Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Cannot get into gear - Plus 8 1992

I have just had the Plus 8 (1992) I bought shipped to the US, however I just went to pick it up and cannot get it into any gear. The clutch is still firm to press, even though there is a bit of free travel at the top of the motion. All fluid reservoirs seem full. I pumped the clutch several times but it didn’t make any difference. The person who unloaded the car mentioned that they found a small pool of fluid in the container - wasn’t sure whether it was oil or fluid.

When I bought the car a couple of months ago I noticed it was a bit of a challenge sometimes getting it into 2nd gear.
I need to somehow collect it from the importer tomorrow, so any help would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks,
David

Would it not engage any gears when the engine wasn't running? My first thought was that the clutch plate has stuck to the flywheel, but if that was the case you should be able to get it in gear without the engine running.

Mine has stuck on a couple of occasions but the important thing then is to run the engine to get everything warm. Sometimes it's enough to leave the clutch depressed overnight and it frees off. Otherwise your stuck with warming it thoroughly and then starting in gear and driving with the clutch depressed until it clears. More drastic is to warm through and then tow the car in gear with the clutch depressed until it frees.

As above ...if it's not been left for ages sometimes it will free by putting it in gear with the engine and handbrake off and vigourously rocking the car back and forward

K

A 1992 +8 will have a LT77 gearbox.

These are prone to linkage problems , most of which can be sorted by taking the transmission tunnel off and getting at the linkages on top of the box, you probably don't need to take the engine and transmission out.

There is some information here https://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/remoteissues.html

Hope it is a straightforward job for you .

Thanks to all. I got to drive it back earlier today.
After running the car for 15 mins, I switched it off, put it in gear, released the handbreak then vigorously rocked the car back and forth. Did the trick. Thank you!

I managed to drive it home, however I need to fix the gearbox. It’s difficult to put in gear and once it’s in gear it clicks continuously unless I hold the gear lever in a certain position. May need to find a helpful local mechanic to take a look.

Thanks again to each of you for helping to get me up and running again.
David

David, I had the same problem and it's the gearlever touching the propshaft.
See post below on how to fix it.

https://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/527537/gearlever-touching-the-propshaft