In prior posts we visited about babbet brgs etc. (Because I had a rattle in the engine) Well, I plasti-gaged all the brgs, they are all at .003, so there is no problem there. While the pan was off I removed both the front baffle and rear baffle in the pan, there was a solid inch of sludge under both, hard to believe..... anyhow, I could see nothing looking up the cylinder walls that looked bad. I replaced the pan and oil, etc, and started it up... lo and behold I still have the rattle. I sure sounds like rod brgs, It rattles pretty good under lite gas petal, no load. Doesn't sound like piston slap, But I don't know what else it could be. Any Ideas out there??? ???
How about your throw out bearing or starter bendex. Throw out bearing spring might be broken. Sounds like marbles in the rear of the engine.
Chet...
Thanks Chet
I put in a new throw out brg a couple weeeks ago, so that can't be it, and that didn't change the rattle. I will check on the bendix drive and see what is there, I wanted to pull the starter and clean it up any how. Thanks forthe idea
Glenn
A rattle! If my old 29 Plymouth isn't rattling - it isn't running! :D There was one rattle that bugged me - it turned out to be the passenger door check strap rattling against the metal body. I put some felt on the check strap and that stopped it.
A rattle could be any of a number of things. The valve tappet clearance may need to be adjusted (I.e., the tappet clearance may be too wide). The spark may be too far advanced, which can sound like marbles in the cylinders. There may be a loose component on the engine (E.g., generator, horn, starter). There could be a loose bolt somewhere in the engine compartment.
I would get an inexpensive engine stethoscope and use that to try and identify the source of the rattle. Or, you could use a piece of rubber tubing - put one end to your ear and the other on different components.
The 29 Plymouth Instruction Book lists several possible causes of engine knocks:
- Connecting rod bearing loose.
- Crankshaft bearing loose.
- Faulty engine lubrication or diluted oil.
- Loose piston.
- Broken piston ring.
- Carbon in cylinders.
- Overheating.
- Incorrect ignition timing.
Hi John,
Yes, I have a stethoscope, before I got it I did use a hose, or a large screwdriver worked too. Thanks for the suggestions. I think I have it boiled down to either a cracked piston or something on top of the piston. I will check on the a little later. Today I had a leak (brake fluid) on the right front wheel, after doing a complete brake job a couple weeks ago. I took that apart, it took me a while to find the problem. I must have goughed one of the cylinder cups when I was working on it before. talk about a dumb head.... anyhow, got it fixed.
I had plastic gauged all the brgs a few weeks ago, they are all perfect. I had asked the question quite some time ago about who does babbit work.. I just found out today there is a person right here in my town that does that, along with other engine work on old cars and I don't know what els. That is all he does for a living. He must be pretty good at it. Thanks, better quit rambbleing on.
Glenn
Glen,
Harkin Machine Shop in Watertown, SD did the babbit bearings on my 29 Plymouth. They did an excellent job - a real work of art - for a fair price too!
It's not hard or too time consuming to pull the head and check the pistons.
John
yes John, that is where I live, his shop is only a couple miles from my house, small world, (large world) It is funny I never knew he was there till this last week....
Glenn