Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, my Traveller "Benny" has been sat in the car port for at least three years following a windscreen wiper motor failure and a run out MOT. i want to get him up and running but being a novice need some hints and tips for things to do to make sure I dont do him any harm in the process.
So, any hints, tips, advice etc that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Mike

First thing, is take the spark plugs out (number the leads so they go back correctly!) and squirt WD40 down the bores.

Let it soak for a while then using the starting handle, gently try and turn the engine over.

If she turns over then clean the plugs, clean the points, check oil level etc. Put some fresh petrol in the tank and some in the carb float chamber. Then with a fully charged battery she should fire up!

And the wiper failure may be due to a siezed wheel box rather than a motor failure.

NOT WD40! Engine oil down the bores - and - then, after checking by hand that it will rotate - churn the engine on the starter till the oil warning light goes out - and another 10 seconds. Only then, refit the plugs - and assuming the fuel pump is alive - start it up! The clutch may have frozen to the flywheel - don't panic - just let engine heat soak through and then try it again. Frozen brakes are more likely - and no easy answer there I'm afraid - strip and free off/or renew.

A quick squirt of WD won't do any harm BMC and may loosen any slight surface corrosion.
Or you can use Red ex.
It will burn off a lot easier than engine oil.


Btw, once engine has warmed ( check coolant level as well) of course you will be changing oil and filter before driving the car any distance!

Thanks for thise replies folks thats really helpful, first thing I need to deal with are the seized brakes. I read so ewhere that letting off the handbrake (with well positioned bricks by the wheels) might work , but they' ll probably need to be stripped as you sugest. Bit difficult getting to them in my little car port! Heres hoping....

There is quite a lot of good reports of taking the spark plugs out then pouring
Marvins Mystery Oil down there.
No it's not a joke a genuine product from the States available here for about £10

You should have let off the handbrake three years ago! For long term storage the handbrake should be off to prevent seizing to the drums.

WD40 is not an oil - so the pistons will b e running without lubrication.... Don't waste money on Snake Oil... If the engine won't turn by hand (unlikely really in this case) then Diesel fuel is the answer - just a half cup down each bore and leave for 24 hours before again trying to ease it over by hand - NOT with the starter at this stage.

Finally(don't ask why please, too long and drawn out) getting around to this.
How much oil should I pour down each bore?

As Roy said, half a cup or a good lug down each bore, leave the plugs out and let it soak, try and turn the engine by hand first or using the starting handle, less likely to do any damage should something be stuck or tight.

When you are happy it's turning then go for the starter, leaving the plugs out and bring the oil pressure up. I would put some rag over the plug holes as you will have oil spraying out.

Once you have oil pressure put the plugs back, and assuming the petrol is fresh she should run.

Good luck.

Thanks for that, but don't the plugs need to be put back in for the engine to start and make oil pressure?, or am I missing something? (Sorry if I'm being dense here but I'm "mechanically challenged "...).

Hes said to put the plugs back in once you've got oil pressure. Basically just follow that advice and you'll be fine. Good luck Steve

The idea of turning over the engine with plugs out is to get the oil circulating without revving up the engine, which could cause damage if the oil has not circulated. Only when the oil pressure light has gone out (plus Roy's additional 10 seconds) will you know the oil has circulated and it is safe to put the plugs in and fire up!

Additionally, without the plugs in there is less load on the bearings due to the fact that there will be no compression. As already said, turning the engine over on the starter will build up the oil pressure , albeit slowly. You don't need the engine to be running under its own steam for that, just turning over reasonably fast, e.g. on the starter.

Thanks again for the additional comments / advice. I have (finally...) bought and fitted a new battery and leads (tails!?) and have put oil down each of the four bores. I will wait a couple of hours then try the hand cranking etc as suggested.
Here's hoping!

Ps...also rejoined the MMOC club after an absence of a few years....

Come on Mike - the suspense is killing me! I've been waiting for two and a half years to see what happens!

Hi Ianmonty, sorry about the suspense, I know what you mean though, I've been waiting for around 5 years!
Progress today, having put the oil down the bores, I tried turning the engine by hand and it turned nice and smoothly (phew!), I followed the instructions above with turning over the engine without the plugs and it made a pleasing start up noise but obviously didn't fire. Then put the plugs back in (having cleaned them, they were a little sooty). Then tried firing it up again, it tried but didn't fire, I think this will be the old fuel. I will try to drain the tank tomorrow and put some fresh in and try it again.
Feels like progress!

Sounds like you're nearly there!