Distributor drive removal.

Post by **Shawn** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 6:34 am

Both haynes and trhe BL manual state that a tappet cover bolt is ideal for removing the distributor drive shaft (ie the bit with the cog on the end that drives off the camshaft).

I can see the thread where you would screw a bolt into, but a tappet cover bolt? - The only ones I've ever seen are the type with an internal thread and a 5/8 head.

Post by **Alec** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 7:58 am

Hello Shawn,

what the manuals are refering to is the block tappet cover securing screw, 1\4" U.N.F. by about 2"?. (Guessing on the length.)

Alec

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:33 pm

I think 5/16 UNF - the longish bolt that holds the side plates on the cam follower access holes on the small bore blocks - not there on 1275 blocks !!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:10 pm

not there on 1275 blocks !!

not there on 'some' 1275 blocks. ;-)

As for the tappet chest cover bolts - there are 2 different types, and if you get the short version it is next to no help!

btw, the big pressed cover on top of the head is the rocker cover. The 'tappets' are also reffered to as 'cam followers, which gives away where they are and what they do (sit directly on top of the cam).
When people say 'adjusting the tappets' on an A-series engine, they normally mean 'adjusting the rockers' - therefore it's no surprise that people get mislead!

Post by **Cam** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:00 pm

Yes. Adjusting the tappets (cam followers) is only strictly true on the sidevalve engine where the adjuster is directly in between the tappet and the valve.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:28 pm

Oh and 1 more snippet of advice -DONT follow Haynes manual guide for removing the dizzy drive on a 1098 (might be ok on other variants but I'd be surprised). The location of the crank that they specify means that a piston skirt will foul the dizzy drive and it won't work

You have to put the crank in a different position to install / remove the drive piece and to check the orientation, you can then move it to the Haynes specified position.

If you've been struggling this evening, then I apologise - I only just remembered.

Post by **Shawn** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 6:06 am

rayofleamington wrote:btw, the big pressed cover on top of the head is the rocker cover. The 'tappets' are also reffered to as 'cam followers, which gives away where they are and what they do (sit directly on top of the cam).
When people say 'adjusting the tappets' on an A-series engine, they normally mean 'adjusting the rockers' - therefore it's no surprise that people get mislead!

I've always used the terms "Rocker cover" and "Tappet Cover" to mean the same thing i.e. the rocker cover. The plates on the side of the engine that cover the tappets are "side plates" or "side covers"

I realise this makes absolutely no sense and that it is far more logical to call them the name of the things that they primarilly cover.

Must try and do that in the future.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:12 am

Only the Mini Cooper S 1275 engines have cam follower covers - all the inline 1275s will have solid casings.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:19 pm

Only the Mini Cooper S 1275 engines have cam follower covers - all the inline 1275s will have solid casings

I've seen an inline 1275 with tappet chest covers - I think it was the Marina one that I gave to Cam. but having had so many engines it's hard to keep track. Certainly my 1275 midget engine doesn't.