Garage Gazette

VEHICLES => DAILY DRIVERS/GROCERY GETTERS => Topic started by: J.A.F.E. on July 17, 2019, 08:03:39 PM

Title: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 17, 2019, 08:03:39 PM: The it in this case is everything.

I went to work on the Spitfire today and to adjust the valves or points usually turn the engine over using the bolt on the harmonic balancer. I have a waterpump wrench I use to turn it

(https://live.staticflickr.com/773/22858682074_c5bdf577ba_c.jpg)

Wrench in action

(https://live.staticflickr.com/5630/22924238594_1797340ff5_c.jpg)

Went to turn it and the wrench wasn't grabbing anything! A closer look reveals the bolt holding the balancer is missing. :D It's a standard right hand thread and I turn the engine clockwise so somehow it loosened on it's own and fell off at some point.

Luckily I was ordering some parts anyway and the bolt is available although not cheap at $35 (a new OEM fuel pump was 39 for comparison).

Lesson learned driving a Brit car you have to learn to dodge the falling parts. Still, this car is a hoot and I wouldn't sell it for twice what I paid.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: muddy on July 17, 2019, 08:09:19 PM: Wow! Glad you caught it! How often do you adjust valves?

Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 17, 2019, 08:20:15 PM: When I can hear them over the rattles.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: DeadNutz on July 17, 2019, 08:23:34 PM: Good thing you caught that. I can imagine the bad things happening if it fell off going down the road.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 17, 2019, 08:37:14 PM: The harmonic coming loose wouldn't be a good thing. Loosing the front main seal could be very bad news.

I just don't see how that could come loose torque spec is 150 ft/lbs and I'm not getting that with that waterpump wrench even if I turned against rotation. Of course I didn't install it so I have no idea if it was tightened to spec.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: bonneyman on July 17, 2019, 10:22:40 PM: Yeah, glad you caught that before the balancer came off at 3000 rpm! :-\

Not surprised at the cost of the nut. Was looking at getting a mini-cooper - till I found out the cost of repairs! Yikes!
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 17, 2019, 11:01:13 PM: In general most parts are quite reasonable. But there are some gotchas like that nut.

I'd love another Mini but they are getting to be quite pricey.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: goodfellow on July 18, 2019, 07:25:04 AM: Brit cars are notorious for these types of failures. Glad you got it properly fixed Steve -- . I had a lever arm shock break and fall off at highway speed one time; wasn't pretty.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: GNAP on July 18, 2019, 08:50:38 AM: Oil seal on British vehicles are for show only, my 2 MGs, A-H Bugeye Sprite and the 3 BSAs, all leaked like a sieve. The only thing worse than the oil leaks, were the electrical system.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 18, 2019, 11:25:26 AM: Level arm shocks. The Spit at least uses proper tube shocks but the TR6 used levers into the mid 70's.

The electrical on this is typical and almost none of the harnesses are still wrapped and none are wrapped all the way - they've all been worked on. But as to oil this one is remarkably well behaved.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: fatfillup on July 18, 2019, 11:40:00 AM: Glad you caught it in time and could find the replacement.

My neighbor, the Saab mechanic was commenting the other day how he always "glues" bolts on the cars he works on. Little locktite goes a long way to keep things together
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: bonneyman on July 18, 2019, 04:38:37 PM: Quote from: fatfillup on July 18, 2019, 11:40:00 AM
Glad you caught it in time and could find the replacement.

My neighbor, the Saab mechanic was commenting the other day how he always "glues" bolts on the cars he works on. Little locktite goes a long way to keep things together

I was gonna mention LockTite but thought it was passe'
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 18, 2019, 04:50:34 PM: Funny you guys mention Loctite. I had a similar thought.

I hope they have a British car strength.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: slip knot on July 18, 2019, 05:37:17 PM: Loctite is your friend here, safety wire is even better.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 18, 2019, 09:10:18 PM: Unfortunately nothing to safety wire to. The bolt has a shoulder where the threads are and the crank just pokes a thread or two past the balancer.

On a happy note even though I ordered the parts late yesterday they arrived today!

Size is 1 7/8 across flats.

Pix to follow.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 18, 2019, 10:30:22 PM: Looks like I have to do one at a time.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 18, 2019, 10:31:23 PM: The threads come to about where the flats on the nut are.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 18, 2019, 10:33:10 PM: Thought I'd post a pic of the fuel pump. This is the OEM style which includes the lever used to prime the carb. I have used it more than once and anticipate using it again.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: jabberwoki on July 19, 2019, 12:00:31 AM: 3000 rpm? that's hopeful isn't it?
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 19, 2019, 12:11:16 AM: Quote from: jabberwoki on July 19, 2019, 12:00:31 AM
3000 rpm? that's hopeful isn't it?

No it'll do 3k. I can get it all the way to about 3003.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: jabberwoki on July 19, 2019, 10:54:20 AM: I just this week found you a MG midget and an Opel GT in a wrecking yard
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 19, 2019, 03:48:09 PM: Where is that drooling emoticon? Both cars I find highly desirable.
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: oldnslo on July 20, 2019, 08:14:30 AM: I swear I'll put this sticker on my Land Rover one of these days.....
Title: Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
Post by: J.A.F.E. on July 20, 2019, 12:19:31 PM: I love it. :))

I wonder if Moss or BPNW sells them.