1275 engine headache !!

[andycarroll]

Hi all im just after some advive on what u good people think. I've put a 1275 recon engine in my van which was
built by someone wo my dad knows.
First time it went in there was a chainy rattling noise coming from what seemed to be the middle of the
engine. Very confusing !!
Phone the engine guy up and he said give it a couple of weeks to see if it dies down because he's fitted a marina sump to
a sprite block so he thought that the welding was catching somewhere in the sump.
A couple of weeks later, still noisy and appeared to get worse so I contacted him and explained that I would like
this sorting out. He said that he would come to pick my van up and took it away. He had it for 2 weeks. On return the van
sounded fine because it was hot and just come off the motorway where I met him.
The following day, I discovered that I have the same oil leaks coming from the timing chain and the back of the sump and another tapping noise coming from the middle of the engine and the engine is running erratically and by adjusting the carb, this does not seem to calm the engine down. Does this sound like a bad re-build ?

Any advice would be most appreciated.
HELP !

[Jefftav]

the rattle could just be the timing chain which is a simple enough fix but would have been easier done when the engine was reconditioned. That said you need to let someone independent (Like a mechanic who knows about these engines) hear it to decide if it is the timing chain or something else. The oil leaks could be caused by the in correct engine breathers being fitted. Can you take a photo of the engine and carb and put these on this thread so that someone can give a better opinion.

[andycarroll]

Hi

It is not the chainy rattling noise now, its a tapping noise but it's not the tappits ![frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[aupickup]

ah the carb is really to small for the 1275
u want a hif 44 with the breather on the carb, that will be better set up

this will help with the breathing of the engine to

is there a breather on the timing cover

[andycarroll]

ah the carb is really to small for the 1275
u want a hif 44 with the breather on the carb, that will be better set up

this will help with the breathing of the engine to

is there a breather on the timing cover

HI aupickup that is on the shopping list nxt ! but with the carb thats fitted would it cause the engine to idle erratically
im trying to get the engine right first b4 i spend anymore. plus the tapping noise ??

[aupickup]

that carb is strangling the engine, also the breathing

do you have a breather on the front timing cover

[andycarroll]

that carb is strangling the engine, also the breathing

do you have a brearger on the front timing cover

not sure wat should i b looking for

[MarkyB]

the welding was catching somewhere in the sump

What welding?
There is no welding involved in fitting a sump.

Even if there was, why would you leave the crankshaft or what ever to grind its way through the bit that is causing the noise?
It would be filling your engine with iron filings!

[andycarroll]

the welding was catching somewhere in the sump

What welding?
There is no welding involved in fitting a sump.

Even if there was, why would you leave the crankshaft or what ever to grind its way through the bit that is causing the noise?
It would be filling your engine with iron filings!

not sure mark its a sprite block with a marina sump im led to belive those sumps dont go str8 on

[Jefftav]

The 1098 carb won't help the engine to run smoothly and as the needle and jet are sized for the 1098 engine this might be your problem with the idle. Did the carb come off a 1098 or the 1275 engine? Does the piston in the carb rise and fall smoothly, is there oil in the dash pot?

The breather on the timing cover is a round cylinder with a tube out the top and the pipe from this usually breaths to the atmosphere if you don't have a connection on the inlet manifold for it.

The tapping noise is a concern and I would try to get this sorted - is everything tight e.g. manifold nuts, air filter housing. Check the simple things first (it's not the petrol pump you are hearing is it?) then take off the rocker cover and check all the valve adjustments are OK and nuts tight.

Depending on your arrangement with the engine builder you might have a warranty/guarantee so that he fixes any problems.

Let us know how you get on?

[bmcecosse]

Absolutely no reason why a Marina sump wouldn't fit straight on a Sprite block - he's talking crap......
What was done to the engine - how extensive was the 'reconditioning' ? Tapping noise that's not there when the engine is hot - - hmmm - difficult! I'll need to think about that one - but Jeff is right - he's a maniac if he really thought the crank was hitting something - and it should be allowed to do so! So for the oil leaks - he hasn't fitted the sump properly and/or there is pressure in the crankcase. Hot engine - idling - take the oil filler cap off and rev up - is there a plume of smoke/fume ? You have the good rocker cover breather - but unfortunately with that carb - it's connected to the air filter casing - so not doing a lot - except coating the filter in an oily mess......... Get an HIF 38 carb and MG Metro inlet manifold - a 44 is only necessary if you are going to modify the 1275 for more power! The 38 (orv44) will have a brass connection on the side for your breather pipe. Meantime - It should idle fine on that small carb - so uneven idling must be down to either dizzy not right - timing not right - compressions not right - dirty spark plugs (what make/number are they) - or mal-adjusted carb.
One reason for the 'noise' - could be the starter pinion not clearing the flywheel properly........ although should be ok with a Sprite engine - that's usually only a Marina problem. Can only think of 'piston slap' as a noise that goes away when hot - usually because of worn bores or broken rings. I suggest a compression test would be worth doing.

[mike.perry]

The breather pipe from the rocker box to the air filter is no good for a 1275. You must have a breather pipe fom the timing chain case directly into a breather pipe on the carb to keep the sump at a negative crank case pressure, otherwise you will get oil leaks from the back of the crankshaft. A 1275 rocker box does not have a breather.

[bmcecosse]

But it is a REALLY REALLY GOOD IDEA to have one ! You need both the timing case breather AND the rocker breather for an oil tight engine.

[mike.perry]

I must connect my rocker box breather up some time to see if it makes any difference

[bmcecosse]

If you are not having pressure/leak problems - then not necessary! But it's still a good idea- can't do any harm!

[andycarroll]

Thanks for the info and help guys
i will try and get a chain cover with a breather today .(should,nt the engine builder know this ).will this go on without catching?also just noticed the advance/retard on the dizzy is not working ,so off to the nacker yard this morning to get hold of a metro electronic one if poss.i will also b looking out for 1 1/2 metro carb while im there.the 1098 carb wats on now seems to b set up right, the plugs are nutty brown, no black smoke out of the exhaust. wil let u know how i get on

[bmcecosse]

The 1275 engine should have had that breather on the timing case.......... Advance /retard failed would explain the rough running. Consider a complete brand new dizzy from this lad - http://www.simonbbc.com/automotiveshop/ ... butor-mini it's a screaming bargain! Sometimes even cheaper on ebay - and he does an electronic version (or conversion) too. A worn unit from the scrappy will be more trouble than it's all worth - compared to this.
And - meant to ask earlier - what's the oil pressure in your engine - hot (ie after a good hard run) running and hot idling ?

[Kevin]

Thanks for the info and help guys
so off to the nacker yard this morning to get hold of a metro electronic one if poss.i will also b looking out for 1 1/2 metro carb while im there.the 1098 carb wats on now seems to b set up right, the plugs are nutty brown, no black smoke out of the exhaust. wil let u know how i get on

If the dizzy is of an A+ engine it won't fit I'm afraid.

[LordAnthony]

I had a tapping noise from my engine when it was hot a few days ago. After a few days my head gasket blew and I discovered a broken exhaust valve spring. Not sure if that was connected with the tapping but all seems a bit co-incidental.

Oh yes - and on my 1275 I had to rearrange the fan blades somewhat to avoid them banging on the breather on the timing cover.

[bmcecosse]

The 45D is an A series dizzy. The A+ is 59D - and yes - it won't fit an A series engine !