Morris Minor Owners Club

Found this on another site, and wondered if anyone has used it, as I have never seen one before?
Bit pricey but seems to be the ultimate answer to a common recurring problem?


https://www.dsnclassics.co.uk/retrospor ... 5pMbcmDsvo

An expensive solution to a problem that should not occur and is easily cured.
The only real advantage is that the valve timing can be adjusted with ease if you have a adjustable Vernier kit fitted.
ampwhu has fitted the alloy timing cover/front plate and should be along soon to give a view.

I have the style of timing cover fit with the timing marks on the top (Mini? A+?) and assumed they would be correct, is this not right? If so my timing may be out!

On the leaks - I use this gasket - but it still drips - not £270 worth of drips though!

The gasket shown in the link above https://www.minispares.com/product/Clas ... asket.aspx is the preferred type of gasket for my use. It has a slightly rubberised feel to it.
Lightly covered in grease and nipped up to the correct torque it does not leak.
I have found that the later BL timing chain cover/crankshaft seal coloured orange is the best seal to use.
Here is similar but black https://www.minispares.com/product/clas ... 10006.aspx

i do have this alloy front cover plate to fit to my 1275 engine that i am building. I unfortunately haven't got further than fitting the pistons in the bores as of last weekend so far. small thing called work gets in the way.

I will put some pictures up here when i've got to fitting it.

philthehill wrote: ↑Thu Nov 19, 2020 4:44 pm The gasket shown in the link above https://www.minispares.com/product/Clas ... asket.aspx is the preferred type of gasket for my use. It has a slightly rubberised feel to it.
Lightly covered in grease and nipped up to the correct torque it does not leak.
I have found that the later BL timing chain cover/crankshaft seal coloured orange is the best seal to use.
Here is similar but black https://www.minispares.com/product/clas ... 10006.aspx

Yes Phil, I have already ordered the seal that you mention, along with a crank seal, and if this doe not cure the leak, I will try the expensive covers I am fed up with leaks from both ends. I have cured the rear scoll leak by finding some slightly oversize corks intended for a Fork lift truck!

I made a stiffener out of 1/4" thick aluminium to go around the bottom portion of the timing cover when I rebuilt my engine recently.
Not sure if it really needs one but I have the facilites and I enjoy making stuff. I think you can buy these online.
I dont have any oil leaks front or back on this engine thank goodness, the breather system is working a treat.

Phil P

Needed or not, a thoughtful idea.

Here are some pictures of the above mentioned alloy front cover that i have trial fitted during my 1275 build.
there is a 'rope seal' that sits in the channel that the breather cover fits over.

hope this helps.

Looks very good.
I have one question though - how do you guarantee that the timing cover seal around the crankshaft pulley is concentric to the crankshaft so ensuring that the lip of the seal is loaded the same all around its inner edge?
With the tin timing cover there was enough wiggle room with the bolt holes to allow full centralisation. The bolt/screw holes in the above set up look to be fitted and the countersunk screws do not help either.
It is important that the seal is concentric to the crankshaft and to that end BMC supplied a special tool Pt No: 18G1044. A crankshaft pulley slid onto the crankshaft nose provides the same function. I use a three piece crankshaft pulley with the belt guides/carriers removed which leaves just the centre and which is then similar to tool 18G1044.
Phil

Good point I have overlooked. When I come to fitting the crank pulley, I'll get some feedback. In fairness, it does look central when looking at it.

Unfortunately looking central does not always guarantee that the seal will not leak.
Phil

There are plenty of these plates out on the market. I've asked a mini owner who has one fitted and he said when putting the breather outside plate on, you can centralise the pulley with seal then, so there doesn't seem to be any concern there.

Thank you for the reassurance but I do not think I shall be buying the alloy front plate/timing chain cover but I may consider buying the strengthening plate for the 'A' Plus timing chain cover.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini ... SwUIletp6I
Phil

some more pictures
further to your question regarding the seal being centralised, i have managed to do this today. If you fit the backplate first and hold in position with a couple of screws, you can then fit the crankshaft damper to the cover, fit the damper to the end of the crankshaft and swing the front cover into position.

i do have a question regarding the chain tension though.
i have a little slack when fitting the sprockets. Can i fit one of those tensioners from a mini/A+ or whatever it is?

the 2 bolt holes indicated by the screwdriver show the position. Can i fit one here?

You can fit the 'A' Plus tensioner using the holes provided.
Make sure that the 'F' on the oil thrower plate faced forward.

cheers phil. can you put a link up to the right one so i know please.

The 'F' is facing outwards. Does it look incorrect then?

Here is a picture of the installation.
The top hole is a for the top securing bolt. The middle hole is for the head of the pin. The bottom hole is for the bottom securing bolt.
The tensioner pad does not have to be pressing hard on the chain. Moderate pressure is sufficient. Usually means that the bolt in the slotted hole is about mid way along the slot.
The reason I ask about the 'F' is that I cannot see the 'F' facing forward in your photo.

but thats a simplex chain. Does it use the same tensioner? It also looks like a holder for the plastic tensioner.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini ... 1438.l2649

The tensioner fits both simplex and duplex chains. The pressure pad is hard plastic and is mounted in a metal mount bracket.
The head of the pivot pin fits into the large hole in the backplate.
Here is the tensioner set up fitted to my 1380cc engine with duplex chain.