Morris Minor Owners Club

Anyone here fitted a 5 speed Sierra Gearbox in their Minor?? I have done that in my Woody. But i can't get clutch to release. I have tried to adjust,but it just don't want to release. I have fitted it with fitting kit that you can buy from ESM. Anyone have any idea???

I don't know about the kit from ESM, but when I fitted the kit from Birmingham, it uses the standard Minor flywheel, pressure plate, release bearing, fork, and actuating gear; the friction plate is from the Sierra. If the clutch won't release, the most likely problem is with the fork - it should be from a 1098 Minor. In a rush, I did once fit a fork back to front and that certianly stopped it releasing!

It is from a 1098. And i have done it like you subscribe.

if the car has been sat since the conversion it could just be siezed.
check that there is resistance at the fork where it enters the bell housing

Have you got a 1098 fork or a 948 one? They are different - but I dont know if they would cause your problem

back to basics - is the lever contacting the pressure plate at the first part of travel - i.e. do you get a normal clutch pedal feel?

If not then something is wrong in the positions of the lever / bearing.

If the pedal feel is normal, then it's possible that the plate is stuck (cold welded). If you're lucky it can be freed off by leaving the engine running to get the flywheel hot, then either start the engine in gear using the starter motor torque to crack the plate free* or drive in 1st hard over speed bumps to give it a torque shock*.

* - with the clutch pedal pressed!

rayofleamington wrote:back to basics - is the lever contacting the pressure plate at the first part of travel - i.e. do you get a normal clutch pedal feel?

If not then something is wrong in the positions of the lever / bearing.

If the pedal feel is normal, then it's possible that the plate is stuck (cold welded). If you're lucky it can be freed off by leaving the engine running to get the flywheel hot, then either start the engine in gear using the starter motor torque to crack the plate free* or drive in 1st hard over speed bumps to give it a torque shock*.

* - with the clutch pedal pressed!

It feels like a normal pedal. But i will try to let the flywheel get hot,and see if that helps.
The clutch was perfect when the 1098 gearbox sat in the car.

You could either look at the clutch mechanism (rod and linkages) from underneath, whilst an assistant depresses the pedal or take the gear-box tunnel/cover off and have a look at it that way.
I had a problem like this and the bushes on the 'fork' (pivot between the chassis leg and G/box) were worn, as a consequence not enough movement through the rod.
Cleavis pins loose/worn?
How much 'free play' have you got on the pedal before you can feel contact with the clutch cover/thrust bearing. I only ask that last question cos I bought a new return spring recently and was surprised how strong it was. It sprang the pedal up to the top with some force!
Worth a check if you haven't already done so. Hopefully it's something obvious.