Early primary gears - converting from wet to dry

[gs.davies]

Still trying to get to the bottom of this one and hoping that amongst this learned group I can find a definitive answer..

My car has the oil fed primary gear and true to form it leaks. However, I think the rest of the crank is sound, the clutch assembly is all in good condition and I have a nice set of NOS White Spot springs to put in it.

Can I do the following to preserve the original parts of the car and avoid having to get involved in re-cranking the engine and replacing the primary gear?

- Block off the oil feed with a brass tapered plug as per the official factory fix? If so, what size?
- Replace the white metal bushes in my otherwise perfectly useable primary gear with a self lubricating material? If so, what? Oilite?

Has anyone done this before? Somerford list the parts but of course they're obsolete so I'm presuming I'd need to find an engineering shop capable of doing the work. Somerford tell me it's not possible..

Thanks,
Gary

[mk1]

No idea on the size of the plug, would make sense to measure the hole & make one to suit. I would make about 3 thou oversize & fit with araldite to be safe.

You could use Oilite,

http://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Oilite__Be ... oCa6Pw_wcB

this is what most people would do, but there are other polymer alternatives if you are feeling experimental.

http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/12499 ... g-bearings

[Vegard]

As a side note. Are spring clutches of any value to anyone? I've got loads of them, and I really don't want to

[Spider]

It can be done, sorry, I can't help you with the size of the plug, however, if I recall, all the wet tails were 1-3/8" dia, so you might have a chore finding Primary Gear Bushes, though I don't see why some couldn't be turned up.

[woodypup59]

Unless you can find the original BMC conversion kit ..........

I'm happy with my wet primary gear & spring clutch, but if I did change, I'd use a modern primary gear and make a hardened sleeve for the crank.

The sleeve would be a tight fit on the crank, possibly shrink fitted, and pegged in place by the plug in the oil hole. The plug would probably be a grubscrew.

[gs.davies]

Woodypup, how's many miles a year are you doing on your original set up and have you done anything to help with the original designs propensity to foul the clutch plate.

Ideally I'd run mine as is but having alredy dealt with the clutch once and had it foul again in a short space of time (albeit some twenty years ago) I'd rather not have my experience with it as a show car spoiled by oily clutches.