Morris Minor Owners Club

Today a new problem arose, and I think it's the bearing on the input shaft of the gearbox. It's of the smooth-cased variety and so a little more fragile than the ribbed type. It makes two types of noises which are quite loud; a sharp random clicking noise, and an occasional very short squeal and both noises come and go. It also does it when stationary but stops if I push the clutch in. I have a spare gearbox but the input shaft appears to have some play in it so I don't think I'll risk putting that in. I also have a later ribbed-type box, but is it a straightforward case of swapping them over on a 948 engine? Or is it easier to replace the bearing, and if so, can it be done with the gearbox in-situ (with the engine removed)?

Check to see if you have any 'free play' in the clutch pedal - sounds like the carbon thrust has worn away - and you have metal to metal contact. You can take the rubber bungs out and look inside with a bright light in one hole and your eye against the other! it's not impossible to use the ribbed box - but some swapping about of thrust lever and carbon release are necessary.

I don't think it's the carbon thrust because I had that problem on my first Minor and it sounded different to this. To me, this problem sounds like there's a shattered bearing - I once had that in the rear wheel bearing of a Hillman Imp many years ago and that sounded very similar. I will check the carbon thrust though, once I've worked my way through a second pot of tea. .

Very unlikely to 'shatter' a bearing in the gearbox - but anything is possible with an Imp! Do check there is oil in the box!

I haven't checked any of the above yet, but yesterday I took the car a couple of miles to the local shop and the noise was much more noticable, especially just after pulling off, but within a mile of the journey on the way back home it stopped completely so I thought I would carry on to see if the sound returned. Fifteen miles later, and after reaching probably around 60mph(!) still nothing, but on the last few hundred yards back to my house it came back again - only a few little noises. I'll check the carbon thrust and the oil level this morning, but there's no free play in the clucth pedal.

Re: "...anything is possible with an Imp." Too right! I won't even go into the subject of donuts!!!

There's the problem then - there must be ~ 3/4" free play at the pedal. The carbon thrust has been rubbing constantly and is now probably worn out..........

Still not checked the carbon thrust, but I did try a few things; when the noise came back I found a gentle hill and pushed the clutch in - still the same noise. I then tried taking it out of gear and switching the engine off - still the same noise. If it was the carbon thrust wouldn't it stop when it was out of gear and the engine off and rolling down a hill? I'm still puzzled. It's worse at speeds between 5pm and about 30mph and doesn't change in the slightest when doing any or all of the above. I was wrong about clutch pedal freeplay, as there's actually about 2" free!

If it makes the noise when engine is off - and out of gear - it's nothing to do with the engine. Could still be box/prop/rear axle - or - something else entirely!

Removed the oil filler plug, used a torch to look inside and could only just see a little oil at the bottom! Topped it up - problem solved. Now I'm worrying that some damage has occured to the box, although it seems to work well and doesn't make any unusual noises.

Fingers crossed. Of course - you need to wonder where the oil is going - so watch out for it streaming out the tail of the gearbox.