Ok, I'm almost afraid to ask about this but...

...when I changed the oil on the weekend there was some non magnetic swarf (aluminium??) that came out with the old oil.

Theres no other symptoms except it had been a little difficult to engage 1st and reverse when hot just before the oil change, but it seems OK now.

What's the possible cause and what would normally be the symptoms.

Cheers

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I doubt that it would be engine bearing material, so relax on that (unless you notice a drop in oil presure).

Some of the non-standard baulk rings were non-ferrous and it is likely to be this. Quite normal.

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unless you have an alloy rocker cover & the rockers have been playing "Touchy-feely" with it

or maybe you have a central oil pick-up that hasn`t been fitted well & has been scraping the bottom of the gearbox for ages

or maybe you have a 1275cc engine fitted onto a non-1275 type gearbox & the big ends have been scraping the sides of the box

or maybe it`s actually brass particles from the gearshift forks

or maybe your idler gear bearing was sooo worn out that the shaft has now worn into your cases

or maybe

oh i could go on & on, but i`m sure all this will just frighten you

Hope it`s just a simple one & not something horrible

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Thats the one I had wondered about after searching old posts, what would be the symptom of that?

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

A lot of backlash in the drive when you back off, also excess and strange drop gear noises...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

oh yes ,,,the Doc is dead right (as usual) if it were the idler brgs "That" bad then it would (usually) sound like you have worse than a Straight cut race gearbox.

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

I did that,
Sounds like a dying cat. Or an electric car.
Really high pitched whining on mine on acceleration.
Didnt really effect engine performance but took the gearbox and everything out with it with filings being pumped around.

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Simplify and add lightness

Aluminium in the sump oil.

hee hee

Love you Morry

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Love you too.

Does it look like this?


Because this is what I found




Nasty, I only drove a few hundre meters fromthe first sign of anything wrong

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I win, about 20 ks home.

When i was young and dumb.
Now im a bit older and probably as dumb.

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Simplify and add lightness

Looks like diamonds..yer rich!

Looks like this, and this is pretty much all of it.

Theres no excessive noise, 1st gear theres just that typical whine any mini has, once into 2nd and beyond I wouldn't say theres any excess noise, can't really hear much gear noise in 3rd or top even if you accelerate.

Doesn't seem to be that much slack in the drive, again same as always. Theres always been a slight knock sound if you power on or off suddenly, but only if your real rough with it.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

Idler gear bearings?
From memory (long time ago) at idle in neutral you hear a whine.
Push the clutch in and the whine stops because the gears stop going around.