Morris Minor Owners Club

On a drive today, just after coming round a roundabout, I suddenly got a loud "whizzing" noise and vibration from the clutch area. Immediately pulled over and the engine died. Started again first pull and after test moving through all the gears with no problem I headed home with absolutely no issues. What do you think this might have been? My guess is something with the clutch but no idea what.

Just prior to this I had been heading up a long steep hill doing the old 3rd to 4th to 3rd to 4th shuffle familiar to anyone that drives an 803. Maybe this was as cause? Never had this happen before in over thirty years of driving her.

Sounds like you have a glazed clutch more a problem when hot. If it does not play up any more nothing to worry about. It can cause the clutch to slip a little and that makes it hotter still making it slip more. Is the adjustment OK.

Wheelspin?

Yes check the tarmac for black lines, I hear the 803 is quite a beast

Maybe not - but is extremely low geared ....

Even worse in an A30!

Much as I am in awe of you fellows with you massive 948's does anyone have a serious suggestion?

Hi David

I thought that the first suggestion was a good one.

The hill climb that preceded the problem -- with frequent gear changes -- would have heated up the clutch facing. Then, accelerating around the roundabout (unleashing the full throbbing power of the 803cc's) could have induced clutch slip.

When you hear the strange noise, did it seem that the engine revs rose without a commensurate increase in road speed?

Don

Thanks. It wasn't like a clutch slipping. I've head that happen on a number of cars. It was a loud "whizzing" noise and was accompanied by vibration and engine revs. It sounded like the gearbox was destroying itself. But as I say all seems good now, so maybe it was a glazed clutch facing as amgrave suggested (thanks!).

Where you possibly in too high a gear so when you accelerated your Morris just stalled itself?