Author Topic: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off  (Read 8273 times)

Offline J.A.F.E.

  • Resident Alien
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2611
If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« 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



Wrench in action



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.
People who confuse etymology and entomology bug me in ways I can’t put into words.

Offline muddy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3467
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #1 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


Offline J.A.F.E.

  • Resident Alien
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2611
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2019, 08:20:15 PM »
When I can hear them over the rattles.
People who confuse etymology and entomology bug me in ways I can’t put into words.

Offline DeadNutz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2985
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #3 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.

Offline J.A.F.E.

  • Resident Alien
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2611
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #4 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.
People who confuse etymology and entomology bug me in ways I can’t put into words.

Offline bonneyman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3953
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #5 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!

Offline J.A.F.E.

  • Resident Alien
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2611
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #6 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.
People who confuse etymology and entomology bug me in ways I can’t put into words.

Offline goodfellow

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4321
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #7 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.

Offline GNAP

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 249
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #8 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.
jack

Offline J.A.F.E.

  • Resident Alien
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2611
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #9 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.
People who confuse etymology and entomology bug me in ways I can’t put into words.

Offline fatfillup

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2542
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #10 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

Offline bonneyman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3953
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #11 on: July 18, 2019, 04:38:37 PM »
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'

Offline J.A.F.E.

  • Resident Alien
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2611
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #12 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.
People who confuse etymology and entomology bug me in ways I can’t put into words.

Offline slip knot

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2587
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #13 on: July 18, 2019, 05:37:17 PM »
Loctite is your friend here, safety wire is even better.

Offline J.A.F.E.

  • Resident Alien
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2611
Re: If it's a British Car it Will Fall Off
« Reply #14 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.
People who confuse etymology and entomology bug me in ways I can’t put into words.