Morris Minor Owners Club

We bought a lovely 1970 Morris Saloon 1098 a couple of weeks ago and have thoroughly enjoyed our first 2 weeks!! We have never had a Morris before and always wanted one. However yesterday we were driving and 4th gear was difficult to get into.. once in it was fine until we lifted off the accelerator and it popped out into neutral!? It does this every time now. It's fine as long as we are accelerating but pops out when we release the accelerator. We contacted a Morris garage and they said it probable needs a new recon gearbox (£395) and might as well have a new clutch (£100) while the are there (Labour £198) all plus VAT. Is there anything we can do cheaper? does this seem about right? I am not particularly mechanically minded but for a few hundred quid I might give it a go!!<br><br>

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Nice car by the way. As I was told when I broke down yesterday "nice car, better if it worked"

Sounds like a gearbox rebuild to me. The garage prices sound reasonable. If you are taking the box out then check the clutch and thrust bearing for wear and if necessary replace them.
The alternative is to keep an eye out for a 2nd hand box. If you can take the box out and strip the clutch with a bit of assistance that will obviously reduce the labour costs.
If you want the box professionally rebuilt contact John Evans on Hayling Island, 02392 465256

There's two gearboxes for sale here:

http://mmoc.org.uk/index.php?name=PNphp ... ic&t=27790

Doesn't say what engine they are off at the moment. Hopefully the seller will post that information soon.

his prices sound reasonable for parts i.e. what bullmotif charge and if you recon 50 pounds an hour 4 hours to change the box and clutch does not sound unreasonable. If i had the engine out, unless the clutch showed no signs of wear i would replace it.. after all it is probably going to take two - three hours to change the clutch on its own... 100 - 150 + vat.

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... jumps+gear

More info here from moggiemadmckenzie and others

Check to see if there is anything snagging the gear lever - it's very unusual for the box to jump out of top gear! Normally does that in 1st or 2nd gear as first major sign of trouble. If you have only had the car two weeks -have you no come-back on the seller ?
I do have a very good second hand spare 'gold seal' gearbox .......

cormorant wrote:http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... jumps+gear

More info here from moggiemadmckenzie and others

Excellent link!! There's a couple of simplish things there to check before rushing into a new box! If it's a detent or similar, I'm sure you could be out of trouble for very small money- as has bin said, 4th gear jumping is unusual!

I've never known one to jump out of top. Usually 1st, 2nd or reverse. Try pulling back hard on the lever in case something is stopping it from fully engaging and also remove the gear lever and check the bush and O ring are in good order beneath the top plate (easy job).....

Hi all,
We are so amazed to get so many quick and helpful relpies!! thanks. I see that there is some comments about it being unusual to jump out of top gear. the info is useful but seems to be about jumping out when the engine is engaged. In our situation it doesn't jump when engaged - it only jumps when you ease off the accelerator and disengage, It then pops into neutral!? I will check some of the simple things suggested and let you know Thanks again!!!

Yes - most 'jumping out' cases are on torque reversal - although my own car violently throws out of 1st gear under load - with an allmighty bang! I still think you should revert to the seller and ask them to put it right!

Well that only works if it came with some form of guarentee.

Unless a 'waiver' was signed- there is always an implied 'guarantee' that the vehicle is fit for purpose. Jumping out of top gear is not! An honest seller will surely be willing to put the car right ? I would be surprised if that fault has just suddenly come along two weeks after the sale!

The latest development is that as from todays trip in the Morris it will no longer go into 4th at all and just grinds and growls angrily if we try!
The problem with going back to the people we bought it from is that it was a private sale and we know and trust that they wouldn't have thought this problem existed before selling, she was only reluctantly and tearfully selling because her arthritis was too painful to allow her to drive, we had already knocked £500 off her original lowest price. I think we will try to sort this ourselves with a bit of help What is a 'Gold Seal' Gearbox btw? excuse the ignorance!

gold seal and silver seal refer to reconditioned engine and gearboxes from bmc ( british motor corporation not "our" bmc ) and sold and fitted through dealers when our cars were still modern..

needless to say they were painted silver or gold and came with a slightly different length of warranty depending on which one you purchased

Oh dear - well does sound like the box is determined to self destruct. May be worth having a look inside the box - take the side cover off (drain oil first - and watch out for two little springs) - to see if the 3rd/4th selector has come loose on the shaft. Otherwise -likely to be deranged bearings on the main shaft.

Mine jumps out of top when under load ie when climbing a hill or if you give it a bootfull but it is fine on the flat or if accelerating normally. No idea what causes it but I just instinctively hold it in gear on hills now till I get time to sort it out.

Aye well - holding it in - will soon wear away the selector ! The oil will be full of 'brassy' bits!

I think that bmcecosse was suggesting you could buy the spare gold seal box he has.
If he was and you consider this option, perhaps ask if he has other spares which could go in the same despatch box.......a clutch, perhaps?
That may work out quite nicely for both of you.