More garage time. I seem to be getting surprisingly little flack from SWMBO, makes me wonder if she's playing around. Haven't got time to worry about it though, getting this engine back together is far more important
.
I spent some time cleaning the cases, running through all the threads with a tap, ensuring the oil-ways were clear, all the usual stuff.
'The Book' advises that you fit the bearings to the cases before fitting the crank, which may necessitate use of a hide mallet. Personally I don't like that idea, even if it is the way it's been done since time immemorial. Particularly with a ball-bearing, if you can avoid side-load and the potential for damage that clouting a crankshaft spindle through an unsupported inner race may bring, then avoid it you should.
The drive-side bearing had come off cleanly on disassembly, and it's in good condition. I fitted it to the crank...
Before heating the case...
And dropping the whole assembly in...
The timing side main bearing, which I had to destroy to split the cases, is/was a one-piece roller bearing that is, of course, now obsolete. That's not to say it's not available, but the only ones I found for sale were the price of an ocean-going yacht.
I spoke to one of the more established Triumph parts suppliers over here, who suggested two options - replace with a normal ball bearing, in which case you would have to mess about with shims to ensure the end float is taken up without placing side-load on the bearing, or use a two-piece roller bearing as fitted to later bikes. The ball bearing was the cheapest, the two-piece roller considerably more expensive but not nearly as pricey as the original type. So I went with the roller.
Out with the blowtorch again to fit the outer race. New circlip, cams in place....
The cams are the original ones. I think they've been replaced in recent times, there's nothing wrong with them and I couldn't justify swapping them for race cams - after all, I won't be racing it
.
Inner race fitted to crankshaft. I used bearing-fit on this one, it drifted on a little too easy for my liking.
Before the cases go together, you need to prime the crankshaft and ensure you have oil seeping through the big-end bearings...
Then all that was left to do was fit the spring in the inlet breather valve on the drive-side (which had been missing!), liberally coat the bearing in assembly lube, and marry the cases together...
Does life get any more exciting than this?
Now, I wonder if the wife will still recognise me when I go back in
