Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi guys,

I was travelling to ESM yesterday (M25, A21 etc for me), and on one of those nice Essex country lanes I had a little problem. Going downhill, I took my foot off the accelerator, and instead of the engine braking we started to accelerate.....

As I stamped on the brake, we kept accelerating, so I dropped the clutch. The engine revved - so I turned off the ignition. Broken throttle return spring......

Question is: Is there anything to check over on the engine? It didn't run for more than a few seconds at full throttle (no load).
Seemed ok when I got home (A21, M25, M3) in spite of the heat, just ran on a couple of turns.
Did the same this morning as I got to work (6 miles - 15 minutes). It's due a service, so I'll change plugs check points, valves etc.
Anything else?

Colin

Hello Colin,
it is unlikely that any damage has occurred, from what you say. Over revving the engine can cause mechanical damage so it sounds as if you haven't any.
Incidentally, being an older car it is simple and safe to switch the ignition off in such a circumstance, newer cars with a steering lock require extra care only to switch off the ignition but not to lock the steering. It is very easy to turn the key too far in the heat of the moment and create a worse situation with no steering.

Alec

Everything should be fine Colin and from the sounds of it you had a spare spring with you which is one of the items I always carry, its a bit hairy when it happens until you twig what it is.

Thanks Guys,

Kevin - no I didn't have a spare spring ..... Waited till the exhaust cooled a bit, took off the air filter & wound the coiled end of the spring into the hole on the exhaust, the put the hooked end into the throttle eye.

Must buy a couple of pairs of pliers and keep them in the car! Would have saved lots of time!

And yes, I was ever so grateful that I didn't have the steering lock!

Colin

A few seconds at full throttle in neutral isn't a big risk.
Heading downhill at full throttle is a lot more risky! I'm glad it turned out okay

This happened to me in the outside lane one day when passing a long line of traffic - the speedo was well into the fuel gauge before I got past and found a space to pull over to the hard shoulder! The answer is to brake the thing to a lowish speed while still in gear - then switch off and de-clutch.

Well, the problem was that going downhill (I'd guess 1in12 or so) on a bendy counry lane (just wide enough for two cars) I couldn't quite get enough braking to slow down much!

The engine is a standard 1098, but was a recon unit fitted last September - about 2000-3000 miles old, so there's a lot of "go" in it.

I must admit that after travelling those roads in Sussex (long hills, narrow roads), I'm beginning to feel like fititng power assisted discs. The standard drums are fine around here (Berks) and for the jouney to/from work which is about 6 miles.

Thanks to all,

Colin

When I had a broken throttle spring once, I'm sure i was able to hook my foot under the throttle peddle and bring it back, comes from once having a car that had a sticky throttle cable ;)

I've had this happen twice - once in my old Traveller years ago & more recently in a lorry when reversing into a factory drive way - mmm nice! - no damage done though.

Rog

For motorsport they insist on two separate springs per carb spindle - maybe worth doing if it's this common !