On the spit trannys, the reverse idler gear and both it's counterparts
(reverse gear and the reverse piece on the cluster gear) are notoreously
weak. They can be rebuilt with heavier duty gears, though.
Mike
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mgraziano@mindspring.com [SMTP:mgraziano@mindspring.com]
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 12:00 PM
> To: Ken Waringa
> Cc: MG; Triumphs; michael.graziano@csfb.com; spridgets@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Spitfire and Midget Engine
>
> Ken
>
> The 1275 engine in your Midget is light years away from the one in a
> Spitfire. Although, the engines in the rubber bumper Midgets are a bored
> out version of the Spit engine. Spitfires (I believe in '74 and up) came
> with 1500cc engines, which is the same as the RB Midgets.
>
> The biggest thing to be aware of with this engine is end play in the
> crank. Here's how to check:
>
> This article was written for a TR6, but the procedure for checking the
> 1500 is only with clearances of .006-.014 inches for the 1500.
>
> TR6 Thrust Washer Check & Installationby James Davis,
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------
> TR6 thrust washers tend to wear themselves out in short order, and
> sometimes
> require replacement even after as few as 50,000 miles. A common problem
> with
> them is that they can easily be installed backwards, in which case they
> wear
> out VERY fast, even in as little as a few thousand miles.
> This article describes first how to quickly check to see if your thrust
> washers may need replacement, and then how to make sure they are installed
> the right way 'round. Checking the Thrust Washers
> Checking the condition of the thrust washers is quite straightforward, and
> doesn't even require opening up anything on the engine! This is a good
> check
> to repeat every few thousand miles, as letting worn thrust washers
> continue
> to wear away can require a different crankshaft and block if the condition
> is severe enough.
> To check, simply push the crankshaft pulley rearward as hard as you can,
> then have an assistant sit in the car. Now, use your hand to span the
> space
> between the crank pulley and the front of the engine, and inform your
> assistant to lightly step on the clutch pedal. You'll feel the crank
> pulley
> move forward slightly, and this will reveal the condition of the
> thrustwashers.
> The allowable axial play for the crankshaft is .007-.013 If the distance
> seems greater than say, the thickness of your fingernail, you should
> bargain
> for a lower price, knowing that you'll have to be into the lower end of
> the
> motor soon. If the distance approaches 1/8", you can bet that the thrust
> washers have fallen into the oil pan, and the connecting rod bearings are
> short to fail. In this case, a different engine may be in order.
> Installing the Thrust Washers the Right Way 'Round
> Since I've replaced these, and my oil pan contains nothing more than
> Castrol
> 20w-50 and my crank doesn't move about unnecessarily, I'll quote from page
> 36, Chapter 1, sec. 45, par. 8 of the Haynes' manual:
> Rotate the crankshaft in the direction toward the main bearing tabs(so
> that
> the main bearing shells don't slide out). At the same time feed the thrust
> washers into their locations with their oil grooves outwards away from the
> bearing (photo). [bold type added for emphasis]
> The photo shows a thrust washer half being inserted with the oil grooves
> facing toward the inside of the engine.
> Now for the confusion: Page 132 of the Bentley manual has an illustration
> (of a photo on page 36 of the Haynes manual) which shows the grooves
> facing
> toward the outside of the engine. The illustration is obviously in error,
> as
> the original photo has no oil grooves showing and the text in the Bentley
> manual reads as follows:
> Insert the thrust bearings into the grooves in the cylinder block ensuring
> that the oil grooves face towards the sides of the crankshaft journal.
> This is a very good example of why I prefer the Haynes book, but use the
> Bentley manual as a reference.
This message is for the named person's use only. It may contain
confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No
confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission.
If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all
copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the
sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute,
print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended
recipient. CREDIT SUISSE GROUP and each of its subsidiaries each reserve
the right to monitor all e-mail communications through its networks. Any
views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except
where the message states otherwise and the sender is authorised to state
them to be the views of any such entity.
|