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(long)Re:Spitfire Transmission Troubles and Thrust Washers

To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: (long)Re:Spitfire Transmission Troubles and Thrust Washers
From: rjannelli@uncc.campus.mci.net (Ralph Jannelli)
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 11:01:42 -0400 (EDT)
Andy Mace passed on a distrubing comment that my problems might be due to
the engine losing a thrust washer, I don't think that is the problem I'm
inclined to think it is the synchros. The only reservation I have about that
is the transmission was rebuilt about 35,000 miles ago, although it has been
about 6 or 7 years calendar time ago. I do use only GL4 fluid so I don't
think I have the problem that has been disscussed here about GL5 eating
brass parts. I guess I'll have to tear it out and rebuild it again.
But back to the subject of thrust washers - 13 years ago I took a job here
in Charlotte NC, I was living in Greensboro NC at that time about a 2 hour
drive. Until I found a house here in Charlotte I was living in a motel and
commuting back to Greensboro on the weekends. Well one Monday morning flying
down interstate 85 the oil light came on! By the time I could stop I had
spun a rod bearing. I checked the dip stick - plenty of oil!! Whats going on
here! Well the oil pressure relief valve that screws into the side of the
block had un-screwed itself (an screwed me). I had the car towed the rest of
the way to Charlotte. But I did not have a place or the time to work on it
myself. So I looked around for a shop to do the work. I guess hind sight
shows that my choice was bad I'm not sure that the name of the place had
anything to do with it - "My MG Garage"!! (since out of business). Well I
talked to the mechanic who was to do the work and he seemed like he knew
what he was doing, boy was I wrong! They re-ground the crank and put in new
bearings and thrust washers, remember the thrust washers! Well after several
weeks of driving the car I started to have problems disengaging the clutch,
I had to double pump the petal to get it to work. I checked the fluid level
- all OK, no sign of leaks. Soooo I pulled the trans to find the problem.
When I went to remove the pressure plate from the flywheel the entire
assemble moved foward what seemed like 3/8 of an inch. oops! I could take
the flywheel in both hands and go clunk-clunk back and forth!! Well I called
the shop and said we have a problem here. The mechanic who did the work, by
the way, no longer worked there. They sent around a flat bed and hauled it
back to the shop, I went along. The new mechanic dropped the pan and clunk
clunk the remains of the thrust washers dropped out. Not a nice feeling. The
DPM (dumb previous mechanic) had installed the thrust washers backwards!
Well when they magnfluxed the block the journals showed cracks and I was
upset, to say the least. I got may car back and my money and did the job
myself (had moved into a house by then) after finding another short block
that was rebuildable. I hadn't thought of that experience in a long while, I
guess i try to forget about it, until Andy mentioned thrust washers in his
reply - thanks Andy.
By the way whenever I rebuild a Spitfire engine I check and re-check the
orientation of the thrust washers then I check them again. It is very easy
to put these in wrong!


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