Well I'm using the Magpie Van for work every day this week. It has developed a small problem, one of the clutch springs has snapped. This is one of the three that holds the pressure ring, the ring the carbon thrust bearing presses on. This means the pressure ring is not being held "flat" and so touches the carbon thrust bearing all the time. As the flywheel turns the carbon bearing and clutch fork rattle side to side.
This means a gearbox out job, most annoying as the clutch is only a few years old and has probably only done about 10,000 miles.
I'm just not in the mood to do the job. I also have been forced by this to think about upgrades, yes a five speed conversion. That would give lower engine noise/rpm for a given speed and slightly better M.P.G. on a long run.
I'm not interested in a higher top speed.
Here is a very small picture of a JB gear box and the 5 speed conversion in a kit. You get a reconditioned Ford gearbox with a new bell housing to suit the "B" engine, a new clutch plate to suit the input shaft of the gearbox and three items which you might not need.
A clutch cable, I would prefer to keep it as Hydraulic. A gear box support frame and a modified propeller shaft. You would only need the gear box end of this.
At the moment the suppliers will not split down a kit or supply individual items. I will keep you posted on the outcome.
A Ford type 9, 5 speed box close up.
On to another thing, since starting this "new layout" blog at Christmas I have received over 12 thousand hits. It is rather nice to know having looked at the statistics that many viewers of this blog have also down loaded some of the manuals. As you can see below some have been very popular. I hope they have been of some use/interest to you all and when I get time I do intent to expand that section of the site.
Are there any manuals/handbooks/parts books you would like to see on this site?
Do let me know.
Listed below are the number of downloads of each manual.
- Austin 101 handbook.pdf -- (149 all time views)
Graphoref 3.pdf -- (24 all time views)
j handbook pt1.pdf -- (42 all time views)
j handbook pt2.pdf -- (20 all time views)
jb clutch.pdf -- (18 all time views)
jb engine.pdf -- (45 all time views)
jb ignition system.pdf -- (26 all time views)
Motor Trader.pdf -- (53 all time views)
Repair charges jb.pdf -- (21 all time views)
