More puzzles

Thurs.07.12.06. Richie has re-cut the cardboard engine bay panels in MDF. When fixed to the central tub they will facilitate essential fine sanding which in turn should provide a much more accurate template for the definitive aluminium panels. I have rapidly realised that it is absolutely imperative that engineers are provided with only faultless patterns if they are to fabricate exactly what is required; anything less results in imprecise, careless product, as was the case with Andy’s efforts when he attempted to manufacture the engine side panels with poor, inexact blueprints.

Dick had visited Chris around lunchtime for some car business but soon became sucked into the workings of the Burlington engine. Dick is no mean ‘spanner man’ boasting the title of a time served mechanic. But whilst fitting the ‘road race’ cam both he and Chris noticed that the alignment with the cam followers was incorrect, it appeared that either the cam was too long or the locating plate (camshaft to block) needed packing. “Look, Chris, I have always told you this, you are always better off with good old English stuff instead of modern Indian crap. It’s always machined badly and made from shite steel,” was Dick’s perceptive synopsis of the quandary before them. I was therefore required to return to the workshop with the original cam in order to measure the two together. Both seemed identical in length and the puzzle of the discrepancy became even more baffling. Dick lit his pipe, scratched his head, checked the two cams but remained perplexed positively bewildered. He descended into bullshit, “It could be that the locking washer’s too small or the sprocket-camshaft idling plate has worn too thin or maybe it’s just the shim pedestal thrusting at an acute angle; it’s definitely mystifying.” Dick speedily took his leave as well as his defective, flawed analysis, back to Planet Deliverance leaving Chris and I to ponder further. 

Eureka! Chris, eventually, realised that the engine front plate had not yet been fitted to the engine block; this would account for the missing 3 mm. The problem had now been solved. The embarrassment of phoning Max or Phil had been averted, luckily we had saved ourselves from another “If you don’t know what you are doing you shouldn’t be even attempting the fuckin’ job, so leave the fucking thing to the professionals!” 

The fault finding did not stop there. The input shaft of the overdrive box is too large for the clutch that has been purchased. The fly wheel is also not compatible with the clutch as a consequence it will be crucial to first of all, match a clutch to the shaft and secondly match the clutch to a flywheel. This not insurmountable but has caused another hiccup that we don’t need.

Today has been another stark lesson in patience, logic and experience.