Assembly in the paddock.
sounding quite correct. One cylinder was not performing as it should. Was this oily plugs or something else? Checks found the problem of a loose inlet rocker post for number two cylinder causing the rocker to miss pushing the valve stem. Also some exhaust manifold nuts had started to undo. A new specially-made rocker post spacer and appropriate shake-proof washers were required. Workshop time was used in the evening to manufacture the spacer and some adjusting shims.
We were up at 5.00am on Saturday to have time to install the parts ready for the second batch up the hill. A push-start this time with Richard driving. The engine sounded more healthy and the correct oil level meant a less oily exhaust. With the better response from the engine and the previous day’s practice, VCIII’s run up the hill took place without drama. Getting used to a centre throttle and a crash gearbox takes some practice, forethought and some reminding in the case of an emergency stop when automatic reactions come into play. That middle pedal does not produce a deceleration!
On returning to the paddock the water pump was leaking quite badly. The greaser had no effect and then stopped working so it was decided to remove the water pump and not have another run.
The water pump on the Benz engine is sandwiched between a magneto and an output shaft from the camshaft gears and the offending leaking shaft ‘stuffing boxes’ can only be worked on if the pump is dismantled which is a workshop job. 35 litres of water later, left magneto removal, water pipes disconnected and fixing bolts removed enabled the pump to be free of its resting place. In the workshop the worn and corroded shaft that had contributed to the leak had to be polished then the stuffing boxes repacked. By 11.00pm all was done. A quick sleep then up at 5.00am to arrive at Goodwood before the traffic built up.
The final Sunday. Now to assemble the water pump and magneto before the first run at 9.20am. Two drive couplings had to be arranged in their correct position, pipes connected, magneto positioned and the cooling system filled. Would the assembly be water tight? There was just a very small drip from the water pump body so we were ready to run again. An oil level check resulted in an addition of 200 ml.
I was to drive the first run with Richard as mechanic. VCIII just needed a short push on the downhill slope to get going. Adjust the hand throttle to ‘blue’, advance the magnetos, into first
The troublesome pump.
Water pump trouble.
39
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