Recon Stag Engine

[dasadrew]

See: http://www.stag.org.uk/forum/showthr...lon#post163412

Mike, here's another link for you (get it? link? chain? )

http://www.stag.org.uk/forum/showthr...=enginetonight (some bedtime reading)

ROLON is the trademark owned by the Indian chain manufacturer L.G.Balakrishnan & Bros Ltd. (LGB)

Renold is - as far as I know - the original UK manufacturer of the Stag chain gear.

Renold and LGB have now formed a joint venture to sell chains with the LGB trademark "ROLON". Whether these are made by Renold or LGB I don't know. I guess they continue to be made in India.

As for the German chains being risky as they are pre-stretched, this is a quote from the Renold/LGB ROLON site:

Preloading of the chain: Rolon chain is preloaded in special fixtures. This enhances resistance against initial elongation and fatigue.

The IWIS story is simpler. German company founded in 1916 and still in the hands of the founder's descendants.

[Stagdad]

Russ
It was Sutton Rebore who suggested I honed the bores myself to save some money, before I took the engine to them to evaluate what would be required. I may be saving 2K by doing it myself but I would be taking the parts to be serviced to reputable companies.
I agree there's no point in saving 2K by doing it myself and then allowing the engine to fail because I skimped on quality parts.
I do however have some conflicting advise on timing chains, stretched german seems to be the preferred, but I have been told that when they go, they just break with no warning and that quality standard chains are better because they stretch and the noise gives you some indication that they need replacing. I know the chains should be replaced approximately every 20,000 miles but I think that the pre-warned rattle may be better, what's your thoughts?

Nigel

Ive heard this story but has anyone ever seen it happen?I cant recall it ever being confirmed on here in the 5 years ive been on it.happy to be show otherwise but it could be just another chinese wispers type thing like stags overheat.


Been running Iwis for 3 years now BTW
Cheers Steve

[GDPR]

Sutton Rebore were a fair outfit when I used to use them back in the 70s and 80s, along with Carshalton Rebore, Bensham Lane Engineering and Kandu Engineering in Reigate..... can't say how good they are now, but I still use Bensham for head skimming and welding.

One of the problems of coming on here for advice is we all have our own prejudices and agenda, plus we are asked to comment on things sight unseen - this is as frustrating for you as it is for us

Chains are a good case in point - some say use the Indian chains, and change at 25000 by rote as they stretch really badly, some say German IWIS chains but claim they snap without without warning... something that has not happened to me, but they could be mixing that up with some chains, claimed with being German that may not be of IWIS quality, but whatever you get, I've never gone wrong with the change at 25000 whatever chain has been fitted - after all, 25000 for most Stag owners is a lot of years driving, they can be changed in situ in 5 hours at the cost of £120 of bits ( I always change the chainwheels as they are not always as hardwearing as you would like) but you pays yer money and takes yer choice........

Take any and all advice with a good dollop of common sense and you shouldn't go wrong.....

[Ian Durrant]

My Stag had IWIS chains in it from 1987 to 2001 and they never gave any problem in what's probably 50,000 miles or more. I changed them when I had a repair done to one of the cam bearings and fitted a new old stock Renold chain because I couldn't at the time find the IWIS ones, just some "Made in Germany" which looked distinctly unlike the real thing. It has done no miles since but I now wish I had just reused the IWIS ones because they were virtually unworn. First excuse I get IWIS will be going back in.

I did have a chain snap once but that was in late 1986 and it was a Renold chain (no Rolon's then) but that was certainly caused by a dodgy pump skew gear.

My Dad had a chain snap on his shortly after an engine rebuild in 1977, the tensioner rubber had parted company with the piston, again not caused by the chain.

My best guess is that chains rarely, if ever, snap for no reason. They are often reported to jump a tooth on the timing when they are worn and rattly or fail when the tensioner breaks or the jackshaft seizes. The IWIS ones I know last longer before they get rattly and are fit and forget. The "they are prestretched/preloaded and fail without warning argument" I don't believe. For a start the ROLON chain is also preloaded in a similar fashion (as Drew has pointed out in this thread) and secondly none of the specialists that warn against IWIS have ever given a single sound engineering reason for the prestretched argument, but hey it sounds good and means more work for the specialists changing them every 25,000 miles.

[NigelMuntzer]

This is not the end but the beginning!

Due to restricted money, I have decided to do the rebuild myself.
The main advantage is that I can save on labour costs, purchase the parts at my own pace (PAYE), gain knowledge and have some control over what is fitted.
This I am sure is not going to be the easiest route but the only one I can afford, hopefully it will be on the road by next spring.

At present my main priority is getting a new shed so that I can clear the garage to get the car out of the rain. I have purchased a Moltex cover but after it rains the car is always wet! I'm not sure how good these covers are.

[WealdenManinKent]

Hi Nigel
I guess I will be going down the self engine rebuild route, tbh it wont be the first engine but haven't done a rebuild for a long time. There is lots of support on here if you have any probs. Follow the Repairs Operation Manual and you cant go to far wrong. Remember to take lots of photo's as you take things apart this always helps on reassembly
Also if you can bag up relevant bolts and fixings so they all stay together.
Good luck and keep us all posted - with the pics.
Roger

[Jools Stornoway]

For 4 grand mate, you'd be better off buying a scruffy car with a good engine. rip it out and sell off everything else.

[jleyton]

Hi Nigel
I guess I will be going down the self engine rebuild route, tbh it wont be the first engine but haven't done a rebuild for a long time. There is lots of support on here if you have any probs. Follow the Repairs Operation Manual and you cant go to far wrong. Remember to take lots of photo's as you take things apart this always helps on reassembly
Also if you can bag up relevant bolts and fixings so they all stay together.
Good luck and keep us all posted - with the pics.
Roger

And although it probably won't be all plain sailing, you'll have a great sense of achievement when you complete it that will make you feel good every time you drive the car.

Good luck Nigel and Roger.

Cheers

Julian

[mjheathcote]

I rebuilt my own engine, with no prior experience, just followed the repair manual to the letter. It was before the Internet too.
Had a few tuning books, so polished here, tear dropped there, sent stuff off for boring, grinding, balancing, porting etc.
It was immense when it started first time!
One advantage nearly 20 years ago was that everything was available from the OEM's, bearings, pumps, pistons etc so top quality, no 'county' stuff!