I mentioned that we had some issues with the engine when we started it a couple of weeks ago, and it needed more attention. At that time we still expected to be racing at Goodwood in a couple of weeks time, so we ( or more precisely AVIT) got stuck straight back in! Before going home we took the engine out of the car and carry out an initial assesment.
The main issue, as many will have seen on the video, was over oiling. Not only were clouds of oil being burnt and coming out of the exhaust pipes, but also oil was coming out from all over the crankcase, with pools of it dripping onto the floor. The issue appeared to be that the oil was flowing straight into the second stage of the pump without being metered. On the non engine related issues the brakes needed to be improved, the gearchange strengthened and the engine put back in Buzzie. and get ready to carry out a second test run.
The issue with overoiling proved to be two fold. Firstly the gasket I had made proved to be not up to the job, and the plug in the oillway wasnt quite right and didnt fully seal. The AVIT team researched the issue and fitted the correct part, and repalced the gasket with a better item they made. The engine was reassembled and put back in the car. It was turned over with the plugs out and theoil dripped through the regulating device as it should. It was now ready for a second test run.
AVIT also made a beefed up the cearchange mechanism, and bedded in the brakes on their MOT brake test rollers. After that they were readjusted, and they were just finishing this off as I arrived on the following Saturday for the next test run. The gearbox mounting allows for the use of the original Norton kickstart, and our ambition was to get the engine started using it. The first couple of kicks werent too promising, but eventually it did fire, but not run on. Encouraged by this and after a bit of fiddling with the magneto advance and ticklers got it to run up nicely. The car ran well and the signs of overoiling had gone. The exhaust was clean and the crakcase exterior dry. We stopped the engine to do a few aadjustments to brakes and gearshift, and to try to set the tickover. We discovered there need to be some holes drilled into the bodywork to allow access to the idle speed adjusters.
The car was then restarted, which it did first kick, we were delighted! We did one more run to video it, and then packed it away. We were aware we were running her on petrol, and she has ethanol pistons, so no receord breaking was called for lol! We mutually decided that we had got the car to a stste where she could be brought home for me to finish her off. By now we knew we wouldnt be at Goodwood, as it was postponed the day before. But we felt honour was satisfied and that if we'd needed it, the car could have been ready to race.
So I brought Buzzie home, and she's now safely tucked up in my workshop! The majority finishing off jobs are to get the car fitted out to make it race legal (Fire extinguisher system, seat belts, rain light, emergency engine cut off, stickers and numbers, transponder etc) The engine must be made ready to run on ethanol by rejetting the carburettor and looking at the timing. This may require the engine to come out for access. There is no particular hurry now, as there is no prospect of motorsport starting in the UK before the end of June I can take my time to do these jobs carefully, assuming I can get the parts!
In any event you can be certain I'll keep you all posted on here.
[Attachments converted to linked images. 26Nov21 -Doug, Admin]