Brian Evans wrote:
Tis indeed off-season, or very nearly - our last regional event is this
>weekend. For me, the off-season began two weeks ago when the Martin engine
>ate a 10mm bolt that previously fastened the air cleaner to the carb. I
>suspect, based on the damage, or relative lack thereof, that it initially
>swallowed the lock washer, ran for some time with that inside the chamber,
>and then tried to do the same with the bolt, which got caught at the intake
>valve and didn't actually make it into the chamber. Wiped out one of the
>intake valves and it's seat, but the head shop says no sweat, just money, so
>it will live again;) Piston top and chamber now looks like a cross between
>suede and velour, bore walls are completely unharmed, and I now have a
>perfect excuse to raise the compression ratio from 10.5:1 to 12:1 or so.
>Damage would have been much worse had the inch long bolt actually got inside
>the chamber, I think...
>
>Merlyn is now stripped down, about to go off the the frame restorer to have
>a tube replaced (lifting strap broke, car fell onto a stand, bent lower
>frame tube, life sucks but could be worse - if the stand hadn't been there,
>far worse damage would have occurred, and I've learned to competely ignore
>load ratings on lifting straps on the pessimistic side rather than the
>optimistic side).
>
>All in all, I'm pleased with the season. The problem with the engine gave
>me my first mechanical DNF in three seasons, so I was probably due. The
>Merlyn is a blast to drive and shows some potential for actual speed, so I'm
>happy about that. I was amazed at the reaction bringing the car back out
>had, to be honest. The car originally ran in our region 30 years ago. The
>original owner was brought to Mosport (as a birthday surprise, no less) to
>see the car run for the first time since about 1972, when it burned while he
>was driving it at the same track, and the emotions were pretty high. I met
>a number of people who knew the car them, who had worked for the importer
>and remembered bringing in the car, who had worked for Merlyn (CRD) in
>England and worked building the original aluminium body that the molds were
>taken from, and many other such stories. Nice...
>
>Cheers, Brian
>
>BTW, I'd like the dope on the jefferson...I rather fancy a road trip early
>in the year, I think!
>
Team Escargot had a similar unhappy occurance at the BRIC this summer when
the Honda engine ingested a washer from a 6mm bolt which held the intake
air horn to the Weber, with similar bad results to the cylinder in
question. There is a moral here: IF YOU ARE RUNNING AIR CLEANERS ON YOUR
SIDE MOUNTED CARB, YOU NEED TO SAFETY-WIRE OR LOCTITE ALL EXPOSED BOLTS!
We'll look forward to seeing you and the Merlyn at the Jefferson next year.
Paul Meis, Team Escargot
1969 NTM-Honda D-Sports racer
1972 AZ600 Honda coupe
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