Morris Minor Owners Club

Evening all,I've got a noise coming from water pump area? I knew i needed to change the water pump because it was leaking so I've put a new one on + changed the belt,it was running fine then the noise came back its like a bearing noise?goes on and off but eventually got worse till its constantly doing it! So i was advised to start the motor with out the belt on for few seconds to make shore its not the Dino making the noise i adjusted the belt etc not to tight, not that any advice what to check next please,shorely its not the water pump its brand new.

Did you run it with the fan belt off, you didn't mention it in your letter?

Yes i did with out but still have the noise

Is the crank pulley loose??

Nope all tight

Try taking the fan belt off and turning the waterpump by hand and see if it feels gritty

Got to go out now but if you cant find any thing wrong so far you could drain off and remove radiator and look in timing case.

Sorry cant think of any thing else at the moment, you could try contacting BMC Ecosse. regards smithskids.

Thanks for trying smithskids it dont feel gritty when move by hand i will check the timing case tomorrow thanks for help

Any more ideas peps?

Does it happen when stationary?

Yes it does all the time chesney

So that discounts diff, gearbox (to an extent), clutch (to an extent) and brakes. Follow Smithskids advice, but did it start making the noise after fitting the new pump? Could be that the impeller is too long. Not sure if that would show up without the belt though..

Get yourself a screwdriver (preferably wooden handled) and use it as a stethescope by placing the tip everywhere there are bearings,listen to the handle, you should hear the noise amplified at the point of trouble.

if the noise is still there with the fan belt off then its NOT the water pump or dino/alternator,and if the pully nut is tight then not that. Its possible that the old pump was constantly noisy(bearing in mind it was leaking) and that it was masking the noise you now have,its easy to get used to a constant noise and not hear others,Could be tappets or timing chain noise that was there all the time before the change.Process of elimination I would check the tappets first before pulling the front cover off,If the engine has done a high milage it will be showing timing chain wear / noise but they all do,and run for many many miles like this,unless you wish to change the timing chain anyway ,You will not be able to see anything inside the cover,unless it has the mini tensioner fitted they all look slack and worn.

The screwdriver test is a good idea,you can also get a stethoscope for car engines on ebay which are quite clever.

The noise may be coming from the distributor.

Be careful with fingers and loose ties (health and safety). Got my tie caught in a fan belt many years ago,never again after that.( I was a bit choked up with my stupidity).

Hope you find the problem soon.

Roy.

That's why theold BMC staff wore bow ties!

Ok thanks for the reply guys will be haveing a look again this weekend will defo try the screwdriver test first with no tie on tho roy lol cheers

Well looks like ive found where the noise is comeing from not waterpump at all! Sounds like the bearings behind or in the distributor is it seems to have a bit of play in the sharft gesing it might need changeing ?

The distributor shaft runs in a brass bush and then the end meshes with the camshaft via a gear, no bearings as such. This arrangement can emit a rumbling sound at times.

What would you surgest to change then? Thanks