Oh woe is me!

[davidwheeler]

Actually, not that bad.   I was driving Old Boot, the VIIIth Weymann to do a bit of shopping when it started barking loudly and running on three cylinders.  I limped home and investigated - it was backfiring through the carburettor.   I took off the cam cover to reveal that the pin had fallen out of No 1 cam follower and also the tappet had come out.   I recovered the tappet, the pin and outer race and seven out of the eight rollers.   No sign of the eigth, I think it may have gone down the oil hole to the vertical shaft bearings.   Fishing with my magnet has not brought it to light.  I do not think it is doing any harm there but I cannot replace the follower without it and I really do not want to remove the head and the shaft to get at it.
I see that new Consortium cam follower bearings are £57 EACH!!!   I only need a little roller!   Can anybody help me please?
In the meantime I shall transfer a follower from the VIIth which has serious block problems and so is off the road so that I can move Boot from in front of my workshop while the weather holds.

[Sebastien]

David,

Here an Australian story, from the LWR archives:

On the way, passing through the country town of Alexandra, we encountered our first mechanical problem, when the engine of Mark McKibbin’s 6th Series Lambda produced unfamiliar noises. To Mark’s credit, he quickly shut down the engine to investigate.

With the domed rocker cover off, the problem was revealed. A simple split pin, securing the central axis of one of the roller-bearing cam followers had failed, allowing the central axis, the eight needle-rollers and the outer race of the bearing to be scattered around the top of the cylinder head. Mark’s prompt reaction had prevented further damage, and with the aid of Peter Renou’s portable magnet, we were able to recover all but one of the needle-rollers. The missing roller was suspected of having fallen through into the sump, but at least it was not mixed up with one of the bearings in the vertical drive.

Following the usual rule, no-one in the group who stopped to help was carrying a spare roller, but a friendly local passer-by offered the use of his workshop. A quick discussion produced a possible solution. A new 4.00 mm twist drill was purchased at the local hardware shop, and two 6.00 mm lengths (1 extra spare, just in case!) were cut to length on the passer-by’s grinder. Re-assembly was straight-forward, and the car was back on the road in about 1.5 hours. The sequel to the story was that someone from Melbourne, who was planning to join the group later in the Tour, was contacted and requested to bring some genuine spare rollers to Jindabyne. This was done, and in the comfort of the Jindabyne hotel garage, the repair sequence was repeated. Needless to say, the twist drill substitute, on removal, looked perfect!

Hope this helps!

Sébastien

[davidwheeler]

Excellent!  I have some cobalt 4mm drills so off to the workshop!

[davidwheeler]

Hurrah!
Cobalt drills are incredibly hard - cutting disk and grinding wheel territory so a new roller has been installed with confidence that it will last.
I also took the opportunity to tighten down the head and set the tappets, which latter has quietened things a bit.    Took her out for a spin and she is going very well indeed.
Thanks Simon!

[Tony Stephens]

David, I can easily send you a few spare loose rollers, of which (of course) we keep a stock.

And they are not expensive, we'll not charge.

It often helps to ask the spares source first!

[davidwheeler]

Not sure if I replied to your email but got them and thank you very much.   They are in a safe place...

[davidwheeler]

Duly set off to go into town and after a few miles the trouble recurred - onto three cylinders and backfiring through the carb.   Alas! I thought, the cam follower has broken.  I limped back home and put her in the workshop.   No compression on one cylinder.   Took off the cam cover and all cam followers present and correct.   Further examination showed that one of the valve spring caps was becoming unscrewed.    I tightened it up again and double checked all the rest.     It is some years since I last fitted valves into the head.      I recall in the old days that occasionally an exhaust valve head would come off and tinkle around in the combustion chamber occasioning a roadside head shrinking but otherwise not doing any damage.    I shudder to think what would have happened if the whole valve had dropped.
I recommend that you all go away and check that your valve spring caps are secure!