• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A How to tell if the timing chain has slipped......

Share this page

The engine will run like crap, or not at all. You can run a compression check to verify (low or no compression is the giveaway), or use a degree wheel on the crank to check that the valve motion is correct. So, that's 3 ways, there are others...
 
CJD said:
The engine will run like crap, or not at all. You can run a compression check to verify (low or no compression is the giveaway), or use a degree wheel on the crank to check that the valve motion is correct. So, that's 3 ways, there are others...
Click to expand...
Wasn't there a way where you could check if there was movement in the distributor???
 
Of course...your ignition timing would be way retarded. It will still spin the distributor rotor, but it will be 30 or more degrees after top dead center on the #1 spark.
 
I think you may be thinking of a broken chain? That would prevent the distributor from turning. It would likely be noisy, jam the crank from turning, and/or damage the chain cover, though.
 
They usually don't just jump just one tooth. Listen to the engine at a slow idle with a steel rod
placed down to the cover and your ear to the other end.A broken tensioner makes a little tinkle
noise as the chain bounces it about. Also you can rock the engine back and forth watching the rotor bug
for delay in motion due to a slack chain.
If the engine is high mileage/unknown , just refresh it for your own peace of mind. "Zen and The Art of Motorcycle
Maintenance" should be re-read now,with the word motorcycle replaced with Triumph.
Mad dog
 
To check the chain, I would leave the timing chain in place and remove the cover and then with the head off turn the engine over and see where the marks are on the pulleys and the timing gears. They should all be working together and lining up as you turn over the motor. I bet they are fine. I have never seen a tr3 timing chain jump only the tensioner wearing out.

Put on that snow suit and go pull the apron off one bolt at a time and have a look, or put the head back on and see how it starts up. My thoughts are the simplest and cheapest thing to do is just change the head gasket and see.

steve
 
So when #
mctriumph said:
They usually don't just jump just one tooth. Listen to the engine at a slow idle with a steel rod
placed down to the cover and your ear to the other end.A broken tensioner makes a little tinkle
noise as the chain bounces it about. Also you can rock the engine back and forth watching the rotor bug
for delay in motion due to a slack chain.
If the engine is high mileage/unknown , just refresh it for your own peace of mind. "Zen and The Art of Motorcycle
Maintenance" should be re-read now,with the word motorcycle replaced with Triumph.
Mad dog
Click to expand...
I understand how working on a TR3 is a Zen type of experience and you can become one with the machine after taking it apart and repairing all the different components and enjoy the ride however I have tried to read Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance three times in my life and never seem to finish it. "Chop wood, carry water, fix Triumph, drive Triumph" :smile:
 
Karl, you forgot quaff a cold brew...
It has always seemed to me that the Tr3 has a character that most cars will never have.
But more than that, they give you a Zen feeling after you give them the TLC they are
subtilty asking for, if you pay proper attention. A drop of oil in the dash pots,tightening a loose fitting,
fresh plugs.
The other odd thing is the tendency for them multiply in the garage, still not sure how it happens,
but common sense says 4 is too many.
Mad dog
 
CJD said:
I think you may be thinking of a broken chain? That would prevent the distributor from turning. It would likely be noisy, jam the crank from turning, and/or damage the chain cover, though.
Click to expand...
In reply to John "CJD": I once had a timing chain break on my Austin-Healey 100. I don't recall hearing any disturbing noise, the engine just stopped. It turned over OK on the starter but would not fire. I found that the chain had broken, collected in the bottom of the timing cover which then burst. I opened the bonnet but couldn't see anything amiss so I looked underneath. From the front looking under the car I could see the chain swinging in the breeze. Upon dismantling it was impossible to withdraw the crankshaft gear. What had happened was that the crankshaft kept on turning but the gear was jammed by the broken chain and the woodruff key had sheared, effectively welding the gear to the crankshaft! The gear had to be cut off with a hacksaw.
Cheers,
Alwyn
 
I have never seen a chain break on a Tr. I did see one so bad ,that when you cranked it,
it would intermittently try to fire as the timing changed continually !
The owner was losing his mind ,cranking and cranking.
Mad dog
 
I can't imagine the chain could break out of the cover without a disturbing noise?!? I have run cars with open exhaust that would have masked the noise, though. After all these years of working with engines I can hear a bad injector or worn water pump seal 37 away (in our motorhome).
 
Back
Top