OK, my little crisis with the rings is over. The guy agreed to refund my money for the rings and I found someone else with a set of new chrome rings that are on the way. In the meantime I have been picking away at other stuff.
I media blasted the exhaust header and repainted with high temp paint.
The carb cleaned up extremely well. It had been drained and stored nicely. Mostly dirty on the outside.
I reassembled the bottom end.
The clutch is in pretty nice shape. Just needs a good cleaning and a little blast and paint on the spring. I made my own puller from a 5/8 bolt using the puller specs I found in the Rec Supply catalogue.
1980 Spitfire Rehab - All Done
Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab
Nice Work !!! Brock
Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab
Someone mentioned to me an another forum that this clutch is set up with the incorrect ramp and pucks for a Spitfire. Is this true? Any info? Just wondering how it will perform.
Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab
Not sure about the pucks ,but it does have the early trailfire cover. This was a more aggresive style cover ,Notice the 2 diff angles on the cover. I think deere stopped using them because people were eating belts. Higher engagement rpms. Probably would make a spitty pretty wild taking off . Just my opinion , might be wrong hope this helps. Brock
Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab
I cleaned up the clutch yesterday. The spindle on the fixed had quite a bit of rust so I spun it up in the lathe and polished it off with scotchbrite. The spring was blasted and painted. The rest was degreased and the sheave faces deglazed.
I received these springs with my pistons but I can only guess what they are for. I assume they are designed to be used behind a ring? My old pistons did not have this spring. Can someone offer some insight?
I received these springs with my pistons but I can only guess what they are for. I assume they are designed to be used behind a ring? My old pistons did not have this spring. Can someone offer some insight?
Re: 1980 Spitfire rehab
Really hit it hard today. Up at 5, out to the shop and dropped the engine in. I had the engine back together last night but I ran out of gas so to speak... needed some rest. Before I painted the muffler I torched the mouse nest out with the tiger torch. The a blast in the cabinet and some high temp paint. Only to put it in and discover a hole that made itself known ofter it was started. Guess I need another muffler.
I have seen many posts with people almost screaming that it doesn't matter what the arrow on the piston says ALWAYS put the ring pins to the carb side. Here is proof that pins don't always go that way. These pins are on the exhaust side, and for good reason. They run on either side of the exhaust port BETWEEN any other ports. If they were to go the intake side the rings would absolutely catch.
The engine finally dropped in.
I was really kind of lost with the headlight harness. I had no idea where to route it, so I put it up the drive side away from the exhaust. Is there supposed to be a shield or something bolted in these holes behind the engine hole?
Finally! Its all together and running nicely. It started quite easily after the fuel filled the carb. Although this engine obviously needed attention, I am a firm believer that you MUST rebuild an old engine. I don't care if the guy you bought it from says its running or its been sitting unrun for 10 years, its easy insurance to tear it down and replace all the seals and gaskets. This goes for the carb as well. And this engine proves it. A few pulls and it started and idled like a champ.
I have seen many posts with people almost screaming that it doesn't matter what the arrow on the piston says ALWAYS put the ring pins to the carb side. Here is proof that pins don't always go that way. These pins are on the exhaust side, and for good reason. They run on either side of the exhaust port BETWEEN any other ports. If they were to go the intake side the rings would absolutely catch.
The engine finally dropped in.
I was really kind of lost with the headlight harness. I had no idea where to route it, so I put it up the drive side away from the exhaust. Is there supposed to be a shield or something bolted in these holes behind the engine hole?
Finally! Its all together and running nicely. It started quite easily after the fuel filled the carb. Although this engine obviously needed attention, I am a firm believer that you MUST rebuild an old engine. I don't care if the guy you bought it from says its running or its been sitting unrun for 10 years, its easy insurance to tear it down and replace all the seals and gaskets. This goes for the carb as well. And this engine proves it. A few pulls and it started and idled like a champ.
Re: 1980 Spitfire Rehab - All Done
Looks Great ! Nice Job. Brock
Re: 1980 Spitfire Rehab - All Done
Nice looking sled!
Eric A.
"Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid" - John Wayne
"Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid" - John Wayne