550 F2 started!

[Nurse Julie]

Possibly clutch bearing 🤔🤔🤔

[Laverdaroo]

Mmm, hadn’t thought of that, bit if a curious one it’s deffo that area of the engine…….


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[Oddjob]

Hate to say this Roo but pop the camcover off and check the camshaft journals, I had the same thing many years ago and it was because there was a layer of paint on the journals and that caused a small lack of oil feed.

[Laverdaroo]

Ok, I hadn’t thought it was from there but that’s a good shout, I was going to re check the valves tmr and do the tap pits so I might bung my camera in there to see if there’s anything apparent before stripping the top off.

I’ve just done the screwdriver to the ear and tried it several times and it didn’t do it once but I’m going to go over it tmrw morning, I’m just waiting for the methanol to burn out in the burner and I’m in.

Before I assembled the top end, all the journals were fastidiously cleaned and gawped at and I was pretty happy with them, I can see how a layer of paint could be missed though.

I went round every gasket surface and journal on it as there was a bit of over cerekote lurking after getting the cases, barrels and head etc done.
Good call and I might whip the clutch cover off and have a wiggle if the guns are coming out and I have to start looking at cam cover removal with no joy etc…..

Interesting one never the less……

Better to find it now then blow it up on the bench like


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[Laverdaroo]

Ok, so had the cam cover off today and everything is as it should be, clean surfaces the lot. I’ve reassembled everything and the Parp is there but intermittently on every fourth prod of the starter

With my ear pressed against the clutch housing I think it’s probably there as the top end was Spock and span and loads of lovely oil.

If this does indeed, come from the clutch thrust bearing, what am I liking for? Is it the basket over shimmed creating a metal squeak when the pressures off the motor?

Advice required while I drop the oil please as this is still my first complete reassemble of one of these and any hint is a good one…….


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[Oddjob]

Does it make the sound if you kickstart it?

I don't think you can overshim it Roo, I used to squeeze as many on as I could and then remove the thinnest and fit the circlip and I never had any problems.

As for the gearbox bearings, did you change them?

Good news on the cam journal surfaces though.

Are you 100% sure it's coming from the bottom end?

Have you got a spare starter? Just in case it's that.

I did have a starter motor oval the bronze bearing that sits inside the end covers, AFAIK though those bearings are self lubricating, however a little oil in them couldn't hurt. Have you worked on the starter motor at all, I think it may be possible to overtighten the screws holding it together and that could cause the shaft to squeak inside the end of the bearings I suppose.

I could also be that the starter motor has dried out over the years and what you are hearing is rust and dirt being removed. It may just go away on it's own.

If the motor starts and runs ok and when shut off emits no undue noises I'd not be that worried if I'm honest.

[Sesman]

Not wishing to be a pessimist, but did you ensure that the cam blade tensioner was correctly seated in the crank case pocket?

[Sesman]

On the topic of starter motors. Mine ran fine on the bench, but couldn’t resist stripping it anyway to clean out the carbon and install new brushes and holders.  To be fair it was pretty pointless as the bushes were only about 1/5th worn. I did note a little play in the shaft though at the bushed end. Excessive wear might create a backlash engagement issue on the over run when load comes off. Just wondering. 🤔

[Laverdaroo]

I completely refurbed the starter, bushes, cable, paint the lot. I bench tested it several times, just in case of a fluke, you know

All spot on and refitted. I’ve not dropped the oil yet as been sorting the dawg’s tea out

After your starter mention, sounds like a worthwhile mission, I’ll whip the starter out and have a look at that as that’s the path of least resistance to start, leave the oil until I need to.

Every bearing in the cases was replaced with NEW. So I have no worries with that and all worked lovely on the bench and post assembly. I even had Uncle Bryan cast an eye over the selection etc and was given the nod and a thumbs up so not worried about that end of the motor. I could understand the clutch squealing a bit but never experienced it before.

Do you mean the two long screw/bolts that go from top to bottom as on here? This was when it went in…..


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[andy120t]

Run it until something breaks? Then you'll know what was making the funny noise!

[Laverdaroo]

Not wishing to be a pessimist, but did you ensure that the cam blade tensioner was correctly seated in the crank case pocket?

Yup, had that mental discussion with myself whilst chewing on-it. I remember ping it three times before I was happy. It’s deffo in right.

I crossed that off a while ago and concentrating on all ‘spinny’ things but hadn’t for some reason, thought of the starter. I was hoping to fire it today n all bugger!


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[Laverdaroo]

Run it until something breaks? Then you'll know what was making the funny noise!

Aaah, cheers Andy, do you know, I don’t know what the forum would do without technical brilliance such as yours.

Saying that, if it was a land rover, I would


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[Oddjob]

Yeah those 2 Roo. It's possible to overtighten them and that puts pressure on the armature as it compresses the space it has to fill.

Does the squeal come from spinning the motor over but it not firing up or when it's fired up and it gets turned off.

If the former does cranking the motor over by the kickstart produce the same noise, if not it's pointing to a starter motor fault, if it does then it's an engine fault somewhere.

My BIL had a similar problem when he built up his or should I say my 500 last time, kept complaining of this squeal just as the engine died, turned out the camchain tensioner wasn't in right.

It was why I kept saying to you to check, check again and finally do another check. I always fit mine in the barrels before I fully lower them, if the barrels are fully down it's really hard to locate it properly, when they are raised an inch or so it goes it pretty easy.

You could also try releasing the camchain tensioner adjusting bolt, if the chain is overtight for whatever reason it would allow it to slacken off a little as the engine spins. With a new chain there is little danger.

[Laverdaroo]

Well, bit of coaxing on the throttle and it fired in the first attempt……..which is nice!

However,

The Parp is evident on engine stop and restart. Bugger!
The tappetts aren’t quite there so that’s my first port of call now, then delve back into the clutch as I checked the starter, all good, re oiled up, put back and no dramas. Presumably I’ve not done the valves as well as I could have after todays lift of the lid so sort that and clutch.

Plugs were sooty black, to be expected with the wrong jets, air filter, pipe etc but that’s to fettle in a bit.

So far……..ball bearings in a baccy tin


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[Trigger]

Pass 2 and no polish yet and no polishing wheel yet. Bit bored so onto summut else for a bit but really coming on now and judging by the ferkectuon, not far off…..


Look out Kenneth, you’ve got some competition



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That was just a zinc plated part that was yellow passivated in its original form