[Healeys] Thanks was: Looking for Wire Wheels

[Bob Spidell]

I'm not sure, but I think the size of the 'collars'--the threaded caps that hold the adapters to the O/D case and the 
speedo cable to the adapters--are different between the 4-cyl and 6-cyl cars.  They can't be interchanged.  I suspect 
the BN1/2 adapters are just more rare, hence more $$$.

We were baffled by these for awhile, but I finally took a hammer to one.  If you look at the adapters, they appear to be 
sealed.  There is a 'disk' a little larger than a nickel on the side of the adapter body opposite the collar that 
connects the adapter to the O/D, and a smaller one opposite the 'output shaft' that connects to the speedo cable.  Both 
these disks are interference, press-in fits.  You can pop the big one out by gently tapping the 'input shaft' on the O/D 
side while bracing the adapter on a vise.  Then, you can pop the smaller one out by tapping on the 'output shaft' on the 
speedo cable side (assemble in reverse order).

These two disks act as thrust washers for a small spiral gear driven by the O/D, and a smaller worm gear driven by the 
spiral gear which drives the speedo cable (since it's a right angle drive there are side and end loads; in a way it's 
like a spiral/bevel differential, but reversed).  Once apart, clean everything, grease or oil lightly then reassemble.  
You can gently tap the disk-shaped thrust washers/caps back into place.  If they don't fit too snugly you can punch the 
center of the disk a little--like setting a freeze plug--and/or put a little JB Weld around the edge to make a good seal.

You may bunge up the shafts a little, but you can file out the peined-over part.  There might be some other pieces in 
there so watch for them when disassembling (but I don't recall any).  One of ours had a lot of wear on one of the 
shafts, but we were able to substitute from the donor.  Make sure the gears mesh easily; I suspect different gear ratios 
were used and yours might not be the same.

Good luck,
Bob



On 12/6/2011 9:13 PM, Bert Van Brande wrote:
>
> Why is this right angle adaptor for the bn1/bn2 so expensive?   $220 vs $49 for the 6 cyl version.  (Moss prices)
> Also since there is no difference in speedo pinion assembly on the OD for a BN2 vs BN4 or BN6, then what is the 
> difference between these angle adaptors?  Or can a 6 cyl adaptor be used on a BN2?
>
> I have 2 of these and will probably attempt a rebuild.  Let me know what you discovered, Bob.
>
> Bert
>
>
>

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Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net

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