I want to thank everyone for sending ideas and suggestions recently as to how
to fix my Midget 1500 that was making the knocking sounds. After discovering
that the problem was likely the flywheel, I bought a used one, had it
resurfaced, and, you will remember, had the ring turned around at the
machinist's suggestion.
Several of you didn't like the idea of turning the flywheel ring around--some
just because it didn't sound right, and others because of the extra heat it
would take to remove the old ring. Well--I spent the ENTIRE DAY installing
that flywheel and reinstalling the engine, overcoming several obstacles in
the meantime, got it all back together--electrical connections,
everything--ready to START that beastie!
Turned the key starter and "RRRrrrrrr. . ." Sort of a quick grunt and
everything stopped. We tried to roll the car in 4th gear to turn over the
motor and it wouldn't budge! Tried rocking the car and it still wouldn't
budge!! My best guess??? The real damned reason for NOT TURNING THE
FLYWHEEL AROUND!!! Has nothing to do with heat. It has to do with the fact
that on a NEW flywheel, unbeknownst to me, the teeth toward the starter
pinion are BEVELED and the other side is not!!
So now I have a Midget with a jammed starter that I am in all liklihood going
to have to
re-remove the engine from, pull the flywheel, and take it to have the ring
re-reversed!!! SO THERE!!! NEVER reverse your flywheel ring to expose the
starter to new teeth. That side is square and not beveled and will sieze
your starter!
This is my theory of course, and it will bear checking when I get back to the
car and pull the starter, then probably the engine. If anyone is
interested, I will keep the list posted!
--David C. 8^(
|