Another disturbing noise from Ruby

[Denis Sweeney]

Checked the starter motor bolts and sump bolts and they are all clear.
The strange thing is that when turning the engine over on the handle, plugs removed so it can be easily spun round there isn’t the slightest hint of anything in contact with the fly wheel. Even rotating the fly wheel by hand there is no hint of anything rubbing or scraping, it all feels quite smooth and free.

[Alan]

What’s the distributor bush like? They make a squealing noise if they are running dry.

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Is the clutch jammed open, allowing the centre plate to spin in between the friction discs???

[Denis Sweeney]

Good point Ruairidh, in truth, don’t know!!
Correct me if I am wrong, but if I raise Ruby up on axle stands, then with spark plugs out, put her in gear and turn her over on the handle. If the rear wheels then turn, this will confirm the clutch is not stuck open. Conversely if the wheels do not rotate then the clutch would be jammed open??
Or ………??

Alan the distributor was rebuilt and oiled before installation and the oiler on the side has been charged with oil, and the fan spindle has been charged with grease.

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Just put the car in gear and turn the starting handle over, the whole car should move. If it doesn't, but the engine rotates, the clutch is open.

[Denis Sweeney]

……you’re obviously a lot stronger than myself, but you’ve confirmed my thoughts, will let you know as soon as, many thanks.

[Denis Sweeney]

Well first thing this morning I turned the engine over in 1st and she merrily rolled forward, then in reverse and she merrily rolled back from whence she came, tried this several times and no evidence of slipping, so I guess the clutch is not locked open.
I did initially think this may be the issue and in the video you can see I was pumping the clutch pedal to see if this would make any difference, unfortunately it hasn’t.
Thanks again

[Howard Wright]

Hi Dennis

Sorry for my earlier post, I hadn’t viewed the video.  But here are a couple more things that may be causing it (but unlikely  ).

Is the fan pulley seized? Or not greased?

Did you soak the felt seal in oil before fitting the cam pulley for the fan belt?

Cheers

Howard

[Ivor Hawkins]

I’ve listed to the video a few times now and I’m still leaning towards tight ring gaps...John’s suggestion of a squirt of oil down the bores may result in quietening down the noise for a few seconds when you start it up again...it has to be worth a try.

[Denis Sweeney]

Ivor, following your posts and Ruairidh’s earlier comment regarding gapping of piston rings I contacted the honing man this afternoon.
Fearing a complaint about to hit him he was somewhat guarded in his response, but after much discussion and talking thro’ my problem he confirmed that as they had supplied the rings they would have set them square in the bore and gapped to “suit”. However they do not keep records of that level of detail but as they are specialist rebore unit, and seeing some of the engines they were working on, they should know what they were doing.
I had match marked each piston to its relevant bore before leaving them with the machine shop and he confirmed the rings would have been set for each individual piston/bore supplied.
On my receipt all pistons still had my markings and all rings were fitted into their relevant grooves.
He also commented that had the rings been too tight, I would not have been able to fit them into the bores, someone with more experience could judge that comment.
As noted previously we initially thought it was a possible problem with lack of oil in the bores and I did squirt oil into each bore via the plug holes, this was left overnight and the engine turned many times now on the handle but this made no difference to the noise.

Went to the local A7 centre meet up today, no new ideas sprung to light.