24-11-2018, 07:02 PM
Having improved the performance and reduced the noise of the Ruby with an engine rebuild by Steve Flake, I decided to further enhance the quiet running with an Andy Bird gearbox. Engine out, old noisy gearbox despatched by courier, new gearbox offered up. A word of thanks here to those on the forum suggesting such an obvious and easy way of making gearbox/engine mating so much easier, temporary longer bolts instead of the top two studs, why didn't I know that twenty years ago.
Gearbox in situ, turn over to check OK. Oh dear, definitely not OK as there was a graunching sort of sound a couple of times each revolution. Gearbox off, noise still present. Difficult to believe that the sound was present before engine removal from the car, but a sound in a quiet workshop might have been hidden in the car. Discuss with a couple of stalwart motorists, all puzzled. Drag a passing Ruby owner into the workshop, said he'd never heard anything like it. Offer up feelers and cardboard whilst revolving to see if the flywheel teeth were rubbing but no evidence. Then decided to try another diagnosis, and turned the engine upside down. This time no sound, and whilst turning it back again turned it over whilst nose up in the air, no sound this way either. However nothing fell out whilst it was inverted suggesting that there had been a temporary fouling of flywheel or clutch, and when back the usual way up we have the slight graunching twice a turn again.
It would be wonderful if any forum folk were able to say, oh yes, happens dozens of times dead easy...... the again there might be a chorus of sorry old chap, flywheel off.
In case it is relevant, this picture shows the slight but noticeable chewed up teeth, a bit surprising on quite a new ring.
Gearbox in situ, turn over to check OK. Oh dear, definitely not OK as there was a graunching sort of sound a couple of times each revolution. Gearbox off, noise still present. Difficult to believe that the sound was present before engine removal from the car, but a sound in a quiet workshop might have been hidden in the car. Discuss with a couple of stalwart motorists, all puzzled. Drag a passing Ruby owner into the workshop, said he'd never heard anything like it. Offer up feelers and cardboard whilst revolving to see if the flywheel teeth were rubbing but no evidence. Then decided to try another diagnosis, and turned the engine upside down. This time no sound, and whilst turning it back again turned it over whilst nose up in the air, no sound this way either. However nothing fell out whilst it was inverted suggesting that there had been a temporary fouling of flywheel or clutch, and when back the usual way up we have the slight graunching twice a turn again.
It would be wonderful if any forum folk were able to say, oh yes, happens dozens of times dead easy...... the again there might be a chorus of sorry old chap, flywheel off.
In case it is relevant, this picture shows the slight but noticeable chewed up teeth, a bit surprising on quite a new ring.