[TR] TR3 knock....

[KT]

  Well David,
        I already did everything else,plus wiring harness (from Dan Masters), tranny & O/D (John Esposito) paint, etc.,etc.....
   The noise starts after warm-up, but lessens on acceleration. It's quiet when cold. I actually know what needs to be done......but I was hoping for the snake oil salesman to stop by and make everything all better...... =-O 
  Looks like yet another one of those greasy weekends.
KT
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Kevin,
I bought a 3A about a year and a half ago which was a pretty good  driver.  
One day I started to notice a knock at idle that went away when  the motor came 
up to temp.  The long and the short of it is that it got  worse and then just 
kind of stayed that way.  Removing the plug wire  gave pretty much the same 
as you describe.  I communicated with Randall  about his and he told me his 
piston slap story and that it went on for a long  time.  Well, my anal retentive 
nature finally took over and I pulled  the head and found my #3 piston was the 
culprit.  I have rebuilt  the motor and true to the nature of the hobby, the 
tranny, od, front end, all  springs, steering, and am painting the car this 
weekend.  
What ever you decide to do with this knock, just know when to  stop! 
 
Where are you on the Cape?  I will be in Chatham, Brewster, and  Falmouth 
this summer visiting and just having fun.
(Ooops, just noticed your email.  Woods Hole?)
 
David  Lylis


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Nah. I replaced it with an aluminum insert in the 2 piece pulley...


Still wouldn't hurt to try to turn the motor with it, and see if any play
has developed.

I believe the key isn't good enough, and if the bolt does not keep the hub
clamped tightly against the timing gear, the hub will eventually work it's
way loose.  My problem was that the steel "insert" I used (just a big flat
washer) pulled up against the crank nose instead of against the hub.  But
with aluminum, I'd be more worried that it would eventually distort enough
to relieve the clamping force.  Especially since it's going to expand more
than the bolt every time the motor warms up.

Randall
  Good points! This will be the 1st thing I check when I'm back in the garage today.
KT