15 replies to this topic

[Jackrabbit18]

I have a 1990 998cc Austin Morris Mini with the A+ engine and the stock Verto clutch. The clutch housing behind the flywheel is showing rotational wear several inches below the crankshaft and no wear above the crankshaft. The primary gear has approximately 1/32" to 1/16" of play that I can manipulate by hand. Does anyone know what would cause this wear? The first picture shows the wear below the crankshaft and the second shows above the crankshaft.

Edited by Jackrabbit18, Yesterday, 02:09 PM.

[alpder]

Anyone else (in UK) seeing "content not viewable in your region" instead of pics? Both Linux/Firefox and Windoze/Edge.

[Lplus]

Anyone else (in UK) seeing "content not viewable in your region" instead of pics? Both Linux/Firefox and Windoze/Edge.

Yep. OP is probably using Imgur.

[nicklouse]

 

Anyone else (in UK) seeing "content not viewable in your region" instead of pics? Both Linux/Firefox and Windoze/Edge.

Yep. OP is probably using Imgur.

 

Not probably is. Logo bottom right.

[stuart bowes]

can see if you use a VPN but it's slow

 

[Jackrabbit18]

 

 

Anyone else (in UK) seeing "content not viewable in your region" instead of pics? Both Linux/Firefox and Windoze/Edge.

Yep. OP is probably using Imgur.

 

Not probably is. Logo bottom right.

 

I am, is there a preferred site for use in the UK?

[stuart bowes]

I use https://imgbb.com/

 

that's how I put them in the post above

don't pay anything just use it free

Edited by stuart bowes, Yesterday, 01:57 PM.

[Jackrabbit18]

I use https://imgbb.com/

 

that's how I put them in the post above

don't pay anything just use it free

Understood, thank you.

[Spider]

If you have that much play on the Primary Gear, then it needs rebushing, though usually before they get that bad, it will cause the centre of the clutch plate to get torn out.

 

However that won't be the cause of this contact between the ring gear and the housing. It's a bit hard to diagnose that from a couple of photos. It looks like the engine is still in the car ? You'll likely need to remove it so you can get a better look at it all.

Was there any abnormal vibration of noises when it was running ?
Is the flywheel housing distorted?

[Jackrabbit18]

If you have that much play on the Primary Gear, then it needs rebushing, though usually before they get that bad, it will cause the centre of the clutch plate to get torn out.
 
However that won't be the cause of this contact between the ring gear and the housing. It's a bit hard to diagnose that from a couple of photos. It looks like the engine is still in the car ? You'll likely need to remove it so you can get a better look at it all.

Was there any abnormal vibration of noises when it was running ?
Is the flywheel housing distorted?

The last time it was running there wasn't any abnormal vibration (as far as I know) but the reason I removed the clutch/flywheel was because I was dealing with a serious sticking issue with the clutch not wanting to release when depressed. The flywheel housing does not appear to be distorted, there is only the wear from the ring gear and what looks to be wear from the back of the flywheel as if it were rotating at an angle relative to the housing. Attached are the removed clutch and flywheel.

 

The red circle shows where the flywheel rubs the housing and it's hard to see but there's actually a step in that circular part where it has rubbed. Maybe a 1/16" step.




 

[Lplus]

That wear would be nothing to do with the primary gear end float.  Have you checked for the corresponding wear/marks on the back of the flywheel?  

 

Flywheel touching the housing could be due to the tapers being worn/machined such that the clutch/flywheel sits too far up the crankshaft taper or the thrust washers on the crank have extreme excess play - or the housing has too many gaskets and sits too far from the engine block.

 

As to why the ring gear touches the outer circumference of the housing, perhaps again the flywheel is too far into the housing.

[rww]

  Perhaps the 1/32 to 1/16 clearance mentioned in the original post is crankshaft movement not primary gear wear. That would point to a failed crank thrust washer. Movement of the crank and clutch away from the clutch thrust bearing would also explain the dragging clutch also referred to by the OP.

[Jackrabbit18]

Thank you all for the help. It's looking like I have a combination of issues that will require me to do some more investigating to see how far repairs will need to go.

[nicklouse]

Sorry looks like you are worrying about nothing.

 

image of the back of the flywheel?

Edited by nicklouse, Today, 03:56 PM.

[Spider]

Now I see which part you were concerned for the wear, it's most like excessive crank end float from worn crank thrusts.

If as Lplus suggests, the flywheel is seating too deep on the taper, it can pinch the primary gear, making gear shifting quite hard or not possible.