Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi there, on topping up my gearbox the other day, i noticed that the plug doesnt go back in straight, infact, its stripped the thread on the gearbox casing completely on one side, but it seems to be just cross threaded on the other. It will screw in tight, but i do appear to be getting moderate puddles under my car when i stop. I did overfill the gearbox, so maybe its chucking out the oil it doesnt want? i am concerned as obviously its a BIG job to change the tail plate i have been advised to re-tap the hole and find a new plug to put in... HOWEVER, this will leave swarf inside the box, NOT GOOD has this happened to anyone before? and theyve just lived with the leak?

If you overfilled the box, then the excess will leak out of the tail. Are you sure that the oil is from the gearbox and not the rear of the engine? It is unlikely that the oil will be leaking from the filler plug, but not impossible.

i get a little puddle under my sump, and a little puddle under my brass bush between the prop and gearbox but a much larger puddle in the middle it doesnt pressurise around that point does it? so i was wondering how it would chuck anything out... are you implying i shouldnt worry

Take the plug out - let the oil level stabilise - put the plug back in, straight this time !

i have tried so many times to get it in straight, and unfortunately, the damage has been done :/ it will not go in straight anymore i suppose i could give it another go another day... but it seems every time i try, im damaging more

Oil should only be up to the lower level of the plug hole - so even a cork rammed in the hole will seal it.......