[JoshuaPeet1611]

Hi, haven’t listed for a white but in desperate need of help. Recently swapped out my old Mini r56 engine (oil pump failed and ran dry at 137,000 miles) and it ran great. For 5 minutes. After the first test drive the car started knocking very loudly... what could this noise be? https://youtu.be/j7FcM5oHd_Y

 

[JoshuaPeet1611]

Thanks for the advice. Just put my ear to the pulleys and couldn’t hear anything however on the left (driver Side) is the engine the noise was pretty loud... Can anybody suggest some good mod kits? This timing chain nightmare has to end!

 

[JoshuaPeet1611]

Hi, haven’t listed for a white but in desperate need of help. Recently swapped out my old Mini r56 engine (oil pump failed and ran dry at 137,000 miles) and it ran great. For 5 minutes. After the first test drive the car started knocking very loudly... what could this noise be? https://youtu.be/j7FcM5oHd_Y

check the water pump pulley wheel might find the rubber coating has split off, if not that timing chain problem

Sorry, forgot to quote you for the above

 

[JoshuaPeet1611]

Does anybody know what I could have done wrong to cause the timing chain to fail after only running it for 5 mins? The oil was filled the max before starting.. Should I have primed it?

 

[JoshuaPeet1611]

Bugger me! You were right you bloody genius! The coating had ripped off completely - the friction wheel (the like double wheel thing that drives the water wheel) is really tight to the drive wheel too - had to cut the belt to pull it out... don’t remember it being like this is it normal?
Thank you so much for your help

 

[JoshuaPeet1611]

The new pulley is on its way! For anyone else with this issue there’s also no need to move the engine - if you’ve got skinny enough hands you can access it under the wheel arch! See attached a photograph of the offending item. Thanks again Mike!

 

[JoshuaPeet1611]

what i would do for skinny long fingers instead own a pair of cant fit anywheres lol. glad of helped its very clear on that pulley, word of warning when buying a secondhand engine always check timing chain to me on safe side, as any engine with north of 50-60k will need one,

"Can't fit anywheres" - killing myself.
She's only got 40k on this one. Took Dad and I 3 weekends for the swap. Looks like 137k is just a little too much for the Prince models - lesson learned. I really do love these things. First one (nan gave it to me for my first car, sadly she has now passed away) had 60k on the clock and needed a new CAT and gear links. Wrote it off early this year and bought the Nightfire red one with the insurance money. Everything else feels solid on the new one and she runs like anything now. Can't wait for the pulley to arrive so I can get the wheels on her. I've attached a photo of her so you can see why we bothered to go through with the trouble instead of flogging it! Beautiful car, not a nick on her. (Any idea of the lifespan of the gearbox, Mike?).

 

[JoshuaPeet1611]

For anyone else wanting to check their water pump pulley

If your engine is still knocking after a timing chain replacement, have a quick look under the driver's side wheel arch. Take off the wheel and 'carpet' closest to the bumper and you'll be able to see it. Attached some photos if they're any help. (It's already been removed here but it's mounted the thing I'm pointing at). If it looks like the photo I posted above, you and I both owe Mike a beer.