anything I bought.

again trawl through ebay and auto jjumbles for old stock items

I fitted an old stock steering gaiter 2 years ago - it only lasted 18 months. This one seemed to have ben VERY old stock.
Elastomers need to be stored out of daylight and away from 'fresh air' (due to lovely stuff like ozone etc..) to get the longest shelf life, so a heat sealed thick black platic bag is ok, however old stock itemes are usually in open or clear packaging.

I've got to replace the brake flexi hoses on one of my cars this year -I'm not looking forward to finding them perished again in double quick time but at least the previous ones are over 20 years old.