A pretty good week with my just-acquired near-comatose Spit. Nice
visit Saturday from fellow-lister Ward Pettis; I learned a lot (thanks,
Ward) & we took a short neighborhood run in my Spit driver.
Addressed Challenge #1: Battery Completely Dead After Sitting A Day.
Fritzy switch to the trunk/boot light - disconnected light for now.
Addressing Challenge #2: Clutch Would Not Disengage. Pumped like
crazy, got pressure, she disengages! - will re-do hydraulics next week.
Challenge #3: Intermittent, Loud, Raspy Bearing Squawk From Front of
Engine. Sounds sort of like a dry throw-out bearing, but deeper & louder &
is definitely from the front of the engine. It will scream for a few
seconds, then shut up, then keep cycling back & forth (not rhythmic - RPM
change seems to indirectly affect it). The more I run the car (it apparently
hadn't been run for several months - maybe longer), the less the squawking
(I think). Tried a "stethoscope" - seems to be the water-pump housing area,
but not positive (an antsy maneuver with a bunch of spinning belts, pulleys
& fan). Removed belts, ran engine (obviously for only a very short period),
and heard NO squawking. No discernable wobble in water-pump shaft, no
visible leakage.
I've addressed many water-pumps over the decades, but mostly GM, never
Triumph. Am I looking in the right direction? Is there something in the
front of the camshaft or crankshaft that could be squawking like this?
Would this (water-pump?) squawk possibly tend to dissipate as I run the
engine more often (& thereby perhaps provide it some much needed
lubrication)? Are the replacement water-pumps of decent quality? (VB has
them on sale now till the 28th for $40 - I should probably just go ahead &
get one, & hope that's the problem.)
[The PO threw me a bit of a curve, because included in the numerous
un-installed parts are a new timing chain, sprockets, gaskets, etc. Did he
know something I don't, or was he just overlooking the obvious (the
water-pump)?]
Am I thinking straight - toward the water-pump? or being
overly-optimistic? All opinions/observations welcome from fellow-listers,
who I recognize, though not older, are generally much wiser than I am.
Cheers, Ree G. in Silver Spring, MD - '78 FM73070U O driver - '77 FM62988U
wip
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