Morris Minor Owners Club

i have a 1098 engine which does not have lock tabs on the big end or main bearings but it has spring washers instead , is this normal for latter units or should all A series engines have lock tabs , i have got the engine out sorting a leaking rear block to back plate gasket and i am doing all the bottom end gaskets at the same time , i have bought a lock tab set but i wondered if it's worth disturbing the bearings as it all seems ok and has been like this for 5000 miles +

I'd fit the lock tabs, the bearings wont mind any disturbance, unlike gaskets.

I've never heard of a leaking rear block gasket - are you sure that's the problem? Washers were never specified - but there is an argument that locktabs are not good either - the soft metal of the tab can allow the stress on the fixing bolt to relax... Later Mini engines had no tabs - or washers. And I don't think the factory used Loctite either - although many engine builders use that as a matter of course.

the gasket is leaking mainly because who ever fitted the back plate left out three bolts !! [ 2 by the oil pump] , there is a clear mark on the gasket where oil was leaking ,

Ahhh that would explain it....

Interestingly I've also wondered about the softness of locktabs and the possibility of allowing the bolts or nuts to relax but have considered the initial compressing of the tabs is enough to compact the material to it's limit. From experience I can't recall anything I've had to undo involving tabs, to be loose. However I daresay modern locking liquids are a suitable replacement, if preferred.

i fitted the tabs and i the metal they are made from is a thick as a washer and took a fair bit of bending , they torqued down nicely ,