Hitchcocks Forum

We have been rebuilding a 1956 super meteor engine. Now that we have the cases together and the pistons, barrels and heads attached I we are having problems when we tighten up either of the camshaft sprockets in that the engine fails to rotate.

We have the camshaft thrust washers (35894) on the outside of the cases. We both have this horrible feeling that they are supposed to be inside the cases and this is the cause of our problems.

Can you confirm one way or the other?

Thanks in advance,
Don

Don, the washers should go behind the sprockets and outside the cases. You should aim for about 3-5 thou end float, least is best. There should be a hardened thrust washer (which is listed in the Parts Book) and possibly some shims which unhelpfully are not listed in the Parts Book. However, our Hosts do sell them. I have never come across a Twin engine which tightened in this way but it's not impossible, in which case you will have to surface grind the thrust washer. Is it possible that if you replaced the camshaft bushes they are not concentric? Unlikely to cause this problem but just trying to think of other possibilities! By the way, I usually build the timing chest and cams with the barrels off, that way you can lock the crank through the rods to tighten the camshaft bolts. Good luck,

REgards, Mark

Have you tried leaving out the cam washers to see if that affects the lock up? I can only imagine there is a lack of clearance & the cam/s are being pulled up tight against the offside inner bushes/casing. TTFN Jack

Without the Cam washers it doesnt lock up why there is a lack of clearance I dont know. Gues we grind the thrust washers.

Thanks for the info Mark. Glad I didnt start pulling it all apart.

What is the end-float on the cam shaft(s) with out the thrust washers?


Before you start grinding down the thrust washer you really should find out why? Are the thrust washers the correct part, are they too thick? Are both cams the same?


Something is awry and it is best to find 'what' than to alter a part that was (?) working OK previously.
For starters you really should check all five sprocket alignments...


Fudging parts to make them fit and 'work' is a certain road to disappointment.