drift tool for inserting bushes...

[wibble_puppy]

ello,

after an afternoon wrestling with all my cunning to insert the new bush into the spigot bearing, I have decided it might be best to invest in the correct tool for the job.

Can anyone point me in the online direction of somewhere I buy a bush drift of the right sort of dimensions for use on the bushes of the Minor? Google is not my friend, as I don't know the correct terminology for this creature

*fights rising tide of irritation and readies self for huge feeling of achievement once bush is finally in *

thanks for all tips, advice and help with this,

wibble

[MoggyTech]

Find a bolt that is a sliding fit inside the bush. Find a socket that is the same diameter as the outside of the bush. Put bolt through bush, slide socket over bolt, place bush against opening in the flywheel/crankshaft, and gently tap end of socket to drive bush into crank. Just make sure it starts off nice and square.

I doubt you will find the correct flanged drift for this job. I had to turn one up for valve guides on a lathe.

[bmcecosse]

You really have made a rod for your own back with this bush w-p!! I suggest a hard wood - or hard plastic - drift turned to fit snuggly inside the bush with a shoulder for the edge to lean on will be less likely to damage the edge of the bush - which is extremely soft, but by the same token should not be all that tight in the crankshaft. I haven't done the job for ages - but I seem to remember just a push-in fit! May be worth making a very slight chamfer on the leading edge o/d of the bush to help it start into the hole. I doubt freezing it will help much - and may make it incredibly brittle.

[RogerRust]

I've never tried it, but I recommend freezing as worth a try.

I always freeze bearings before inserting them and never have a problem sliding them into the hubs. So by rights it should help by freezing the bush. Its worth a try.

[les]

The bush is made from oilite material, so mt's suggestion of soaking in oil is pretty important. Not sure what effect freezing will have on oil soaked item.

[bmcecosse]

Exactly - it's a very fragile sintered bush with lots of open spaces in the structure to hold the oil! Could of course fit the later needle roller bearing from the Marina - but the original is perfectly adequate for the duty.

[les]

Could of course fit the later needle roller bearing from the Marina

How would this get lubrication?

[bmcecosse]

Dunno - guess they just grease filled it from new. Remember - it does nothing except when you sit in gear with foot on clutch - which of course with a carbon thrust is NOT a good idea!! When running there is no relative movement.

[wibble_puppy]

thanks a lot for your suggestions, everyone MoggyTech, yours sounds very sensible.... wonder if I will be able to find a bolt which fits the bush snugly yet will allow a socket whose outer diameter is the same as that of the bush, to fit over it as well? Will scrabble through workshop (not mine, so full of the filth of ages). Brainwave: I guess if I can't make the bolt idea work, I could whittle me a piece of dowel to do the same job?

My attempts at insertion yesterday have left the bush leaning slightly to one side - is it feasible to withdraw it and start again, I wonder? *ponders use of needle-nose pliers*

It's absolutely not a push-fit in! lololol I really honestly think that even I would have been able to do this job had that been all that was involved

Yesterday's attempts were made using a socket of the right size, with a small circle of beech laminate stuck to its end with double-sided tape, to dampen the blows, and little strips of masking tape holding the socket to the bush. Results not great. Ho hum - I guess going wrong only implies the expenditure of another £1.75 or so for a new bush, so onwards and upwards.

[wibble_puppy]

ooh forgot to update you: the beastly thing is now in, snug and smug. I used a socket, on a handle, and a polishing mop from a dremel to hold them together while I tapped with my hammer oh, and i noticed that there was a tiny ridge around the outside of the end of the bush, which was adding to the difficulty of getting it started into its hole, so I exfoliated it very gently with some 1200 wet-and-dry, and it then agreed to be pushed ever so slightly into its hole with my finger, just in enough to stop it dropping out while I seized my socket combo tool.

The old one really was worn; the new one is an extremely snug fit with the input shaft, whereas the old one was very sloppy.

Tomorrow, the clutch!

[aupickup]

good luck with the clutch, but dont forget to align it properly, ie central,

[wibble_puppy]

yup, will do, i am armed with my input shaft

[bmcecosse]

Well done - and be sure to put the plate in right way round!