Morris Minor Owners Club

Collets

Anyone know where to get collets suitable for this type of valve? Or is it a different arrangement?


ESM only seem to have the ones to suit the "long grooved" ones....

Minispares...... http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx? ... 897&title= However - I doubt you can use these with the wide top caps - you probably need to get matching caps. The taper on the collets changed over the years........

Actually, I'm now thinking of attacking a mini in the scrappers. Any idea how to get them off without removing the head?

Not really - take the whole head! Of course - later Minis used the different again triple groove collets ! In every case - you must make sure the top cap matches the collets used - they are not interchangeable.

I'm aware of that one. Theres two in the scrappers, on of which is an early 80s so fingers crossed that one will be the same. Job for sat I think.

Any idea how to get them off without removing the head?

If the engine is free to turn over, remove the spark plug from the selected cylinder, check that the piston is on the way up, stuff a bunch of soft rope, into the cylinder, through the spark plug hole, leaving the end sticking out for later removal, turn the engine over, bringing the piston up to pack the rope between the piston and the head. The valves are now held up in place so you can compress the spring and remove the keepers. Simple.
Use the same rope trick for removing or tightening the nut that holds the crankshaft pulley on. Just be sure when doing that, that both valves are closed, either on compression stroke or the rockers are off.
HTH, Ken

Not all breakers will let you strip the head, also it would be tough on the next guy who wanted the head!

But thats what breakers yards are all about - get in there before anyone else