Morris Minor Owners Club

I think the gearchange on my truck is getting worse and I wondered if there was some everyday maintenance I should have been doing.

I generally have to double de-clutch on all changes and have always done, but now I have to put in a bit of a pause as well, otherwise I get a clunk/graunch from the change. 2nd to 3rd is not bad but 3rd to 4th needs quite a pause. 1st can only cleanly be engaged from stationary so I've started to select 2nd and then 1st. Sometimes, at a roundabout say, 1st just won't play ball and I have to crawl away in second.

I'm trying to avoid doing anything major before the National, but Leeds is a long way from Oxfordshire and I do want to get there. Where to start - clutch, gearbox oil ? or something else?

As ever - any help much appreciated.

Simon

You could check the gearbox oil and take it from there. On the A30 I bought I had much the same problem and when I checked the oil was empty!

Oil first, then clutch adjustment.
Where is the bite point on the clutch?
If it's around an inch off the floor, it needs adjusting.

Drain and refill with nice new 10W 40 - then see how it goes. I imagine most of your journey will be in top gear anyway!

Plenty of us from Oxon & Berks going so you can arrange company for the trip. Most likely clutch adjustment. Synchromesh is a luxury.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, will try and have a look tonight.

Mike - yes, will see if we can manage a loose convoy. I have plenty of room if you want me to carry the beer

May be better to carry a spare gearbox..........

now that's not even funny..

this evening I've fallen at the first hurdle, as the gearbox filler plug just refuses to move. I'm using a 3/8 W socket - which I think is right, but it just slips. It's not reverse threaded or something daft I presume? Can I attack it from underneath with a spanner or does it have to be done through the access hole in the floorwell ?

Anyway you can! It is same size as wheel nut - supposedly you can use the wheel spanner on the end of the starting handle. It doesn't need to be stupidly tight.

Are you sure that the socket is on square, put an extension on it then tap it down with a hammer. The plug is a tapered pipe thread I think, so once you get it to turn it should come loose. Replacing it can be a fiddle, I had several trips under the car to retrieve mine

If the corners of the plug are rounded off, try a 6 point socket, 18MM IIRC.

...as a side point, you shouldn't need to double de-clutch on anything except 1st. All the other gears the synchro should work...

sgray wrote: I have plenty of room if you want me to carry the beer

That is what my trailer is for. Beer out, Spares back

Did it ! thanks to a brand new 18mm socket (and the help on here)

Mr Haynes says the fluid should be up to the bottom thread - does he mean the bottom thread of the filler plug hole, cos if he does then it isn't - it's about 1-1.5 inches below that

sgray wrote:does he mean the bottom thread of the filler plug hole

Yes

Drain out all the old - you don't know what it is! Refill with 10W40 - and yes - right up to running out the hole.

He's running so much better now.. has new gearbox oil and I also adjusted the clutch pedal a little, though I think it was the oil that helped most.

I do think it would be useful to drive another Minor, as I just assumed that the gearchange was as bad as I was experiencing. I'm sure there are tons of insurance and health and safety, liability etc etc issues, but if anyone wants to have a go at driving my pickup then we'll both be at the National.

Simon

I'll see what we can sort out on Wednesday, a trip around te pub car park should be ok.