Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi Guys.
Going to change oil in my ribbed gearbox thats in my Morry., What side of the G/Box is it on and do i fill it through the inside of the car.. Not been underneath to check it out yet, Cheers

Haven't you got a hole in the gearbox cover? You should have, because that is where you fill up!

Drain plug is self-evident. On underside of gearbox casing. Access to it from under the car. Sounds silly, but don't forget to re-fit the drain plug before you put the fresh oil in! Filler is accessed from inside car. Lift the front carpet and you'll see the rubber plug in the nearside floorpan right by the transmission tunnel hump. Pull the plug out and you'll see the hex-headed filler plug. It can be a pain to re-fit without dropping it under the car. Make sure you use the right oil!

palacebear wrote:Drain plug is self-evident. On underside of gearbox casing. Access to it from under the car. Sounds silly, but don't forget to re-fit the drain plug before you put the fresh oil in! Filler is accessed from inside car. Lift the front carpet and you'll see the rubber plug in the nearside floorpan right by the transmission tunnel hump. Pull the plug out and you'll see the hex-headed filler plug. It can be a pain to re-fit without dropping it under the car. Make sure you use the right oil!

. Thanks heaps for that. see how we go. Its running Thou motor and box in a 1952 car.

les wrote:Haven't you got a hole in the gearbox cover? You should have, because that is where you fill up!

Hi Thanks for your info. Dont know if its go a hole there or not.. Its a 1952 minor with Thou motor and box fitted, Cheers Steve

palacebear wrote:Drain plug is self-evident. On underside of gearbox casing. Access to it from under the car. Sounds silly, but don't forget to re-fit the drain plug before you put the fresh oil in! Filler is accessed from inside car. Lift the front carpet and you'll see the rubber plug in the nearside floorpan right by the transmission tunnel hump. Pull the plug out and you'll see the hex-headed filler plug. It can be a pain to re-fit without dropping it under the car. Make sure you use the right oil!

All i have ever read about G/Box oil is to run the oil as the motor. Cheers Steve.

Back in the 1950s SAE30 single grade engine oil was recommended for the gearbox. Apparently EP gear oils can damage the non-ferrous components within the 'box. Some say that a 20/50 multigrade will do the job fine. Maybe ask for a few opinions if you're worried.

Availability and cost may force the issue. Don't know how it is in NZ but last month I got hold of 20/50 multigrade at £2.80/litre ... and after a lengthy search, SAE30 single grade at about £6.75/litre

palacebear wrote:Back in the 1950s SAE30 single grade engine oil was recommended for the gearbox. Apparently EP gear oils can damage the non-ferrous components within the 'box. Some say that a 20/50 multigrade will do the job fine. Maybe ask for a few opinions if you're worried.

Availability and cost may force the issue. Don't know how it is in NZ but last month I got hold of 20/50 multigrade at £2.80/litre ... and after a lengthy search, SAE30 single grade at about £6.75/litre

Plaecbear , Yeah we get that oil here. Cheap as . will just use the 20/50 Cheers Steve

Modern replacement carpets do not have the rubber grommet that use to fit over the carpet and into the hole on the gearbox cover in the floor. Now it is a carpet out or at least push aside job.

firedrake1942 wrote:Modern replacement carpets do not have the rubber grommet that use to fit over the carpet and into the hole on the gearbox cover in the floor. Now it is a carpet out or at least push aside job.

Cheers Firedrake1942.

Of course, if you glued down the carpet on the tunnel you could spend 25 years refilling the box from underneath the car, using a long flexible plastic tube and feeling your way blind, whilst wondering why this is so difficult. Perhaps I'll go lie under the car and just kick the jack out now....!

hornet964 wrote:Of course, if you glued down the carpet on the tunnel you could spend 25 years refilling the box from underneath the car, using a long flexible plastic tube and feeling your way blind, whilst wondering why this is so difficult. Perhaps I'll go lie under the car and just kick the jack out now....!

Oh no Don’t do it!!!

It's ok the axle stands he used as a backup will save him!?

palacebear wrote: Pull the plug out and you'll see the hex-headed filler plug. It can be a pain to re-fit without dropping it under the car.

I found that by rolling up a bit of tissue paper or similar in the (3/4", IIRC) socket or wheel brace so that the plug is an interference fit helps to guide it into place without it dropping out.

Of course, great care must be taken not to cross-thread it in the alloy casing too.

Is it an aluminium plug?

If ferrous, use a magnet to secure it in a socket or simlar and, if not, add (glue or screw) something ferrous to the plug and then do the same as for a ferrous plug!

I use a BIG blob of blu-tack

oliver90owner wrote:Is it an aluminium plug?

If ferrous, use a magnet to secure it in a socket or simlar and, if not, add (glue or screw) something ferrous to the plug and then do the same as for a ferrous plug!

No, they are steel plugs, going into the aluminium gearbox casing, so yes, a magnet could be used...

The correct size socket for removing and replacing the ferrous filler and drain plugs on a MM 1000 gearbox is 3/8" Whit (18mm can be used as a substitute).
When working in the BMC garage and servicing the gearboxes of the MM 1000s it was sufficient to place a piece of paper over the socket and push the filler plug and paper into the socket; that was more than satisfactory to grip the filler plug when refitting.
Care must be taken to ensure that the filler plug or drain plug does not get cross threaded in the alloy gearbox casing. A long extension bar into the 3/8" Whit socket is a great help in getting the correct alignment.

Handy to know. I've been using an inexpensive 18mm socket with a long extension bar. Whilst the bar is invaluable, the socket frankly, is rubbish! 3/8 whit is in my letter to Santa now

Mrs PB told me you are getting the teasmaid and that's and end to it !