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Spitfire 1500 Spitfire Engine Noise

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Flatlander

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I recently got started a Spitfire 1500 that I had purchased. It idles smoothly but there is a noise originating in the lower front of the engine. The noise is a heavy "clunk" that is intermittant. It might manifest itself every 3-4 seconds or more but is not regular or predictable. Immediately after reving the engine from idle there is a single "clunk" then it goes away. (At higher rpms it might still be there but at a greatly reduced level such that it is difficult to discern.) The noise seems to be coming from the timing chain cover as opposed to the front of the engine block. Again the confusing thing is the "heaviness" of the noise making you think it is associated with the crank but as I said it is very intermittant. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Gary
 
check your endfloat.

pry the crank back and then have a helper push in the clutch.

I gotta fried chicken tv dinner that says the thrust washers have flown the coop.

The only other option would be a loose crank pulley, but I don't think so, the impression I get is the thunk is too heavy.
 
I'd guess loose pulley first, but both are worth checking.
 
Either way, time to tear into her to find out
 
Of course, taking off the fan belt would eliminate the water pump as a candidate if the noise is still there.
Good luck.
PS. The tensioner went on my TR3 - it was more of a metallic rattle than a heavy clunk. I'd lay money on the thrust washers.
 
I took the fan belt off and the noise went away. Would this imply that it is not in the engine but in the water pump or fan clutch? Would the fan belt tension be strong enough to have an effect on the engine pulley thus causing the noise? In hearing the noise it sounds like hiting an anvil with a ballpeen hammer, so I would think the fan clutch is too light to generate such a noise. Thanks for the input.
 
It should be easy enough to determine if there is a problem with the fan clutch either by spinning the fan and feeling for vibrations or other noise, or by wiggling the fan blades to see if there is any play. If there is, plan to do something RealSoonNow about either replacing the clutch or finding an alternative fan!
 
If it's the clutch, :iagree: or you'll be changing the radiator realsoonnow.
 
The fan clutch just went out on my 1500 Midget.
It was a very bad noise.
The clutches are rather expensive - you may consider the possibilty of putting in an electric fan instead. Dirt cheap on Ebay.
 
I just happen to have a couple spitfire fans and good clutches sitting in my shop if you decide to go that route and keep the mechanical fan. Send me a PM if your interested.
 
Boy if that's the issue, I am real happy for you! That's much simpler and cheaper.

Good troubleshoot.
 
I pulled the water pump and a couple of the impellor blades had their corners worn off. I am assuming that they were the origin of the noise. Am ordering a new water pump and hope that was the problem. Thanks for everyone's help.
 
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