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Gearbox Issue / No Oil Pressure.


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#1 Minigman

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 05:40 PM

Driving along and the mini felt a bit ‘odd’, then a slight rumbling noise, clanking and then it sounds like I’ve got a straight cut gearbox and I see the oil pressure disappeared. I stopped immediately.

A few minutes later I had to move the mini as I was parked in a narrow unlit lane and needed somewhere safer.

Fingers crossed, I started the car, all good, oil pressure goes up to 50, stick it in 1st and go to pull away but stalled. Try to restart with foot on the clutch still in gear and the engine struggles to fire as if the battery is flat. Started it in neutral ok and then into 1st gave it some revs and although it was struggling it did pull away and I got it 200m to safety. I left it running in neutral to see what the oil pressure did and it very slowly goes down. Got the mini recovered to home.

Any ideas what might be the cause?

#2 nicklouse

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 05:57 PM

Nope but it is coming  out and being striped down.


Edited by nicklouse, 11 November 2019 - 05:57 PM.


#3 Minigman

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 06:10 PM

Nope but it is coming out and being striped down.


Yep sounds like it. 4th strip down since June. This engine is jinxed!

#4 Spider

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 06:11 PM

Sounds like the Oil Level is very low and / or the Oil Strainer is choked.

 

As Nick suggests,,,,,,,



#5 Minigman

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 06:41 PM

Sounds like the Oil Level is very low and / or the Oil Strainer is choked.

As Nick suggests,,,,,,,


The engine and box was built about 1500 miles ago ( for the fourth time following cam bearing issues), but it’s been great since that issue was resolved. I topped up the oil about 200ml yesterday and we did about 60 miles. It’s still sitting bang on MAX. the car starts on the button and revs freely as long as you’re in neutral. Everything goes wrong when you put your foot on the clutch so that’s where I’m starting. There’s some jangling noise coming from the clutch housing case area Just don’t get the low/ zero oil pressure thing. Oil pressure gauge is new too sonic ant blame that.

#6 nicklouse

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 07:11 PM

 

Nope but it is coming out and being striped down.


Yep sounds like it. 4th strip down since June. This engine is jinxed!

 

Find a different builder.



#7 Minigman

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 07:22 PM


Nope but it is coming out and being striped down.

Yep sounds like it. 4th strip down since June. This engine is jinxed!
Find a different builder.


Enlightening Nick!

Such an asset to this forum.

Edited by Minigman, 11 November 2019 - 07:36 PM.


#8 cal844

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 07:46 PM

Who built your motor originally, then the 3 other builds?

#9 Minigman

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 07:47 PM

Who built your motor originally, then the 3 other builds?


Same engine builder.

#10 sledgehammer

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 09:02 PM

sounds like thrust bearing issue , or lack of a thrust bearing (just a guess)

 

as well as a related problem (maybe crank main shell moved dumping oil somehow)

 

look to see if the front pulley moves when the clutch is pressed

 

my guess is flywheel is touching casing when you press clutch in that is stalling the engine / making the noise

I hope I am wrong , but sounds like it's going to be a bit involved

 

something to note - new oil gauges aren't always accurate - but that don't explain the other things


Edited by sledgehammer, 11 November 2019 - 09:07 PM.


#11 nicklouse

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Posted 12 November 2019 - 12:15 AM

 

Who built your motor originally, then the 3 other builds?


Same engine builder.

 

No what are they doing wrong. Sound really good. 
 

falling oil pressure. Pump or bearing issue. Noise, big end or little end bearings.  Little ends don’t epaffect pressure. Gearbox issues don’t effect oil pressure. Big end(s) gone lack of oil pressure, noise, lack of driving ability. 
noise with no oil pressure issues gearbox or flywheel.

 

like I said  you will not know until you pull it. And I would not be asking the same builder to advise what is wrong.

 

to be honest it sounds like me throwing engines together 30 odd years ago when I could not keep engines together.

 

current short motor was build by an engine builder and is about 25 years old and holds together up to 9k. 
 

just a thought you may have lunched some gears and the oil pump has eaten them up and spat them through the filter and ...

 

thrusts. Is they are worn then can spin and just lock the crank up.

 

until you open it it is all guess work. Expect the worse.



#12 Rorf

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Posted 12 November 2019 - 05:33 AM

An incorrectly set up clutch can also cause havoc to crank thrust bearings - I note you mentioned starting the engine with the clutch depressed, hope you didn't do this before as this habit is a main killer of crankshaft thrust bearings.

 

Strike 3 ouch, use another engine builder ;D



#13 Minigman

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Posted 12 November 2019 - 06:56 AM

An incorrectly set up clutch can also cause havoc to crank thrust bearings - I note you mentioned starting the engine with the clutch depressed, hope you didn't do this before as this habit is a main killer of crankshaft thrust bearings.

Strike 3 ouch, use another engine builder ;D


It’s not a regular habit as I’m aware of the issues it causes. Just had to try this time around to see what was going on.

I 100% agree with requiring a new engine builder. But having spent almost £4500 having this one built, I’m hoping this fix will be under warrantee bearing in mind how old the engine is and how little work it’s done. If anything is considered chargeable I’ll be pulling it out of his garage and taking it to Slarks - my nearest reputable engine builder to Devon. Sad thing is, the chap who built it has been building a series engines for many years, rally and race preps minis, and has a good reputation and I know a few people who’ve had gems built by him.

As soon as I can I will get the car into him and see what’s what.

#14 Minigman

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Posted 12 November 2019 - 08:11 AM


Who built your motor originally, then the 3 other builds?

Same engine builder.
No what are they doing wrong. Sound really good.

falling oil pressure. Pump or bearing issue. Noise, big end or little end bearings. Little ends don’t epaffect pressure. Gearbox issues don’t effect oil pressure. Big end(s) gone lack of oil pressure, noise, lack of driving ability.
noise with no oil pressure issues gearbox or flywheel.

like I said you will not know until you pull it. And I would not be asking the same builder to advise what is wrong.

to be honest it sounds like me throwing engines together 30 odd years ago when I could not keep engines together.

current short motor was build by an engine builder and is about 25 years old and holds together up to 9k.

just a thought you may have lunched some gears and the oil pump has eaten them up and spat them through the filter and ...

thrusts. Is they are worn then can spin and just lock the crank up.

until you open it it is all guess work. Expect the worse.

Thanks for the info Nick. Lots of helpful stuff to go at there.

Not sure what you meant by the first line as it doesn’t make too much sense?

The chap who built it is an experienced builder of a series engines and has built many many over the last 40 years. Including a good one for me 10 years ago or so.

The cam bearing issue wasn’t his fault. Engineering shop installed it wrong way round which went unnoticed, then a poorly engineered bearing was installed supplied from Somerford and then finally a proper one from minispares. All got put back together and made 92 bhp on the RR and all was good until yesterday.

It’s going to have to go back to him as having spent £4500 on an engine with him in June I can’t afford to take it anywhere else. Hoping this will be sorted under warrantee. If any cost is mentioned I’ll take it elsewhere.

Happy for you to suggest a good Devon based engine builder but I can’t find one. Had an engine built by Paul Inch (reputable?) 2 years ago for my mk1 and it was a complete turd. Rattled, smoked etc. He wouldn’t take my phone calls, answer texts or emails. That’s now been redone too. Neil Slark would be my next choice but he’s over 100 miles away so would prefer more local. Anyway see how things pan out.

#15 Rorf

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Posted 12 November 2019 - 08:23 AM

4500 Pounds on an engine rebuild - gulp.

 

Sorry but a seasoned series A engine builder would certainly notice if the cam bearings were not installed correctly.


Edited by Rorf, 12 November 2019 - 08:26 AM.





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