Here's another couple, more grist for the mill.
1. Aftermarket spin-on filter housings.
Thread for the pipe nipple in the original Mini housing was 1/4BSP.
The ones masquerading as replacements now (I think from Minis***** UK, but bought local this week) have what appears to be an M14x1.5 tapered metric thread in them.
Their website says it is a 1/4 NPT tapered thread but this size tap rattles around in it.
This is the 2nd new one I've found like this.
If you screw an original Mini 1/4 BSP flare nipple (or any other 1/4 BSP one) in there, it sort-of fits, but really there is only the innermost thread or 2 holding it. It falls 1/4" into the hole before any threads engage.
I'm putting a fitting in for a Pirtek hydraulic hose, it looks like I'll be tapping the housing out to 5/8 UNF (same size as the block fitting) like I did before.
More work, on NEW parts to make them serviceable. Sorry, not good enough.
2. Minispares 1.5:1 forged rockers, C-AHT436
I was warned that the valve lift on currently sold ones (unlike those sold years ago) was all over the place, so after bolting a set on a fresh motor, I checked all the lifts. I used a fresh RE13 cam and checked each rocker in turn on the #1 exhaust valve position (easy to test and remove each time from there).
With .019" rocker clearance, they ranged from .416" to .438" lift and I wondered WHY...?
a. All the adjusters were .020" undersized on the threads and loose in the rockers.
b. 7 of the 8 adjusters were bent in heat treatment.
c. All 8 nuts were loose on the threads (est 50% thread engagement).
d. The nuts only touched the rockers at 1 point, because where they seated on the rocker was not machined square to the threads.
After replacing all 8 adjusters and nuts with A+ ones, and machining the top of the rockers square where the nut sits, the lift range improved to .419" - .433", with most in the range .424+ - .430".
Worth using now after this work, but not perfect.
I now wonder how good the cheap roller tip ones are, eh... watch this space...
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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.
