Evening all, This is a rather long e-mail detailing a few 'problems' I have been experiencing of late. I need help!
Problem 1. Oil Pressure light comes on at 1000rpm and below. I fitted the new oil pressure switch last week and since then I have not experienced the light coming on at 1000 and below revs. Problem 1 solved. Problem 2 worries me slightly more as I have heard of 'Triumph Death Rattle', now I am not sure what this is but my engine rattles for a second or two when started up from cold. Is this a) fine, don't worry b) bad c) very bad d) buy a new engine (again) and burn larger hole in pocket? What could the rattle be and what is the infamous 'Triumph death rattle'? Problem 3. Not sure if this is a problem or a quirk, but on over-run (when I have taken my foot off the accelerator and coasting, or engine breaking) the valves get a lot noisier. It is possible that the valves are are out of adjustment as the garage had the cylinder head off and would have had to re-set these. Problem 4 is the most mysterious of the three. Previously I had reported the exhaust roaring a lot more at 2800rpm and above. I am not sure if the noise, or my perception of the noise has changed but now I would say that it was more of a regular vibration. The vibration cannot be heard at below 2800rpm, always starts at the same place regardless of roadspeed or gear. It sounds like it is coming from the left side of the car (UK car, rhd). I can't think how the vibration could be the engine. The only bit I would imagine could vibrate noisily would be the camshaft and I don't think that I would be driving round for too long if was. I thought it could be an out of balance fly wheel, but I am not sure if this is possible? The flywheel and clutch from my old engine were put onto the new. The third possiblility would be that the propshaft has gone out of balance. This is a possibility as I suspect that it is a little worn, but why would this start happening when I put a new engine in? It could be coincidence, but that is unlikely also coupled with the fact it is rpm and not roadspeed linked. Problem 5. Now this one I may already know the answer to although I am not sure. At low rpm or idling the idle is very unstable. At 800rpm the car will stall if I don't pull the choke out a little or step on the accelerator (the oil light will turn on at 4-500rpm but I would imagine this is normal?). The garage reported that he had had problems getting the engine to run smoothly and had cleaned up the carbs a couple of times but didn't that the correct o ring that needed to be replaced (not sure where in the carb that goes?). I pulled the fuel lines round the carbs and noticed that one had a load of muck in the middle that would have restricted petrol flow to 1 & 2 cylinders. I have now replaced both these hoses and will do the same for the hose between the fuel pump and carbs tonight. That didn't sort out the lumpy idle. Next I thought that it could be general wear and air leaks. I need to carry out some more investigations by spraying carb cleaner on the spindle/carb to check for wear here and if I find any then I may have a go at rebuilding the carbs with a carb repair kit. How hard is this? The third possibility is that the waxstat jets need replacing. I think they are waxstat jets but I am now sure, how can I tell? My car is a UK spec '77 model with twin SUs. Or I could be totally wrong and the bad idling has nothing to do with the carbs and is linked to another of problems? As I have said before performance through all of these noises and problems is fine, the engine is not over-heating, if anything it is running a little cool. Sorry for the long e-mail but if any of you can provide any insight into these problems then I can do further investigation or take the car to the garage for further diagnosis/repair. cheers all John & Saskia(1977 Spit 1500) http://www.spit1500.co.uk/ Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage http://sports.yahoo.com/ /// [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list /// Send admin requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool /// Send list postings to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// Edit your replies! If they include this trailer, they will NOT be sent.
