1975 350 MKIII camshaft drive seized.
Posted: Thu May 18, 2023 12:29 am
Finally, after sitting in my dry workshop for at least 20 years, having previously been stored in a leaking shed and prior to that rescued from a skip, by others, I have started to resurrect the old bird.
Having drained about ½pint of lumpy oil and water from the sump, with a few sparkly particles on the outside of the gauze, this may be a long job and certainly not a fresh fuel, oil change and clean the points job!
The cylinder head was already removed, as were the outer casings, when I got my hands on the bits. Today, I found that the two shafts, within the alloy bevel tower, driving the cam from the crankshaft remained in place and instead of the upper shaft lifting out, it appears to be seized to the lower bevel and it's shaft.
Should there be a collar covering the coupling joint between the two shafts? I suspect that this one has seized solid.
My intention is to use a small nylon headed hammer to drive the alloy tower upwards, out of the lower alloy housing, taking the upper bevel and shaft with it, parting the two shafts. I realise that this may lift the lower bevel away from the bevel on the end of the crankshaft and damage the Z bearing that supports it's shaft. Hopefully, I won't damage the lower bevel and the collar/splined shafts will separate. The whole assembly within the alloy tower has been soaked with Bulldog BDX and will be allowed to soak for 24 hours before using the persuader! Any constructive comments or experiences would be appreciated. Thank you.
Good health, BillR
P.S. the 450 is now approaching 9,000 miles since getting back on the road in 2021 and I hope to use the 350 in a similar manner. BillR
Having drained about ½pint of lumpy oil and water from the sump, with a few sparkly particles on the outside of the gauze, this may be a long job and certainly not a fresh fuel, oil change and clean the points job!
The cylinder head was already removed, as were the outer casings, when I got my hands on the bits. Today, I found that the two shafts, within the alloy bevel tower, driving the cam from the crankshaft remained in place and instead of the upper shaft lifting out, it appears to be seized to the lower bevel and it's shaft.
Should there be a collar covering the coupling joint between the two shafts? I suspect that this one has seized solid.
My intention is to use a small nylon headed hammer to drive the alloy tower upwards, out of the lower alloy housing, taking the upper bevel and shaft with it, parting the two shafts. I realise that this may lift the lower bevel away from the bevel on the end of the crankshaft and damage the Z bearing that supports it's shaft. Hopefully, I won't damage the lower bevel and the collar/splined shafts will separate. The whole assembly within the alloy tower has been soaked with Bulldog BDX and will be allowed to soak for 24 hours before using the persuader! Any constructive comments or experiences would be appreciated. Thank you.
Good health, BillR
P.S. the 450 is now approaching 9,000 miles since getting back on the road in 2021 and I hope to use the 350 in a similar manner. BillR