tomfpurves Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 This morning I was driving to Goodwood for the Breakfast meeting in my TR3A just commenting to my friend about how well the car was going and what a nice day it was when accelerating away from a junction in third gear on the A272 6 miles West of Petersfield there was an enormous bang a cacophony of mechanical noise and smoke poured from the engine compartment. I extinguished flames from the engine oil on the exhust pipes at the back of the block with my extinguisher. We picked up a piece of camshaft,a bit of pushrod,a cam follower and 3 bits of block from the road. The first car to stop was a TR3A also green driven by a lady...can you imagine the coincidence! The fire brigade came and had nothing to do but were very friendly(a passer by must have called them) and the RAC were efficient sent a low loader and we dropped the car back at my Specialist. I think the crank broke and a rod damaged the crankcase. The hole in the case is quite big at the offside rear just above the sump. Anyone have a similar experience? The car had done 515 faultless miles on the MSA Spring Classic last weekend. Oil pressure was perfect etc.I always thought TR engines pretty bulletproof...you live and learn.Without the extinguisher it would have been a total loss. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pfenlon Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 Its no consolation, but the Titanic was going well and then................................! Only way to know if a crank is sound is to get it analysed I imagine. Your point about the extinguisher should wake some of us up too. I didnt have my crank done, but did have all that could be balanced, balanced. I dont know if not helps or not. It would be interesting to see where the crank broke (web) ? or losing a con rod alone could have done the damage itself, but does give some "knocking" warning usually before letting the light into the block, commiserations and hope you find a replacement soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley James Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 I've got a spare TR3A engine that's been completely overhauled if you're stuck. Just PM me. It's either this one or another identical. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 (edited) Wow, what an experience! I hope that you will be able to find another engine. I am sure some members here have spare one in a barn somewhere. On the subject of the extinguisher: I hope you have used one filed with foam and not powder. Powder will cause corrossion. I am sure that feloow member Tom ( ex fire brigade) can add more useful comments on this subject. Menno (Ashley posted his generous offer before I posted my comment - glad to read about this!) Edited May 5, 2013 by Menno van Rij 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
angelfj Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 (edited) Tom: Sorry for your experience, but glad that this didn't cause a serious road accident. It is true that what you experienced is not common, but statistically somebody gets hit. Do you have an idea of how many total miles are on this engine? Were there any major bottom end repairs? A friend of mine at college drove a mint condition TR4. This car enjoyed a better life than he did, and he was meticulous about maintenance. At approximately 100K miles, the crank broke cleanly at a point between the 2nd and third cylinders at the bearing journal. Unbelievable, that the engine continued running, but of course, no power at the flywheel. He was ab;e to save the engine, rebuilt it and he was back on the road by the end of the term! Yes, tough little engines. Edited May 5, 2013 by angelfj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neil Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 Very sorry to hear that. I did have a crankshaft go on me 7 years ago. Was doing about 60mph, when it went between 4th journal and flywheel. There was a bit of bang but the car kept going. Pulled over and restarted the car and it would idle, but with horrible vibrations, so I new something serious and mechanical had gone wrong. We were in France at the time heading home, the breakdown recovery took us back to the ferry. I had to drive the car on ... yes it got up the ramps with a broken crankshaft. I then coasted off at the other end and breakdown recovery took us home. Even with broken crankshaft it would drive! On dismantling there was no other damage, though bits of broken crankshaft here and there. I replaced the pistons, liners etc while rebuilding the engine and its been fine for the past 6k miles (save carb trouble!). Neil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfpurves Posted May 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 (edited) I've got a spare TR3A engine that's been completely overhauled if you're stuck. Just PM me. It's either this one or another identical. Dear Ashley. Thanks for your kind offer.I will decide what to do asap and get back to you. Meantime please let me know the price of the replacement.I am not sure hat PM me means. Best Regards TomR Edited May 7, 2013 by tomfpurves Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlanT Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 Posting email addresses and phone numbers on here is a bad idea from a security point of view. You click on your name in the top right-hand corner of the screen and a kind of mini private email system opens up for handling this kind of thing. Its calle PM for Personal Messenger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 Hi Tom, as per Alans comments but click on Ashleys picture/avatar then go to 'send message' Edit out your e-mail/phone number very soon. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted May 7, 2013 Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 Hi Tom, Can we just confirm, is your crank broken ? You don't say it is in your listing in the first part of the post, only that you think it did at the end. You have listed a broken CAM shaft which is consistant with a broken con rod taking it out (I've broken all the parts you listed, sometimes through stupidity (some of the racers can tell you about them) and sometimes by pushing them too far). Unless you know different my money is on the conrod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted May 7, 2013 Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 Academic for you maybe but check the broken conrod for a grey granular jagged finish at the break point, which I guess may well pass through the oil hole drilled midway up the rod. If you find this it's a good pointer at a casting or material failure there, other better qualified experts can decide that, I'm just good at breaking them ! Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfpurves Posted May 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 I just heard from the guys at the workshop .Itis no 3 rod gone.Broken between big and little end both still connected to their respective components.The crank has not gone.So Mick it looks as if you are right.I will check the appearance of the break Thursday.The head is undamaged. Thanks for everyone's help. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 How much JB Weld will you need to sort the block? Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfpurves Posted May 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 I am going for a new block either by way of a short engine or full one.The block is destroyed. Everyone is very helpful. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 Hi Tom, if you intend to use the crank that is in the 'destroyed' engine I would suggest that you get it crack tested. Usually they crack in the radius of the big-end journal to web but all the radii to webs etc could have been stressed. #4 big-end is particularly suspect. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 (edited) Ref: Fire Extinguishers. Sorry I missed the subject of suitable fire extinguishers. Personally I would recommend a Co2 gas extinguisher as opposed to a dry powder type as these leave a very big mess of powder after being used. Always make yourself familiar with the correct operation of your fire extinguisher ~ it's no good trying to read the instructions when your pride and joy is going up in smoke! The fire service would use high pressure hose reel jets to tackle a serious car fire. Tom. Edited May 8, 2013 by Fireman049 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 8, 2013 Report Share Posted May 8, 2013 Hi Tom, another drawback with the 'dry powder type' is if you knock the gauge off with luggage etc inside the car. A small extinguisher will cover virtually all of the inside of a TR. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Hi Tom, another drawback with the 'dry powder type' is if you knock the gauge off with luggage etc inside the car. A small extinguisher will cover virtually all of the inside of a TR. Roger This sounds like the voice of experience! Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfpurves Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 I am just very happy I had the extinguisher on board powder or not. It was easy to use and avoided an almost certain total loss.Their is hardly any damage from the powder....but no less than three big holes in the block! Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfpurves Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Sorry a bout my spelling error! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rodofcv Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) Hi Tom, I use the same 'specialist' as you. I was round at their workshop today and took a look at the engine - a pretty spectacular result. I hope your new engine is fitted soon and fire damage to the bodywork which, as you say, could have been a write-off, sorted. May I say that your car is, I think, the most beautiful TR3A I've ever clapped eyes on. Rod Edited May 9, 2013 by rodofcv Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfpurves Posted May 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2013 Thanks Rod Thanks to forum member Ashley James we have a rebuilt engine and the car will be back on the road soon. It is a good example and the colour scheme is particularly attractive. Best Regards Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfpurves Posted May 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Just 25 days after the con rod came through the side en route to Goodwood and thanks to a replacement engine from Ashley James and a lot of work by Glen Hewitt at Protek inWallingford I got the car back yesterday and will motor gently over to Prescott tomorrow. Fingures crossed it will be an enjoyable day. The new engine is decidedly smoother than the old. Thank you to all who gave advice and help. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley James Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Tom I'm absolutely delighted that all seems okay and hope that I may see you at Prescott, weather permitting I shall be in my red TR3A registration number 2239EV. Ash Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomfpurves Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Super Ashley My car is dark green reg no LAS513 I will be parked in MSA Hospitality area and will be there at lunchtime. Hope to meet you there. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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