After removing the clutch assembly in my mccabe998's Leyland today we discovered that the crank slides back and forth about 1inch.

This is not just the gear on the end moving it is in fact the whole crank because the pulley at the radiator end moves with it.

I expect that this is a problem, and there should be no play what so ever in the crank.



A secondary problem to this is that the flywheel nut no longer threads easily into the crank. I expect that this is also a major problem.

Update to this problem

The flywheel puller used has probably been inserted in to the thread on the crank damaging it.

Replacement crank?
Try screwing in the bolt anyway?

I must admit we did put a lot of torque onto it! anyone for anything!

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Even god told Noah to Ark it up!!
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1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
2005 VZ SV6 Commodore

Well , firstly the movement in the crank , sounds like the center main thrust bearings have gone and are possibly floating around in the gearbox somewhere . There should be virtually no movement side to side in the crank , if it's moving that much I'd say the center main bearings are about to fail in a big way (been there , done that ) if they haven't started spinning already . Anybody else with suggestions ?
As for the thread , well , the crank needs attention anyway and depending on these guy's budgets it's probably better to pull the motor out and get another crank from somehwere and give it new bearings .
Actually , come to think of it , this is the mini that had the clutch "seized" isn't it , it's all starting to fit now , there was nothing wrong with the clutch , it just didn't have enough travel to push far enough to disengage the clutch with the extra play in the crank . Check out the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder while it's apart , I had a mini do this because the master cylinder had a minor blockage in the hole that returns fluid to the reservoir , it was holding pressure on the clutch all the time which wpre the center main thrust bearings out and caused the center mains to fail (twice , they had failed when I bought it and the new motor failed) . We only realised because I needed a new master cylinder for the brakes on my other mini at the time and pirated this one , the brakes stayed on slightly for 20 minutes whenever they were used .

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Depending on how badly damaged the thread is....try and get a thread chaser in there first

It may not be beyond help...otherwise, I suppose it may be possible to tap a new thread for a larger bolt

Grab another crank sounds like another possibility though and find out why it ain't all that well located

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"Show me the Mini!"

sounds about right to me!!

i pulled the clutch apart to discover that the mechanic that had a look at it was a total tosser!! lol!! easy put there was nothing wrong with it

if you say the bearing have gone in the crankshaft and



may that also explain why it wouldnt go into gear?

as for the thread, should i try to put it on anyway? see how far i can get with it?

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Even god told Noah to Ark it up!!
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1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
2005 VZ SV6 Commodore

That thread is not standard, it is 5/8-16 UNS. Not UNF...
Can find taps but they cost $BIG. I would find another 998 crank, plenty about.

Always put a thick steel pad on end of crank before tightening puller. Mine is about 10mm thick.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Dave,
No point trying the bolt because as I predicted to you the bearing is probably gone. There is way to much play in that crank. I daresay that you will be learning about engine internals shortly

In which case I have a couple of crack tested cranks out of 1100's here waiting for a home.

How mad are minis!!! I enjoy playing around with projects like yours. Even better when you can do it with a mate!

Sounds more and more like just grab another donk....

I think it was an 1100....but whatever, 998 would be fine...ask around who has a complete engine/gearbox unit and use the one you have now to learn on.

Up to you two McCabes....who knows what you might find in this one when you lift the box of the motor

(PS I don't think you have anyhing to lose now with major problem, so start stripping her down )

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"Show me the Mini!"

ohwell... atleast i get to learn how to pull apart a mini engine now!

just need an engine crane

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Even god told Noah to Ark it up!!
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1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
2005 VZ SV6 Commodore

There is that little general engineering shop in Young (Mini friendly) that may have one or could borrow one...

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"Show me the Mini!"

This thread is also used in the front of crank. But be sure any tap is marked 5/8-18 UNS......
I reckon thread is well stuffed, not worth the risk- flywheel bolt has to be over 115lb/ft (I use 140).
Find another crank- save the grief.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

well that sounds like the only option i really have,

pulling the engine out will be time consuming! but fun!

i am thinking about putting a new 2nd hand motor into it, it is an option i have considered! i am not sure if there are any other problems with it! i guess i will soon find out lol

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Even god told Noah to Ark it up!!
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1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
2005 VZ SV6 Commodore

Time consuming = yes
But what else have you got to do?

yeah well i guess i only go back to to work in 17 days!! plenty of time to get it going!!!

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Even god told Noah to Ark it up!!
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1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
1972 Mini Clubman 1100 cc
2005 VZ SV6 Commodore