Morris Minor Owners Club

Took the 803 out on an epic today to Lincoln autojumble; a round trip of over 200 miles. Fine on the way down, cruised at an indicated 60-65. Once there topped up with oil to the MAX mark (it doesn't use much even at that speed).

Anyhow on the way back home, nearing the M62 from the A1 North coming from Lincoln, I noticed this clicking or ticking sound coming from the engine area, particularly noticeable and loud when going up hills on the motorway at about 55 MPH. So it only happens when the engine is under load or accelerating.

I swear it was never this loud before, just hoping I haven't overcooked the old girl.

Here are some videos we made after I got back to give you an idea of the noise:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLylhU-C ... xinDD0wXDE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgjE2NUuJ10


It's more evident on the first video. Any ideas??

Couldn't hear it at all on the second video, something wrapped round the prop shaft?

Highly unlikely considering it increases with revs...but, knackered fuel pump? I believe the original fuel pump makes a ticking sound already -- if it had gone bad, maybe it'd be doing it worse. But this is speculation...Mog hasn't got the original pump.

i'd guess at the exhaust blowing.

either that, or its probably valve train related. i'd take the rocker cover off and check all of the valves are moving as they should, not sticking, and that gaps are correct.

Thanks for your suggestions but I rule the following out:

1. something wrapped round the prop-shaft: I applied the grease-gun to it before I set off and in any case the noise definitely came from the engine.

2. exhaust blowing: it's a stainless exhaust and I'm pretty sure it's OK.

The valve train idea has me thinking as it had an unleaded head on a few years ago, before I got it. Also, at idle, there is a slight 'pop' from the exhaust which you can also feel through the gearstick with your hand on it in neutral. Sticking valve perhaps?

What about ignition timing?

P.S. second video is poor, as usual whenever you want to film something the noise disappears.

Thanks so far, keep your comments coming.

before i watched the video, i was thinking of pinking, but it doesn't sound anything like that.

the exhaust may well be stainless, but the joint to the manifold can be notoriously tricky to seal properly.

when the engine is started from cold, putting your hand over the exhaust tailpipe will cause the gas to try to escape elsewhere. if the exhaust is good and gas tight, covering the end will stall the engine.

if you get someone else (who doesn't mind a black circle on their hand) to do it, you can be looking at the manifold joint to make sure nothing is escaping there.

Not just the fuel pump working hard......

Definitely not the fuel pump, which has a distinctive sound of its own and would be inaudible at such speed and revs anyway. In any case, my fuel consumption is at its best at top engine speed.

Will check the exhaust as you recommend... the noise is coming from that side of the engine but when I listened closely with the bonnet up and revved it it seemed to come from within the tappet chest or that area.

It does sound like a tappety noise to me. An easy check for clearances and also see if the shaft/bearings are worn. You can usually twist the rocker arms slightly if they are.

What's the oil pressure - and, is there any oil getting up to the rocker shaft - or is it bone dry??? Also much gears/final drive noise - is there oil in the gearbox and final drive ??

What's the oil pressure

Come on bmc, I had a major thread on this not long ago.... at that high speed, it is 45-50 psi, cold start idle 70 psi, hot idle 10 psi. Duckham's 20/50 used.


Oil is getting into the rocker box for sure because it seeps out from the rivets in the patents plate.

Gearbox and back axle oil were renewed about 1400 miles ago, and I am meticulous when it comes to maintaining oil levels and oil quality.

My speedo makes a similar noise-I spent ages hunting, and then discovered it was that. Not sure if it is the same for you. My exhaust manifold gasket is blowing, making a much higher pitched ticking almost farting noise? could yours be blowing?

I can't remember every nuance of every thread JJ - and in any case - the Q was to establish the current oil pressure..... It's not great at 45/50 - is that after a good hard run -or does it drop even lower?

45/50 psi is after a good hard run whilst motorway driving at indicated 55-60 MPH. The engine uses very little oil, and if anything leaks more than it burns.

I'm sure you said something about the 803 oil pump being an all round duffer aswell - sliding vanes or something?

Indeed it is - so be happy and ignore the noise!

OK, seeing as the performance is good, I'll check the valve clearances and also for any sticking valves, and the manifold gasket.

P.S. How can I check if there's a sticking valve?

P.P.S. How can I tell an inlet from an exhaust valve for when I need to adjust clearances?

Thanks,

Javelin

Inlet valves are connected to the carburettor...... 1458 are exhausts and 2367 are inlets......

If your talking about the loud click in the first clip its the fuel pump as mine makes exactly the same noise and gets more often when the engine is under pressure like climbing hills or speeding up.

I am pretty sure it is the tappets, I adjusted them to their cold clearance of .012 and the noise was absent during warm-up, but when the engine came to working temperature the noise became evident again.

So I'm going to set them to the hot clearance of .011 and see what that does.

The only other possibility is the valves not seating properly, as this is an unleaded head (fitted before I acquired the car) which can only have covered a few thousand miles.

Sounds like Tappets to me. But more importantly - 60 to 65 mph in an 803? That's really pushing things.