Morris Minor Owners Club

I decided to replace all the cooling hoses and radiator on my minor (AKA Ethel) so ordered up all the bits and decided to replace the rocket cover and heater valve gaskets at the same time as both were leaking. When trying to remove the rocket cover I discovered that the heater valve was slightly too big to allow enough clearance for it to be lifted off. This was a problem because the reason for removing the rocker cover was so that I could get at the bolt (obviously replacing a broken stud) securing the heater valve. So I decided the only way to get it off was to chop the heater valve in half which I did. I noticed that someone had ground a lot of metal from the heater valve, but I guess not enough to allow the rocker cover to be removed. So I ordered a new valve which appeared to be identicial to the one I took off, but when fitting I realised it was touching the rocker cover and not sitting flush with the engine head. I got the grinder out and took off enough metal to allow it to fit which I was not expecting to do!
Anyway I spoke to the supplier and they seemed sure no one had complained about this before. After investigating further it seems like the heater valve is from a Morris 1100 rather than a Minor. The 1100 has the valve mounted further away from the rocker cover.
It's all fitted now and everything is working, but I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if it's actually possible to get new valves of the correct size for the Minor?

No, never had that problem at all - As both valves didn't fit I would suggest you maybe don't have a standard Minor head fitted....?

I had the same trouble and had to saw off a bit of the side of the valve (the steel bracket right up to the casting) to be able to get the rocker cover on and off. This was with a new valve last year which needed the same 'adjustment' as the one I took off. I think it was the same with another cylinder head but couldn't swear to it.

Must be a "universal" heater tap that is been sold then I guess - as I said I've never had a problem with genuine parts.....

Any Photos available?

the repro valves are a tight fit within the rocker cover area, u do have to file a bit off the valve
old ones fit a treat

aupickup wrote:the repro valves are a tight fit within the rocker cover area, u do have to file a bit off the valve
old ones fit a treat

That makes sense then Dennis.....

i have original ones so not a problem

i did mention it 2 a couple of suppliers and guess what there answer was

aupickup wrote:i have original ones so not a problem

i did mention it 2 a couple of suppliers and guess what there answer was

I can guess - So the answer is, again as so often, don't use cheap pattern rubbish - Pay a bit more for quality and / or seek out original parts !!

Thanks for the responses!
I think the parts I got are just not suitable for a Minor, I'm sure they are from an 1100 which has a slightly different head and more space for the bigger valve. Are there any suppliers who can offer the correct part?

I have always bought mostly from Bull Motif and I've always had good parts from them, however, you may want to check out the Mini spares suppliers also for this type of part as they will be the same as Minors.

MMOC Club Spares have them, I believe they came from the Post Office and are quality old new stock

I bought one last year for about £15

doing the nuts up on those heater taps made me lose my rad a few times.

Jamie

Surely the rad is at the other end of the engine? Losing two whilst doing up the nuts sounds like a rough trick.

The '1100' does NOT have a different head -and the heater valve is NOT any further away from the rocker cover. The cover can usually be 'wiggled' on. I was wondering earlier what was coming - on this obviously very non-standard Minor - which seemingly has a rockeT cover!!! I know we have some quick Minors in the Forum - but none so far as i know with rockets!
The 1275 engine - and any other engine retro-fitted with the 12G940 head, has the heater valve positioned round slightly - which gives more clearance to the rocker cover, but does bring it's own slight problem with fouling on the battery tray!