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Re: Oh Sh*^

To: "MG List" <mgs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Oh Sh*^
From: Larry Macy <macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2000 18:25:37 -0400
Ok, now I am really confused. I drove the Midget home from the train 
station and immediately ran in and got a magnet. I pulled the dipstick 
and it is clean - no metal, no nothing, just oil a bit low. Now this 
morning when I saw the metal bits, I didn't have a magnet, nor did I 
think to go get one. I had to get to work. However, I did take the time 
to spin on a new oil filter. The engine does not have a bottom end rattle 
of any kind. Nor any kind of loud noise that, I think, should be heard if 
it was self destructing inside. Now I have noticed in the last few weeks 
a tendency to shudder at releasing the clutch when pulling away from a 
stop. I believe that this may be due to a thrust bearing being bad. That 
may explain the metal as well. I am hoping it all got caught up in the 
new filter. However, I have no idea. 

Also I saw that the oil pressure that had been running about 45 -50 lbs 
at cold idle was now running about 70 lbs when I left the train station. 
And almost 90 at about 3500 rpm. The oil pressure has never fallen below 
45 -50 even when running down the highway at about 65 mph (4000 rpm) at 
hot idle it was never below 15 - 20. I would think that if a bearing was 
giving up the ghost the oil pressure would not be that high. Anybody 
happen to know which end of the oil flow the filter is on?? before the 
bearings or after?? And why would a new one cause the pressure to go so 
high. Or maybe it is now full of bits of metal and causing an increase in 
resistance to the flow. 

I also have an offer of an engine to swap in while I rebuild this one 
from Mssr. M Graziano of the Spridgets list - Thanks Mike. Just got to 
figure out how to get it.

So my plan is to 
1) change the oil immediately, with new filter.
2) Order new bearings w/ thrust washer. (I have been told I can do this 
with the engine in the car and I have done bearing swaps in a Waukesha 
engine in the past)
3) Either swap the bearings while I figure out how to get the engine from 
Mike or just swap the engine, if I can get it right away. This weekend is 
absolutely no go.  

Yea I get a bit nervous as the Midget is my only car. (Sticking my tongue 
out at those that scoff, including myself). I do have a Bicycle ;-)

Larry

PS can you imagine a Waukesha L7490 engine in a Midget, they use 1100 cc 
engines for starter motors. LMAO


><< Help!!!!!
>I was checking the oil this AM and discovered bits of metal in the oil. 
>My guess - I got a bearing that is coming apart. Now I have a real 
>problem. The Midget is my only car!!! So that stops parking the car, 
>pulling the engine and doing a rebuild. So I have the thought that I will 
>slap some bearings into it to give me a bit more time while I find an 
>engine I can rebuild so I can do a swap on a weekend. Unless somebody has 
>a running 1500 spare in the Eastern PA region they wanna let go cheap!!! 
>;-) Or if somebody nearby has a rebuilt 1500 I can swap in, then I can 
>rebuild the one I have and give that one back to them. Or a rebuildable 
>short block would work too. Or, or, or ......?? >>


Larry Macy
78 Midget

Keep your top down and your chin up.

Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu
System Manager/Administrator
Neuropsychiatry Section
Department of Psychiatry
University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce St. - 10 Gates
Philadelphia, PA 19104

 Ask a question and you're a fool for three minutes; do not ask a 
question and you're a fool for the rest of your life. 


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