Engine Problems :(

[greg]

We remember a Frodo well from Hatton. Didn't you do very well in the unrestored category?
We were in a caravan that w/e. Enjoyed it, and the tractor tow off!

Just wondered if you are sure the tapping is from the rocker cover and not the timing chain cover. I use a long screwdriver hand cupped to the ear as a listening device, mind the fan though.
One of our 'teething' problems, some years ago now, fitting your description was timing chain tensioner failure allowing the timing chain too loose on the crank cog and power loss. Finally chewed up the crank cog teeth and lost valve timing.
Must be a 'safe' engine as we only replaced cog, chain(precautionary), and tensioner.[^]

 

[chasbaps]

Well, I spoke to someone yesterday, and from my description, he thinks its the big end
The noise is now VERY loud rhythmic thumping, so I think he's right.

I'm not sure what to do now, I would be happy to take the time and remove the engine, and treat the repair as a learning curve as well, but I am too busy for the next couple of months, and we really want to get Frodo on the road for the summer (finally!). So I think i am going to have to talk nicely to our local garage and see if they can help - They are very friendly, but Frodo is so big, that he only fits on their MOT ramp, and that is the mainstay of their business.

The other option would be an engine transplant if I can find a suitable engine. What fits straight in? This would seem to be the simplest and quickest solution if I can find one, then I can rebuild the old engine at my leisure, and hopefully learn a bit as well!

 

[Comm - Pete]

An engine swap would be easier then maybe mate. I wonder if anybody here has a spare engine? They seem to pop up often on e-bay too. Hope you get it sorted soon

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!

 

[greg]

Worn crankshaft bearings wouldn't necessarily give you a distinct power loss though, unless extreme...

 

[sunbeamsam]

I had some thing very similar a few years ago and it took me forever to work out what it was, I changed the tappets, rebuilt the head etc all to no avail - turned out that the timing chain wheel on the cam shaft was slightly loose and the woodpeckr noise was the woodruff key banging from side to side of its slot each rotation. At 6000 rpm it was deafening, I had to fit a bigger stereo.

New woodruff key and some bearing loctite sorted it.

Though come to think of it this wouldn't cause sudden massive powerloss.

I've got a compression tester ifyou want to borrow it - i'm on the other side of farnham.

My bets are on a cracked/bent exhaust valve.

 

[commerchris]

have a word with Martin he did have some engines iirc would fit straight in palleted services available from haulage companies should be £75 ish that woul get you up & running for the summer

Sybhil

 

[admin]

hey sam frodo is on my drive if you fancied a quick visit to see the v8 too

 

[sunbeamsam]

Would love to but working away till monday, if he's still there looking poorly on tuesday i could pop over with a compression tester. will text after the weekend.

 

[chasbaps]

quote:
Originally posted by commerchris

have a word with Martin he did have some engines iirc would fit straight in palleted services available from haulage companies should be £75 ish that woul get you up & running for the summer
Sybhil



Yeah I'll be giving him a ring when I get a chance.

Sam, Frodo won't be going anywhere before next week, so please pop down! I'll buy you a beer in return for a play with your compression tester!

 

[sunbeamsam]

bargain!

 

[chasbaps]

Sunbeamsam came and had a look on Tuesday evening - the star that he is!
He thought that the noise was coming from outside then engine, and had a quick look and found that the pulley on the crankshaft has some play in it. So last night I took out the radiator, and am just going back to see if I can do anything about it. I changed the fanbelt last night as I noticed it was vibrating quite a lot, and the alternator was at the end of its travel. The new one fitted fine, but didn't make any difference to the engine noise.

The pully does appear to rotate about 2-3 degrees, even though the nut holding it on the crankshaft doesn't so fingers crossed I can get it off and have a look tonight!

 

[chasbaps]

Oh, and for a few brief hours we had four Commers within a 20m radius in Alton, surely a record outside of meets and Commerland!

 

[admin]

Since Chris took number 1 you're probably right

I'll be back in an hour and no band practice so see you then... hopefully I'll be solving the v8 "problem" too this evening

 

[chasbaps]

Well I eventually managed to get of the crankshaft jaw nut, and get to the crankshaft pulley. The slot in it that centres it on the crankshaft is worn, giving about 1mm of play, so I think that could be the source of the problem.

John, I'm done for the night, but will be at the pub from 8.30 ish....

 

[Comm - Pete]

quote:
Originally posted by admin

Since Chris took number 1 you're probably right

I'll be back in an hour and no band practice so see you then... hopefully I'll be solving the v8 "problem" too this evening

Tell me more about this 'Band' John?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!

 

[Panky]

Result, well done Sam and Charlie Hopefully it's just the woodruff key that is worn - an easy fix

 

[Panky]

http://66.129.69.181/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1801

From 'Mechanical hints and tips' on the home page - pretty close to your problem:I

 

[chasbaps]

Cheers Panky!

The nut itself was as tight as tight can be - half an hour to hammer the bugger off! the original threadlock was still in place, and the nut turned the crankshaft, with no indication of movement or play. However the pulley had the wobble, maybe a degree if that. Looking at the pulley, it has been knocked a few times, narrowing the "V" in one or two places. By my reckoning, that would cause the belt to bite into the pulley, causing a tension on the pulley, so when the belt is released from that bit the pulley would fly forward cue to the change in load on it. this would mean that every time the engine did a rotation, the pulley would be forced backwards and then forwards, and over time this has worn the edge of the woodruff channel allowing the pulley to knock against the key....

Thats my theory so far - I may find that this is not the main problem, but its certainly something that needs sorting out, hopefully John has a spare pulley that fits from his 1500 engine...

While I have access to the front of the engine, is there anything else peeps would recomend doing? I have already been recomended to change the timing chain, so other tips suggestions etc would be welcome.

Martin, I will be placing an order soon, just need to see what else I should get - so don't go suggesting "one of everything I sell"

 

[Panky]

Change the bottom rad hose and run the fuel pipe in front og the rad.

 

[admin]

quote:
Originally posted by Comm - Pete

Tell me more about this 'Band' John?




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