As you can see, we are set up and working toward a brief initial engine run in the workshop, this will be very brief to allow us to return to the various skew drives and other areas to visually inspect and ensure that all is well, especially in the way that they mesh together as there are so many new items that have never run with the old before. We have already "blued" with engineers blue to check the witness of engagement. We have also pressurised the oil system to prime and to check for vital leaks prior to fitting the sump. This is an incredibly effective way to illustrate any defects, including excessive clearance in new engine bearings and reground cranks.... it is all too easy to misread a micrometer despite checking many times.
With the aid of a Triumph fuel tank we have set up in preparation for a brief run.
I had initially used a section of Nylon to make an extended width chain tensioner but this was a little too thick and unforgiving, here I am riveting a section of suitable grade Tufnol onto the original tensioner. The extra width is to accommodate a duplex timing chain drive upgrade.
Smooth engagement of the oil pump was hindered by these old burrs on the coupling spline. Time for the oilstone and needle file.
The skew mechanism with the new skew gear in bronze. We have to ensure all is aligned in the brief engine run, If all ok I can drill, ream and taper pin to secure. Note the engineer's blue to provide an initial engagement witness. The steel driving gear is also new to suit.
Always be aware of raddii clearance... never take them for granted!
Here we had a small oil weep, I am checking that the assembly is now centralised and nipping the gasket. I had to carry out a metal spray repair around the cast iron inner boss and have to leave a small fillet, I have to make sure the gaskets have a sufficient diameter bore to clear the fillet and not hold off and allow the joint to weep. As you can see, we made a sleeve to help the repair from the inside. We also had to make a new shaft coupling spade, including milling a corresponding slot to allow the spade to engage and bronze weld into position.
