Worn Spigot Bearing

[oilypaws]

My gearbox was excessively noisy, and I managed to acquire a 2nd hand engine and box (engine rattly, box apparently OK).

So I decided to replace the clutch - and discovered my one was nearly gone so just as well. However during assembly I noticed a lip at the back of the bronze spigot bearing in the flywheel (lip = bad sign, usually...). I found a small socket which was a snug fit in the spigot bearing on the other engine, and checked mine... and I rechecked twice because I couldn't believe how loose it was! There must have been 1mm of play in it. I'd guess that about half the bush was gone!

So how do you have that much play without the clutch plate getting very wobbly and rattling or vibrating? Does it self-center somehow? And would it cause excess wear to the gearbox and/or make the gearbox very noisy?

I used the bread method to recover the bush from the other engine (thanks to this forum... wow... who would have thought...). It came out easily but was damaged by burs in the surrounding crankshaft metal (someone else had been a bit heavy handed with a hammer). I couldn't find one anywhere locally, but I managed to find a 2 inch length of bush with the correct inner diameter and slightly too thick outer diameter. So a little 'machining' was needed (think electric drill in vice with file), but the result was good. Mostly reassembled now, but I haven't tested yet (paws crossed).

[bmcecosse]

I guess it does self centre - but obviously not ideal. What's the 'bread' method ??? New one for me....normally grease is used. The bush should be 'oilite' type material - porous so it can hold oil. Your brass will not be ideal and may spall in use.......

[oilypaws]

The bread method means packing the space behind with bread that has been scrunched up into dough (soft white bread worked well for me...), then hitting with a close-fitting drift through the middle - I guess the same as the grease method but less messy!

[oilypaws]

Just got it back together and test drove - and the gearbox is far better than the one I took out! There's a smooth whine in first as expected - but no harsh whirring or clunking. The other gears have only a faint (and healthy) whine (this is with the cover / floorpan off). Also, the selection feels much tighter, and there actually seems to be synchro on the higher gears!

I'm not sure about using the wrong material for my home-made spigot bearing, but I'm not going to pull it all apart again over that! (I'll just hope for the best).