32 replies to this topic

[Crawty]

Hello,

Recently I've started to get a rattle/tapping noise from the engine bay. I have a rover Mayfair 1275 and it started that it would only rattle when I would hit certain revs through the gear changes and now it's got to the point where even on idle it makes a quite a loud tapping noise.

My speedo cable is currently not working and originally when it would only rattle at certain rev's I was under the impression it could be the speedo cable spinning and making the rattling noise. Now it's also doing it on idle and getting faster/louder when the engine is rev'ed it could be more serious

Would be appreciated if anyone could shed any further light on the matter. I did search through other threads but got no specific answers to this issue

Thanks,
Charlie

[Magic jason]

Hi! Could be the tappets are not set correctly? where would you say the noise was coming from?

[mike.]

Try putting a screw driver on various parts of the engine and put the handle end to your ear and see if you can hear where its coming from or try and get a video up

[Jakeclubby]

videos good idea

[dklawson]

Would a Rover Mini have a catalytic converter? If so, jack up the car and use a wooden or rubber mallet to strike the exhaust pipe (mid car) while listening for the rattle. You may find it is something like a loose converter heat shield. Even without the converter it could be something mundane like a loose exhaust bracket or clamp.

[brad-the-bear]

get a video pal

[Crawty]

Thanks for all the replies so far! I have no cat and I'm 99% it's not the exhaust and it's pretty well secured.

I am leaning towards it might be the tappets but I've never heard a tappy engine be this loud.

I'll get a video up this afternoon thanks for the help so far it's really appreciated

[lrostoke]

^{Possibly timing chain, tensioner may be worn or broken.}

[Crawty]

I popped down to my local mechanics today just to get there opinion he believes it's broken or fractured can followers and advised a new engine is the best option anyone got any views of this?

Is it really not economical viable to repair as it is a string 1275 and would be shame to dump with 67,000 miles on the clock

[freshairmini]

lol, I think there just trying to rip you off! Surely if the cam followers where broke you could just replace them, instead of a whole new engine?!

Where abouts on the engine does it rattle?

Mine rattles at the radiator end and I've been told its the cam chain tensioner. could be that its its near that end.

Edited by freshairmini, 14 March 2012 - 03:56 PM.

[lrostoke]

Cam followers is an engine out job on a 1275 but I wouldn't consider it a scrapped engine without checking it over.
Worst case if its a follower is could be damage to the camshaft, But if its low mileage then replacement cam and followers isn't a massive job.
Although if a garage does the work then the labour charges could outway the cost of repairing compared to replacing

[Crawty]

The engine itself has down roughly 70,000 miles and was a strong engine it was producing roughly 65bhp at the fly which i know is nothing special
but it did pull really well..

I don't really know what steps to take, either to search for a new engine and just do a swap and drop or look to replace the cam followers and cam in my existing engine?

[dklawson]

I agree that the garage has given you a worst case scenario and one that (to me at least) sounds quite unlikely. If a cam follower cracked I would expect cam damage as Steve said. I would also expect a "ticking-bang" type noise as the cam lobe rubbed against the cracked tappet.

It may be time for you to spend some time with the engine idling. As Mike said, take a long shank screwdriver and hold its handle to your ear. Touch the end of the screwdriver blade to the block and other (non moving) engine parts noting where the sound gets louder. You may be able to isolate the sound to at least a certain region of the engine. All sorts of things in and on the engine can make tapping noises... belts with chunks missing, timing chain tensioners, alternator bearings, water pump bearings, etc.

Edited by dklawson, 14 March 2012 - 04:50 PM.

[jaydee]

I popped down to my local mechanics today just to get there opinion he believes it's broken or fractured can followers and advised a new engine is the best option anyone got any views of this?

Broken followers.. Is he kidding you?
Post a vid on here...

[Nerminater]

I've had similar rattle now since a rebuild last Nov. At first it would only rattle under no load conditions such as when not accelerating nor decelerating. Now it got worse it does it under acceleration too and also if the tickover is high around 1500-1800rpm. Got to emailing Keith Calver in the end after much head scratching and pointless timing gear inspection. (nothing wrong). Convinced it was transfer gear related so pulled it out again and re-shimmed primary gear as slack was evident but idler was within 4 thou so left well alone. Put it all back and hey presto - still there. Thought about crank endfloat for a while until two well versed a series geeks both said cam followers. So will  gear up for another extracation in the near future. Question is -  do I stick with the Kent MD286 which, contrary to popular belief, is great in my application in town, or do you think  there is a better SW cam???? 5 - 7????