Hi Aus Mini,

I was replacing my bendix yesterday as the washer that retains the spring broke into about 6 pieces and the starter would not engage with the flywheel.

I started checking the teeth of the flywheel by putting the car in gear and rocking it forwards, however i started to hear an odd knocking noise from the flywheel/clutch area. I would pull the car forward then rock it back and on the transition from forwards to backwards it would make a knocking sound.

is this normal? is the only reason I can hear it is that the starter is not there? does anyone know what it could be?

Thanks

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1964 Mini "850" - Thats what the boot says anyway.

i would suggest trying to isolate where the sound is comming from.

if the knocking sounds to be comming from the clutch/flywheel area, or the lower gearbox or diff area you will have a starting point.

try using a flat tip screwdriver and holding it to your ear hard against a selected peice of gearbox or clutch housing, and using it like a stethoscope type device. this will help to pin point where the noise could be comming from. obviously you would need to make the car make the noise while you are listening to it, to find the noise.

if it is comming from the flywheel/clutch area as suspected at this point, i would think the best course of action would be to remove the clutch cover and have a look inside. this will involve supporting the engine from underneath and removing the drivers side engine mount so you can lift the engine slightly to remove the clutch cover.

are there any knocking sounds with the engine running?

Jason

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'66 BRG Morris Mini Deluxe 60HP ATW

Thanks Jason,

I had the car running on the weekend and it is very hard to tell if there are any noises when it is running everything is noisy. You would only be able to tell when taking off or changing gear and it is hard to tell.

However i can say that it is coming from the flywheel area, but it drives fine so, i dont know if there is too much to worry about.

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1964 Mini "850" - Thats what the boot says anyway.

Bit of a long shot, but could be the first motion shaft bearing - damaged or missing ball cage......

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I had this exact same noise/ issue many years back, and I found it was the bolts that hold the clutch plate on. (I think that's what they hold) I am no mechanic, but there was like 4 or 5 of them from memory. They will be obvious to you when you open her up. Car drove fine really, but after a while I would have felt problems I'm sure. Do what Jester said, and jack drivers side of engine up, take clutch cover off, and investigate those bolts. I suspect they have come loose from vibration.

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!