Morris Minor Owners Club

No, it's not a new TV show... It's a question.

On the motorway Hebe sometimes rattles like crazy in 4th gear between 55 and 75 mph. The gear lever makes such a noise and the car vibrates rather a lot. It only seems to happen if I either accelerate too quickly or try to power up hills.

Once she's started the only way to stop her from vibrating (she'll rattle that gear lever right down to 45 once she's started) is to double-de-clutch out of forth and back in (dropping down to 50 temporarily). Now, as you can imagine, doing this on the M4 bridge isn't ideal...

Anyone got any ideas what it could be making all the noise? Once I've re-selected the gear she's fine. If I slowly accelerate up to 70 or 75 and stay there she's fine...

I'm wondering if the selector fork is going. (And also wondered if maybe some bearing are going, but as it's only happening in the direct drive gear.....)

Thanks

Nikki

what happens if you hold he gearlever still when driving?

Hi Picky (Hehe... you're using the same screename as the pet name for our "picky" Honda Prelude )

Erm... anyway - yes... If I hold the gearlever it sometimes stops rattling (if I power through the rattling and hold the lever while it rattles)

Other times she'll just keep rattling and I end up with a very tired and numb left arm!

honda prelude.. hmm interesting..

My guess is that the three bolts securing the gearlever in position (easily got at by removing the rubber gearstick gaitor) are loose allowing something inside to rattle. There is also an 'anti rattle' spring under the gear stick, maybe this has snapped or needs replacing.

hope this helps,
Tim

And a plastic bush which has maybe fallen off. As you say - 4th is a direct drive - it's not really a 'gear' at all - and so it's unlikely to be much to do with the gearbox. Are all the ngine and gearbox mountings in good order ? Could be unbalanced or worn prop shaft - or just wheels needing balanced.

That's what I'd think, but it's coming from the gear lever. Not nessesarily shuddering from the rest of the car. I suppose it could be an out of balance prop but I'm hoping I can point a finger at something IN the box

If it was IN the box it would be more 'active' in the intermediate gears. Get under and give the prop shaft a waggle - i think that's the likely source.

Before you undo the three bolts holding the gear lever retaining plate
undo the large bolt on the side of the tower, this holds a spring and
plunger which is the anti-rattle assembly. Sometimes, if the top
plate is removed and the gear lever lifted out BEFORE the anti rattle
bolt is undone then the spring and/or the plunger will fall into the
gearbox. There is also a thin rubber ring which fits on the bottom
ball of the gear lever AND a plastic bush which sits underneath the
same ball. All worth ordering and checking.

My Traveller gear lever was 'sizzling' loudly today when it got up to 80 mph - and wouldn't stop until speed dropped back down below 70 - maybe it was trying to tell me something ? Answer in the past with Minis when they did this was to slide a rubber tube 'sleeve' over the gear lever to damp the critical frequency vibrations - so I may try this.

I had a really bad vibrating gearstick between 50 and 60 and back down. Had to hold it to stop me from going mad

After prop was changed it remained. Chagged the Diff and gone!