The replacement starter arrived on Monday, and today it was installed. Works perfectly (as expected), and so if all goes well, there's just the exhaust heat shield and wing to replace, and then that's it.
A warm day today, 13 C, a welcome one-day exception to the cold, and made it even possible to work in the garage with the door open, which was really nice. Made running the engine that much more pleasant, as well. Tomorrow, it's back to -5 C and then -10 C by Saturday.
Below, new starter in place, and, as can be seen above the starter, have left the cord off of the old block heater. Shiny pipe in foreground is the exhaust.
This is just a simple pictorial history of my restoration of an original Canadian-import 1960 Land Rover Series 2 88" (or SWB - Short Wheel Base), LHD (Left Hand Drive) which I purchased in August, 2010. Later posts include photos of some of the things I've done with the vehicle since its restoration was essentially completed, although repairs and other maintenance are obviously an ongoing process. Words in orange are links. Click the photos to make them full size. Search using box below.
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Starter Failure; Block Heater
Went to go for a drive, on a brisk -10 C day. Engine started normally, and I let it warm up. Got in, put the vehicle in reverse, and then it stalled as I hadn't given enough fuel. Started again - and just as it the starter engaged, there was a metallic bang/clang and everything stopped dead.
I got out to see if the engine could still be turned over using the starter crank handle, but no, the engine wouldn't move. Something had broken. No amount of rocking the vehicle while in gear would free the flywheel.
Given that when trying the ignition button again, there was absolutely no noise from the starter itself, but the lights on the instrument panel went dim, it seemed likely that the starter had jammed the flywheel somehow. Either that, or something major had broken inside the engine. As the starter would likely need to come off in any case if the engine needed major repairs, removing the starter to see what was potentially wrong there seemed the logical first thing to do.
As the steering linkages were in the way, I elected to take the wing off, followed by the forward exhaust pipe and the exhaust heat shield. That way I could see clearly, too. Only difficulty was the -10 C temp in the garage. Even the shop hand cleaning lotion had frozen. (I have to say those front mudguards do a great job at stopping dirt etc., from accumulating on the bulkhead.)
With everything off, the starter was easy to remove. As it came out, it was plain that the spring, pinion, etc., were just floating on the shaft and everything slid off as the starter came out. Clearly the nut on the end of the shaft had come off. No visible damage to the flywheel, however, which was good to see. The engine turns over by hand as smoothly as ever.
In the photo below, the hole where the starter was. At the very back, it's possible to see where the spring, or something, on the shaft had contacted the bell housing, making a few gouges before everything jammed.
I managed to get everything out except the nut itself. A flexible magnet should take care of that. Below, the remains of the nut's threads still on the shaft. Shaft threads appear to be in pretty good shape. Split pin that held the nut in place was neatly cut each side where it comes out of the shaft.
While I was back there, I had a good look at the original block heater. It hasn't been tested. Cord just plugs in like any other appliance, although the rubber cover on the cord side had melted somewhat. I don't know why.
A slightly blurry view of the cord's socket.
I got out to see if the engine could still be turned over using the starter crank handle, but no, the engine wouldn't move. Something had broken. No amount of rocking the vehicle while in gear would free the flywheel.
Given that when trying the ignition button again, there was absolutely no noise from the starter itself, but the lights on the instrument panel went dim, it seemed likely that the starter had jammed the flywheel somehow. Either that, or something major had broken inside the engine. As the starter would likely need to come off in any case if the engine needed major repairs, removing the starter to see what was potentially wrong there seemed the logical first thing to do.
As the steering linkages were in the way, I elected to take the wing off, followed by the forward exhaust pipe and the exhaust heat shield. That way I could see clearly, too. Only difficulty was the -10 C temp in the garage. Even the shop hand cleaning lotion had frozen. (I have to say those front mudguards do a great job at stopping dirt etc., from accumulating on the bulkhead.)
With everything off, the starter was easy to remove. As it came out, it was plain that the spring, pinion, etc., were just floating on the shaft and everything slid off as the starter came out. Clearly the nut on the end of the shaft had come off. No visible damage to the flywheel, however, which was good to see. The engine turns over by hand as smoothly as ever.
In the photo below, the hole where the starter was. At the very back, it's possible to see where the spring, or something, on the shaft had contacted the bell housing, making a few gouges before everything jammed.
I managed to get everything out except the nut itself. A flexible magnet should take care of that. Below, the remains of the nut's threads still on the shaft. Shaft threads appear to be in pretty good shape. Split pin that held the nut in place was neatly cut each side where it comes out of the shaft.
The starter out. As I'm not sure what kind of damage may have been done to the shaft or the internals of the starter, I have ordered a re-built unit from 3 Brothers Classic Rovers.
While I was back there, I had a good look at the original block heater. It hasn't been tested. Cord just plugs in like any other appliance, although the rubber cover on the cord side had melted somewhat. I don't know why.
A slightly blurry view of the cord's socket.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
January
I know, I probably post too many photos of the Land Rover. : )
Anyway, took a nice long drive at lunch, temperature just at 0 C, most of snow melted for now, but at least some of the river is still frozen. But no worries, lots more winter to come.
(As ever, best view of the photo is when clicked.)
Anyway, took a nice long drive at lunch, temperature just at 0 C, most of snow melted for now, but at least some of the river is still frozen. But no worries, lots more winter to come.
(As ever, best view of the photo is when clicked.)
Monday, January 7, 2013
Some Dramatic Advertising
A rather amusingly dramatic advert for Land Rover. The header says 1969, but the Land Rover featured is clearly a Series 3, which were produced from 1972 to 1984.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Twilight Drive
-9 C, gently snowing, evening falling: perfect time for a drive. And, incidentally, the first drive of 2013.
If you like, for a nicer sense of the 'atmosphere', you can click on the photos to see them full-size.
If you like, for a nicer sense of the 'atmosphere', you can click on the photos to see them full-size.
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