Morris Minor Owners Club

i am having problems with the gears on my traveller when the engine his switched off it goes in gear fine when the engine is switched on it wont go in any gears i have had a look under neath were the clutch spring is and either side of the spring are two screw holes with no screws in them is this whats causing the problem

What have you done/changed since it was last ok?

I suspect that the two holes that you mention are the holes for mounting a clutch hydraulic cylinder. If that is the case your gearbox is not original but is still acceptable for use in a Minor. Could have come from an A40 or MG Midget/sprite.
Have you adjusted the clutch linkage? Has the linkage including carbon thrust become so worn that it is not allowing the clutch to release enough to allow you to engage gear. Otherwise I suspect that the baulk rings/synchromesh cones could be worn which will allow you to engage gears when the engine is stationary but with difficulty when running.
If it is the latter I would look for another serviceable gearbox and overhaul the one you have at leisure.

les wrote:What have you done/changed since it was last ok?

nothing it just went like that when i was driving along i stopped at the junction and it would not go in gear

Then something has broken or dropped off. Difficult to say without being there. Hopefully others may have a more specific clue.

If it happened suddenly and you can engage gear when the engine is stationary it has to be something to do with the clutch or the clutch linkage. You say you have looked under the car is the clutch linkage all together? Is the clutch pedal pressure as normal or has it suddenly gone light?
I will attache a parts illustration of the clutch linkage for you to check against. Even though it refers to the Series 11 the linkage and arrangements are the same.
You should have approx. 3/4" of free travel at the clutch pedal.

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thanks i will have another look

thanks for your help and tips but the car still wont move

To clarify and reiterate - I read your last post as when the car manages to get into gear you are not able to move the car under its own power?
If that is so I am going to have a wild stab in the dark and say you may have broken a half-shaft. Does the gearbox drive and the prop-shaft turn but you are going nowhere?

when the engine is running it wont go in gear when its switched of it goes in gear fine every thing else seems fine

What happens when you put it into gear with the engine stopped then try to start the engine with the gear box in gear with the clutch released? Does the clutch slip? is there any bad noises? Does the engine stall? Does the car try to move?
If it is not the halfshaft it has to be the clutch either worn out or badly adjusted. Or even the plate that the carbon thrust presses against has come adrift as described in a recent post.

i put it in gear switched the engine on and it jumped and jumped then the battery went flat now the ignition wont work

If the battery is flat the ignition will not work.

i had just re charged the battery think the starter motor has jammed on

Rock the car back and forth in top gear - Ign OFF !! It will free. What Phil was asking you to test was to determine if a half shaft had broken - because (and reading the posts I was coming to the same conclusion) you suddenly changed to 'the car won't move' - which is very different to 'not going in gear'....... Because it 'jumps' then the shafts are ok! Which is good news.... So - you really DO need to get under and see if the rod that connects to the clutch arm has broken.... Is the clutch pedal now very light with no obvious resistance?

The same thread is being discussed in General Discussion.
Dalgrae has suggested the 'First Motion Shaft Bush or Spigot Bush' (Pt No: 10M131) in the rear of the crankshaft could be worn out and not allowing the clutch plate to move on the 'First Motion Shaft'.
Apparently he had the same problem a short while ago.
As we seem to making no progress on this matter at the moment Dalgrae's suggestion should be considered.
Unless there is something totally obvious that has been overlooked I am afraid that it looks increasingly likely that the gearbox is going to have to be removed and the clutch assy stripped out. To replace the 'First Motion Shaft/Spigot Bush is not difficult once the gearbox and clutch has been removed. Fill the bush with grease use a close fitting bar and use the bar and grease to hydraulically force the old bush out by hitting the end of the bar with a hammer.

I've never heard of a bush causing this problem.......seems highly unlikely to me. We still haven't heard if the pedal is now 'loose' or if anything is obviously hanging down/disconnected underneath. The weakest link in the clutch is the hooked threaded bar that is pulled by the clutch pedal action....poor design really - metal on metal high pressure moving contact. Eventually it wears down and reaches it's tipping point - and breaks.....leaving a completely pointless clutch pedal action........

bmc
Neither have I but that does not mean it could not happen.
I have seen some very badly worn bushes and some on the point of disintegration but the clutch has still worked.
If the bush was totally gone - centrifugal force could throw the clutch centre plate outwards to possibly jam on the clutch cover, flywheel or allow the spigot to contact the bush housing in the crank and so force it to continue turning. But if that was to happen I would expect some unusual noises from the area of the bell housing but so far nothing unusual reported.
However who knows what is wrong until the basic diagnoses are out of the way.
In some ways this is typical of a long distance diagnoses. If we had the car to examine no doubt we could give a qualified diagnoses in a few minutes.