A lucky escape?

[Gresley]

Driving back from Stoneleigh yesterday I heard a whining noise coming from the engine on the Stag, which steadily got worse. I had a listen and decided that the alternator bearings must be on the way out...

Now, I am on holiday today so I started the Stag up and listened. It was quiet cold, but the whine appeared when it warmed up. On listening carefully it was obvious that the noise was coming from the timing chain area I whipped the front cover off and the pictures show what I found. This part was new 7000 miles ago!! The other guides all look OK with just the tinyest bit of wear. A faulty part or just poor quality?!

After 200+ miles yesterday I think I was a bit lucky!

Brian.

IMG_0001_43.jpgIMG_0002_8.jpg

[big lad]

That's lucky Brian, could have been bad that.
best of luck with the repaires

regards

Tony

[jleyton]

As you say, a lucky escape - especially bearing in mind how much you use your car.

Good luck with the repairs although it would be worth double checking that it wasn't something else that led to this - chain tension etc ?

Cheers

Julian

[Mike Stevens]

Nasty, Brian. Glad you got home OK.

I did see you a couple of times there yesterday, but I think both of us were too engrossed in what was on the stalls! Also saw Steve (Stagdad)!

I did have very nice chats with Tony Lapworth and Martin.

Cheers,
Mike.

[ozman]

OMG!!!! Who's a lucky boy then Brian????

Simon.

[grumpy2]

Phew, I've long thought that ears can be the first warning of engine problems.

Well done

Gary

[MandM]

Next job is to find the missing rubber, oil pick up?

[ozman]

Better to find the missing rubber than hunt the broken chain eh M and M??????????

[V Mad]

Do you have an oil pressure gauge? I was wondering if a very high oil pressure could cause the tensioners to over tighten the chain.

[Firept]

Brian.
Are we looking at c#*p rubber components again?
Perhaps it could be remade using PTFE as the "slipper" instead of this doubtful rubber that seems to be on the market at the moment.

Paul.

[flying farmer]

Lucky escape Brian, but I have to wonder what caused it as not only has the rubber worn away but there is a good depth of grooving in the metal too.

I would look to see if the oil spray hole in the tensioner is clear, it looks like it might have been running dry to me.

I seem to recall someone on here recently, finding the oil supply hole into the tensioner body hadn't been drilled all the way through.

Neil

[Rubce]

Yikes! Was the chain on too tight?

Regards

Bruce

[Ian Durrant]

There has been talk of the finish on the chains not being too great, it would be interesting to see if that could be the case here, though I suspect the chains will be polished having been in contact with the metal for a while so I guess we might never know.

[paulbell6]

When I purchased my new chains I went for the "German" type and they came as a complete kit, I assumed that it would mean that everything was to a higher and stronger standard, should I now be worried that something similar could happen to me? Although with only 350m miles covered this year I may well be a few years away from the same milestone.

Worried Paul

[Ian Durrant]

Hi Paul, I have thought about this some more and I don't think you should worry. Even if the finish of the fish plates is rough it only matters initially. Once some very shallow grooves have been worn into the rubber then the rollers on the chain will be in contact and so I don't think its possible for the finish on the fish plates to make much difference, I posted what I had heard elsewhere but it doesn't really stand up to analysis.