Noisy engine

[Wolfie]

Hi, my sprint has developed a noise that can be heard on tick over or above when in
Car but no power loss, I have not driven it since noise has accured, I have removed rocker cover but there is nothing apparent but noise can be heard more when running with the rocker cap off
How much pressure do you get with the rocker cap off when engine is running
Any views on this would be great

[Jon Tilson]

Some crucial questions...

How long have you had the car? Has it had any recent engine work involving the timing chain?

There are some bad tensioners about...

Can you see if the timing chain is slack with the rocker cover off?


Jonners

[Edin Dundee]

...
How much pressure do you get with the rocker cap off when engine is running
Any views on this would be great

I've heard (but never done this to prove it) that a slant at idle with the rocker cover off should spray oil everywhere.

[GrahamFountain]

a noise that can be heard on tick over or above

Could you describe the noise at all? For example, is it a ticking at about half engine speed, or multiple ticks per turn, etc.? Also can to localize it? Even to the end of the engine - if you have some rubber tube, you can avoid the risk of leaning in close over the moving parts.

Like Jon, I'd look at the chain first – tensioner is probably favourite, but there's a hell of a row if one of the set/cap screws holding the chain wheel on the end of the cam gives, and that could be sudden, not gradual. Second, I'd look at the rocker arms, they can be noisy if worn.

Also, the cam buckets – several TR7 owners had the a problem after having their cam cover blasted, because they forgot to clean the brillo pad properly and abrasive stuff shook out of it into the oil. Apparently, most of it collects in the cam bucket nearest the oil feed (which end is that?), and causes a wee bit of wear and some noise.

Graham

[Wolfie]

Thanks for quick reply guys
I've had the car about 20 months, only has 23500 miles on clock which is genuine it's 1979 year properly only done about 500 miles in it since owning it no noise to mention sounds front of engine 1st cylinder area, asked about pressure of air coming out of rocker cover when rocker cover cap is off when holding hand just above you can fill the rush coming out,il have a listen again and try to discribe it to you more, I have had rocker cover off and looks as if oil gets there no dry areas then run engine on tick over and oil comes out where you would expect, I can see cam chain guides they look in place chain can be moved very slightly if you pick up 1 link of of sprocket minamal movement
Hope this helps

[Jon Tilson]

The straight run of the chain should be dead straight and there should be hardly any movement if you try and push it away from the straight guide.
I know its pretty hard to see even with the rocker cover removed. No slack on the top chain wheel is a good sign.

At that mileage if indeed it is genuine I wouldn't expect there to ever have been any need to disturb it since it left the factory.

Have a good look at all the cam lobes and try and see if oil is getting through every rocker. It comes out of a very small hole at the rocker end.
Any sign of scoring on the cam lobe will be an issue....

After that its a compression test, looking for a broken ring.

Jonners

[paulsprint]

Is your car green and did you buy it from a lad in Kenilworth

[tangocharlie1]

No the car is blue and it is from the Southampton area Perrie bought it from an old chap who had it sitting for years.

[paulsprint]

Not the one I was thinking of then

[80Sprint]

Have you checked the valve clearances ?

[Wolfie]

Hi guys now have front timing cover off tensioners look
Good chain and sprockets good
Tensioner looks ok, but when I turn engine over chain tight
And can not depress tensioner with fingers
Then turn it over again and then can depress tensioner ?
Is this correct

[Jon Tilson]

How far out from the body is the top slipper pad on its tube? There is a spring loaded ratchet mechanism inside that should
prevent the chain going slack. Sometimes the "pip" on the ratchet wears off...so then you can push it in.

Despite some past debate on the subject the consensus is now that the tensioner is also forced out by oil pressure, so what you are seeing could possibly be explained by oil pulsing as you are turning it by hand.

You could spin it on the starter but it might get messy...not something I've ever needed to do.

With the cover off its only 2 bolts to have the tensioner off and check the ratchet works and then refit it though. That may be the best plan thinking about it.

Jon

[MARP1961]

a noise that can be heard on tick over or above

Could you describe the noise at all? For example, is it a ticking at about half engine speed, or multiple ticks per turn, etc.? Also can to localize it? Even to the end of the engine - if you have some rubber tube, you can avoid the risk of leaning in close over the moving parts.

Like Jon, I'd look at the chain first – tensioner is probably favourite, but there's a hell of a row if one of the set/cap screws holding the chain wheel on the end of the cam gives, and that could be sudden, not gradual. Second, I'd look at the rocker arms, they can be noisy if worn.

Also, the cam buckets – several TR7 owners had the a problem after having their cam cover blasted, because they forgot to clean the brillo pad properly and abrasive stuff shook out of it into the oil. Apparently, most of it collects in the cam bucket nearest the oil feed (which end is that?), and causes a wee bit of wear and some noise.

Graham

My first Dolomite Sprint came out of the garage after MOT repairs making a horrible rattling noise. Unwisely I tried to gently drive home. Everything gave way suddenly as the camshaft chain wheel came off the camshaft. The timing chain gathered at the bottom of the timing cover near the crankshaft pulley and cracked the cover. I presume one of those cap screws had failed. I often wonder if the new owner who towed it away ever put it back on the road. It was a Tahiti Blue DCG 103S.

[GrahamFountain]

Everything gave way suddenly as the camshaft chain wheel came off the camshaft.

I was lucky in that the screws had sheared - I think one had fell out - but the sprocket stayed on the end of the shaft. Just banged two new caps screws in it, timed it up, and it started straight away with plenty of compression and no unusual noises (just the usual ones then). So it only cost me a few quid for the screws and gaskets.

Unfortunately, the car (TR7 DHC) itself was a real dog. I had all the rear end bushes replaced and the mountings checked at Yorkshire Triumphs, and it still steered on the throttle. Never did find out why: I put it in a ditch near Sheriff Hutton on the way to the North Yorks Triumph weekend at Runswick Bay. And that, as they say, were that. Still, the insurers paid out the full value, despite that I'd admitted how little I'd paid for it as a non-runner.

On a different note, the wife's bought a 1970 13/60 convertible (proper one, with the CV suffix), and its V5C lists it as a "Triumph 1300 Convertible", with no mention of Herald at all. Didn't know there were any Triumph 1300 convertibles!

Graham.

[Carledo]

Everything gave way suddenly as the camshaft chain wheel came off the camshaft.

On a different note, the wife's bought a 1970 13/60 convertible (proper one, with the CV suffix), and its V5C lists it as a "Triumph 1300 Convertible", with no mention of Herald at all. Didn't know there were any Triumph 1300 convertibles!

Graham.

This will be one of the "missing" Triumphs then and will not be included in Herald numbers on howmanyleftdotcom and many other records. You can try to persuade DVLA that its a Herald 13/60 but it may be an uphill struggle to get it in from the cold!
Its almost certainly sloppy work by the registering dealer when it was new and DVLA, as always, just write down what they're told.

Steve