Morris Minor Owners Club

Ok guys - there is a lot of talk at the moment about poor quality parts/panels for our minors... I might regret this but I am going to start complining a list. For obvious reasons this thread will be closely monitored and moderated - comments may be deleted or edited without warning.

I will keep a record of this information and will pass it on to the appropriate person within the MMOC comittee when I feel its appropriate (i.e. there is enough useful info) - as a lot of people here seem reluctant to do so on their own.

If you have had any poor quality NEW parts in the last ~3 years please post up here. what the component is and if relevant what model/engine its for.

On the public post please give:

The component (i.e. wing, clutch, top hose)
The problem with the part (i.e. did not fit, rubber cracked after 2 months etc)
Model (Traveller/Saloon)
Age/Series (If important)
Engine size (if important)
If replaced - was the new part any better


DO NOT POST THE NAMES OF ANY SUPPLIERS, OR SUPPLIER SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THIS THREAD


Please then PM me
Part no,
purchase date,
purchase price,
whether its described as being "top quality" or similar etc
Invoice no
supplier.

If you do not want to post publically please PM me details and I will add it to my (off forum) list. Hopefully this way we will get a good idea what parts need looking at and alternative finding.

This thread is not a place for discussion. Any discussion type posts will be deleted without warning. I am also ONLY looking for specific examples where an item has been bought and is substandard. Generic comments such as "top hoses are rubbish" or "chrome only lasts 6 months" will be removed as I need specifics!

I will not divulge who the suppliers of the parts are - so please do not ask, this is purely to try and improve the quality of parts generally.

Please note: this is not official - I am not doing this as a moderator, I am doing it because I want to try and resolve common problems. I am very busy, so please be aware I may not respond to PMs - but I will record them. There is a lot of data to collect so please don't expect any immediate results. I am not going to act on anyones behalf of any warantee claim etc.

If this thread proves to be useful I will make it in to a sticky.

I purchased 2 chrome bumper blades which had to be returned as they were in a shocking state. I went elsewhere (they don't all use the same supplier) and got their top quality ones for the same price.
I purchased rubber rear light gaskets - light to wing for an mm series, but they weren't even close to fitting - returned for refund.
I found that the front windscreen rubber for my mm series wasn't the best fit - but they all seem to be like that.
Rear quarter window rubbers that shouldn't require sealant leaked like a sieve until sealed.
Rubber seal for under quarter light area - cracked after 2 years - still to replace.

pm sent.

Pete

Quarter light rubbers too big
sills for a two door had to have inches cut off to fit and wing did not fit
windscreen rubber had to have massive amounts of sealant
two failed condensers
brake master cylinder leaked

Top radiator hose cracked after 18 months, heater valve leaking after two years !

I cant do anything without the PM Irmscher

I got a new exhaust for my Minor van last year and a friend of mine who is a mechanic and had a car lift to make life easy working on cars had a hell of a job fitting it and he had to make new brackets as the ones that came with the exhaust would not fit.

All good guys... but please can you PM me the details requested in the 1st post otherwise the info isn't much use

In the second week of December 2012 I replaced the Brake Light Switch on my daughter's 1965 2-door Saloon.
In the third week of August 2013 my daughter was stopped by the police because her brake lights weren't working. They realised that she didn't know about the failure so they escorted her for the last 10 miles of her journey home.
She bought another switch from a different supplier which I fitted as soon as it arrived. I complained to the first supplier that the switch had failed after only 8 months and they said that they are aware that some people have had problems with brake light switches but unfortunately they can only find one source of lucar terminal brake light switches. They said that the switch that I had just fitted was probably exactly the same as the one I replaced, however anyone with a problem within 12 months can be supplied with a replacement under warranty.
It remains to be seen if the second switch is any better than the first. In the meantime I have requested a replacement under warranty so that I have a spare ready.
Colin Jones

I don't think we'll get very far with this thread as although I have had a few "duff / poor quality " parts over the last few years I don't keep the relevant data that's requested to full fill the research or am I just alone here?

No you arnt alone (I dont keep invoices) but unless people tell me at least where they bought it the posts arnt any use!

Brake cylinders... replaced all for pattern parts after two failed (I know, I know but I was a poor student at the time) had one pop 2 months ago so replaced for lockhead ones. While fitting these the threads stripped out of two of them when only doing them up FINGER TIGHT

2 weeks ago I replaced the timing chain. Less than 500 miles later the timing chain was sounding worse than the one I had taken off and upon inspection had about 3 times more play in it than the one I had taken off which has covered approx 20k miles. Spent my bank holiday Monday having to do the timing chain again!

To add to that I have invoices and I've even kept the dodgy parts!

The supplier did say that they could potentially offer a refund is I sent the parts back. They would have to send them for inspection though apparently before a refund could be given and the cynic inside me says that any results from such an inspection would come out in their favour and put it down to "error during fitting".

Please PM me the details ;)

I shall send the details this evening (possibly tomorrow evening) when I have the paperwork to hand

Rubber steering Gaiters - Failed completely to perished rings in 1 month
Rubber Dust covers on suspension - Failed and pinged off in 2 months
Coil Pack lasted ~600miles before frying
Windscreen wiper drive rubber seals perished and fell apart - 1 year
Rubber top hose on 948cc Cracked in 1 year
New UJ's on prop shaft were too large to fit circlips back on
Pattern brake cylinders leak and weep after 5months
Brake drums (smaller 1959) 2 out of 4 were oval from new
Short shaft water pump grumbled from new
Front windscreen rubber perished and large cracks after 1 1/2 years


Every single time was from the same supplier and always got the same story 'First time we ever had one of these back'

Keep it coming, and I am still waiting for a few PMs.

I have contacted one of the major suppliers, saying I am collecting this information and asking if the would consider looking in to offering better quality parts. The more information I have - the more likely it is that something will happen so anyone who has useful information please let me know!

Steering rack gaitors disintegrating after only a short time - the thin, floppy rubber seems to decompose!

Front grille surround panel; had to buy a new one from a specialist, which was made in Taiwan out of very thin 'bean tin' metal. I accidentally hit a dog slightly with it, and it buckled in and was very tricky to straighten out again.

Traveller rear bumper blades; purchased a few years ago, one has now almost rotted through!

We bought some Brand New Chrome Dome headed bumper bolts for the rear bumper on our car, from one of the stall holders at the National Show.

Now a couple of months on and those Dome Bolts are now red rusty and I mean "red rusty". I put the old bolts in the bin, which I regret now.

Cheers

Steve