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Articles search results for crank pulley

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CAM TIMING - Conventional method using DTI, etc...

Equipment required - one 0.500” minimum capacity DTI with magnetic stand, 360-degree protractor and a piece of reasonably thick gauge wire to use as a pointer. Terminology - DTI - Dial Test Indicator/dial gauge Protractor - degree wheel TDC - Top Dead Centre, when piston is at highest point in bore BTDC - Before Top Dead Centre, before piston reaches highest point in bore ATDC - After Top Dead Centre, after piston has reached highest point in bore. Rotate crank so piston one is at the bore top (TDC). Fit timing gears 'dot-to-dot'. Set up DTI with stem resting on number one piston centre with a little preload. Rotate crank backwards slightly (anti-clockwise looking at the front), then gently forwards observing the DTI, watching where the needle stops before descending. This is TDC. Repeat this procedure, stopping when the needle reaches its zenith. Zero the dial scale, and repeat until satisfied the needle shows zero on the scale.

CAM TIMING - Mechanical Method

CAM TIMING - Mechanical Method Part No Applications: MD256, MD266, MD276, MD286, MD286SP, MD296, MD296SP, MD310SP, MD530, MDM266/KIT, MDM276KIT, MDM286KIT Equipment required - Stop plate - mechanical stop plate for setting TDC (see text). Set of feeler blades Terminology - TDC - Top Dead Centre, when piston is at highest point in bore BTDC - Before Top Dead Centre, before piston reaches highest point in bore ATDC - After Top Dead Centre, after piston has reached highest point in bore Accurate piston position indication is the first goal. You need to know exactly when piston one is at TDC. Without engineering measuring equipment a ‘stop plate’ is required. This you will either have to manufacture personally, or get one made. You need a piece of metal plate long enough to span the bore plus a couple of the head stud holes on either side - about 4.750" long by 1.375" wide will do the trick.

CAM TIMING - Basic Notes

To avoid lots of swearing and unnecessary damage, check the timing gears slide neatly onto their respective bosses. If tight, first check for any high spots in the gear bores and key-way slots. Clean out using with fine emery cloth, medium Wet 'n' Dry paper, or some such. Remove the Woodruff keys then dress the bosses using abrasive material as mentioned previously. Re-check fitment before re-fitting keys. Check the key-ways and keys too before re-fitting. Get rid of unwanted sticky-out bits on the keys that would inhibit a slide fit. Clean out the key-way and de-burr top edges. I always file a slight 'flat' across them to give plenty of clearance to the gear key slot. If the pulley is a slack fit on the key, turn it anticlockwise before nipping the bolt up. ALWAYS fit it like this. It's imperative to fit cam (and followers in the case of solid wall blocks) following manufacturers instructions precisely using a good quality cam lube.

Crankshaft - Standard Production Crank Identification

Yes, contrary to what many say/express, all cranks are forged. None are cast. They wouldn't last 2 minutes in an engine if they were cast - they'd be way too brittle. Below is a list of crankshaft identification data by forging or stamped numbers - yes, contrary to what many say/express, all cranks are forged. None are cast. They wouldn't last 2 minutes in an engine if they were cast - they'd be way too brittle. The differences are in the material used, finish machining detail and any heat treatments applied. It is by no means complete and utterly correct/infallible since Austin/Morris, British Leyland, Leyland cars, Austin Rover, rover, et al were seriously prone to not adhering to specifications and applications lists. But it is better than nothing at all! 22A62 850cc - Early type with oil feed for primary gear, 1.375" dia. tail 22A63 850cc - Early type with oil feed for primary gear, 1.375" dia. tail

Engine - Running in Procedure

This is another of those subjects that crops up on the message board frequently. I am constantly surprised by the number of engine builders - or people who charge other folk for building engines at any rate - that never hand out such an information sheet. It seems pretty daft to me that having taken a wad of money off of a customer for an engine you've lovingly put together, you'd want to help that person get the very best out of the engine. And the running/breaking in procedure is absolutely crucial. It at least ensures no damage is incurred when the engine first bursts into life. A collection of the usual suspects have explained their own methods on the board, along with various others - many of which probably work just as well for them, a few which are down-right dubious. Following is a sheet I administer with every customer engine I build.

Distributor - What the A-Series needs.

Any dizzy can be set to get maximum power. No problem. Unfortunately that's only one spot on the whole power curve/rpm range. If the curve isn't right elsewhere, the engine will be either loosing power - in some instances by substantial amounts - or detonating its self into oblivion and a costly re-build.

Terminology -
Dizzy - Distributor
CR - Compression Ratio
VE - Volumetric Efficiency

Large-bore engines are less fussy about exacting ignition requirements than small-bores. The 1100-type being the most difficult to get right, with very particular requirements mid-range when tuned and worlds apart from large-bore curves. This should be remembered when swapping distributors from one engine to another. An 1100 dizzy in a 1275 will at run OK, but a 1275 in an 1100 can be courting disaster.

RUNNING IN NEW ENGINES

Install engine. It is absolutely imperative that the cooling system is more than sufficient to deal with any temperatures likely to be produced by the engine. More power means more heat to be dissipated. A standard radiator is very unlikely to be able to cope with a reasonable power increase over standard.

Do not fill cooling system yet. Set clutch throw-out and free-play take up. Double-check all connections electrical, oil, fuel and cooling system. Put in engine oil – use a cheap multi-grade mineral oil. DO NOT use either semi or full synthetic oils. They will stop the rings from bedding in. Remove spark plugs, and spin engine over in bursts of a few seconds to pick up oil pressure and prevent starter motor damage. DO NOT start engine until oil pressure picks up.

Once oil pressure is showing, check ignition timing statically. Set to figure advised by distributor maker, or if no figures available, set at around 6-8 degrees BTDC. Re-fit spark plugs a

Ignition - Establishing a TDC reference point

Establishing an accurate TDC reference point is of paramount importance when developing and monitoring ignition timing (and cam timing come to that). Terminology - TDC - Top Dead Centre BTDC - Before Top Dead Centre Establishing an accurate TDC reference point is of paramount importance when developing and monitoring ignition timing (and cam timing come to that). When an experienced engine builder assembles an engine - no matter whether for road or race - he will establish an accurate TDC indicator that can be used for ignition purposes. Usually contrived as a rigid pointer aligning to a corresponding mark on the crank pulley in a position easy to see with the engine installed. Unfortunately, many of us have to deal with engines that haven't had such attention to detail - so either have to make do with the standard ignition timing graduated scale if it's there or sort something else out.

Injection Cars - Tuning up-date

OK, so what's happened to the Min Tec/Mini Spares development program?

It has been a long time between my first few words on basic injection car tuning and these - for that I apologise, but business has been unbelievably fraught this year.

I did promise regular and frequent up-dates, but the best laid plans, and all that… As I said, business has been more than brisk.

OK, so what's happened to the Min Tec/Mini Spares development program? Apart from a whole lot of investigation and repetitive research into what's available currently - not that much. It is all hinging on this forthcoming ECU from this particular company. Unfortunately the company concerned is not run by businessman or automotive engineers. They are electronics whiz kids who are trying to achieve the Holy Grail.

C-AJJ3322 - MINI SPARES FIXED ADJUSTMENT BELT DRIVE KIT

The application of this drive system maintains very accurate and consistent cam and ignition timing, and minimises valve train noise - desirable advantages that do not diminish with time. The fibreglass reinforced belt all but eliminates the excessive stretch suffered by chain driven systems-even when a tensioner is used.

C-AJJ3328 MINI SPARES VERNIER ADJUSTABLE CAM BELT DRIVE

No Longer Available see C-AJJ3328RACE

The ubiquitous toothed belt cam drive system, originally developed for high performance race engines, is now generally accepted as the norm on all state of the art modern engines.

C-AJJ3328RACE MINI SPARES VERNIER ADJUSTABLE CAM BELT DRIVE KIT - FITTING INSTRU...

The application of this drive system maintains very accurate and consistent cam and ignition timing, and minimising valve train noise. Desireable advantages that do not diminish with time. The fiberglass reinforced belt all but eliminates the excessive stretch suffered by chain driven systems - even where a tensioner is used.

C-AEG455, C-AEG476, C-AEG477, C-AEG478, C-AEG479, C-AEG480 - TOOTH-BELT DRIVE SY...

These systems have been developed where positive drive is required for water pump and charging system.

They circumvent problems caused by standard ‘V’ belts being turned or thrown because of ill-fitting belts or mis-aligned pulleys.

C-AJJ3326 MINI SPARES SLIDE ADJUSTABLE BELT DRIVE KIT

The application of this drive system maintains very accurate and consistent cam and ignition timing, and minimising valve train noise. Desirable advantages that do not diminish with time. The fiberglass reinforced belt eliminates the excessive stretch suffered by chain driven systems - even where a tensioner is used. The protracted control of cam and ignition timing maintains peak performance. Chain drives cause excessive timing scatter, even after relatively short periods of running. The MINI SPARES kit enables A-series owners to benefit from such technology. The adjustable cam gear in this kit allows up to 9 degrees of adjustment, facilitating accurate cam timing. An absolute must when installing a performance camshaft.

FITMENT: Remove the original timing cover. Position gears so that the timing marks on cam and crank gears are adjacent, then remove gears/chain assembly. Remove locating keys. Clean cam and crank gear boss surfaces, ensuring new gears are no more than a l

C-AJJ3326RACE MINI SPARES ROTA- ADJUST CAM BELT DRIVE KIT

The application of this drive system maintains very accurate and consistent cam and ignition timing, and minimising valve train noise. Desirable advantages that do not diminish with time. The fiber glass reinforced belt all but eliminates excessive stretch suffered by chain driven systems - even where a tensioner is used. The protracted control of cam and ignition timing maintains peak performance. Chain drives cause excessive timing scatter, even after relatively short periods of running.

03.04.10, Cadwell Park Race Report by Keith Calver

Getting the car ready for the first race was not quite the last minute flurry of panicked activity it usually is. Largely because the re-fit and re-furb were kept to a minimum following complete strip re-build plans shot to pieces by tradesmen being somewhat hard to pin down to get very necessary domestic work done.

Most importantly the doors and windows in the garage. The special concertina type front doors have been falling slowly decaying over the past few years....

12A367 - Torsional Vibration Damper Ring - Fitting Instructions

For any high performance engine an efficient crank damper puller is essential to minimise potential failure caused by harmonic vibration generated by the crank assembly. The standard type damper is barely adequate for the standard engine in normal everyday use. When used on up-rated engines to ANY degree, it has severe short-comings.

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - Positive Ancillary Drive Systems

For some time now, Mini Spares has been selling a positive water pump drive system – primarily designed for the race-car fraternity. The system used the ubiquitous “Gimhler” (or toothed) best method of drive at all times. It is also self-compensating for any slight misalignment of the pulleys as the crank pulley has guide rails, whilst the water pump pulley is extra deep.

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - Positive Ancillary Drive Systems

For some time now, Mini Spares has been selling a positive water pump drive system – primarily designed for the race-car fraternity. The system used the ubiquitous “Gimhler” (or toothed) best method of drive at all times. It is also self-compensating for any slight misalignment of the pulleys as the crank pulley has guide rails, whilst the water pump pulley is extra deep.

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - Good Vibrations

Minitech Magazine Header 1992

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - Good Vibrations

This year saw the re-introduction of the damper ring originally fitted to the Cooper ‘S’ engines and used extensively by a multitude of racers – until its demise instigated by the cessation of production by BL some 10 or so years ago.  Very unfortunate as this was broadly recognised as being THE crank damper to use on any performance of rally/race engine to deal with odd-ball harmonics produced by the 3 main bearing ‘A’ series engine.  Midget and Sprite racers mourned the loss more than Mini owners, as the current “thick” damper causes clearance problems – the damper hits the cross member under hard braking/severe engine braking.


Other problems caused by using the only available damper (as used on...

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