Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Difficult to engage gears when gearbox is cold

Regarding my 1984 4/4 with CVH Engine and Sierra Type 9 gearbox ------I find it impossible to engage any forward/reverse gears until the engine/gearbox have warmed up.
Would changing the gearbox oil help ?
Does the clutch need adjusting ?
The clutch is manual and heavy to operate, has anyone any experience of a conversion to hydraulic?
Would appreciate any useful comments please.

Can't help I'm afraid, but I have the opposite problem. Can put the gearbox into reverse when cold, but after the whole shebang is nicely hot I can't get it into reverse without crunching. Most embarrasing. She's a +4 with a Rover gearbox.

It is a good idea to change the gearbox oil occasionally. 30K or so for good maintenance practice. With the correct type of oil this may help it. You are also correct, that it may be the clutch, but if the clutch works fine once warm, then it makes more sense that it would be the oil.
I am impressed that Morgan had a mechanical clutch going in their cars in 1984. Really?

Deni, the Plus four Rover gear lever often needs a good hard clout across the gate for reverse.

LT77 or R380?
Not that it makes a great deal of difference.

The answer is to select 1st or 2nd for a few seconds, before attempting to select reverse. This should stop the layshaft spinning, which is the cause of reverse gear noise.

Cheers,

That problem does not sound right to me. I have a 87 4/4 and have never had an issue with a cold gearbox.

The clutch is a simple cable which is easy to adjust with a spanner on the cable at the side of the gearbox. It might be worth tighting the nut, therefore making the clutch easier to engage.

A change of oil might help maybe..

Hope that is of help.
Will

I'm referring to Deni's Rover gearbox - well known for being notchy and slow changing.

The Type 9 should have an easy change - hot or cold (perhaps not quite as slick as my earlier 4 speeder, but not far off).
Suggest, as Will says, to check the cable adjustment, but aslo as mentioned further above if the oil has not been changed, do so.
Not sure what the oil should be (I'm sure a pal of mine is running MTF in his - however, check what it should be, either either via your local dealer or on line).

Cheers,

Had a problem with my 78 4/4 recently 1st sometimes difficult to engage and always a crunch to engage reverse. Realised this had only occured since i had fitted new carpet which had decreased the pedal travel by the thickness of the carpet.Adjusted the pedal travel in the footwell by disconnecting the clevis pin on the pedal and increasing thelength of pedal travel with the locknut.Problem solved all nice and smooth! Hope this may help someone.
Barry

If it's not getting much mileage the clutch plate may stick on the splines causing drag. Mine used to do something like this at random times, very difficult to engage first and then all would be fine again. Basically if the clutch is dragging the gearbox syncro won't let the gear in.

LT77 - thanks, I'll try both this and the clunck across the gate method, if it ever stops raining long enough for me to drive without wellies!