Nortonius Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Hi, When I got my 13/60 a couple of months ago, I noticed that a 'thrumming' noise came in at about 35 mph and faded around 50 mph. My first thought was wheel balancing, although any vibration that I thought might be related was minimal. In fact, on the whole, there's very little vibration to be felt while driving. I had the wheels balanced off the car – no-one around my way does it on-car – and the chap said the balancing had been way out. That the new balancing was very different to the old was easily confirmed by a quick visual check. But the noise persists. As I grew more familiar with the car, I also noticed a light rattle when engaging the clutch, and a similar sound – maybe the same one – when opening the throttle at speed: it sounds like rattling a paint aerosol, or indeed shot small ends, although I'm pretty sure it's not the latter as things are nice and quiet at lower speeds, whatever the revs. I've no idea what the rattle might be, but I'm afraid that the thrumming might be something like an out-of-balance prop shaft. All I know is that my old 1200 made no such noises. Any thoughts? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 I would have thought an out of balance prop would get proportionally noisier the faster you went. Have you tried swapping the wheels around on the axels? Could the wheel tracking be out, look for uneven wear on the tyres? Could the open throttle noise be pinking, a timing issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nortonius Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thanks Doug, what you say about the prop makes sense. I'll try swapping the wheels around when I can. The tyres all look good. About pinking, I feel as though I've done my best with the ignition timing: I've installed Aldon electronic ignition, and timed it at tick-over via a strobe on a white dot on the crankshaft pulley, which I added per the owner's handbook. A quick question before I start fiddling with the timing again: can pinking occur in a cold engine? I get the rattle when slipping the clutch to get out of my parking space at home, where the camber into the kerb is fairly steep, and when the engine has only been running for a minute or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 When I messed up my timing I had pinking in all gears, even when stone cold. I've also got Aldon, it's very good, did you get the right one? I mean do you have a ballasted ignition system which has a 6v coil or an standard system with a 12v coil? You can get problems wih the wrong one. I'm not so scientific setting the timing. I turn the dizzy till the revs don't increase, then back a gnats. Take it for a run, if it pinks, turn it back a bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nortonius Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Good to hear you like the Aldon, as I'd not heard of that one before – I've been out of the loop for about a decade. The car has a 12v coil and no sign of a ballast resistor (where would it be? I know where it is on a Norton Commando, right next to the coils...) so I got the version for no ballast. I confess I routinely stick electronic ignition on any old vehicle that comes my way, having had quite enough in my time of things like dodgy old condensers etc. But I felt a bit stumped on the Herald, as there's no provision for strobe timing – ye gods, thought I, even 1960s BSAs had that... Anyway, my hearing's rubbish, even with hearing aids, hence the time it took for my brain to isolate the rattling sound. More relevant, I'm not sure I'd be able to identify pinking from inside the car even if it were happening, although obviously that's what the rattle could be. I tried turning the distributor and then back a tad as you describe, but the car started kangarooing and the strobe showed it was waaay too advanced. Anyway I'll try retarding it a tad. I'm getting the feeling that the best way forward here would be to hook up with someone who knows the Herald well and has decent hearing, and take them for a spin...! Rattle & thrum... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 pinking shouldnt be apparent cold or off the drive , its more when pulling fairly hard , or opening the throttle after cruising , you get the tin can clatter of detonation or using 95 fuel when they are best on 97-99ron clutch clatter on take up sounds like there could be some damper spring problems in the disc, and these will cause driveline noise as the damping is getting lost this can be progressive till it fails get someone from a local area to be your ears and experience where are you based ??? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nortonius Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thanks Pete. I'm using 97 fuel. Maybe it is pinking, I'll try retarding the timing a bit this evening, using the strobe, as I don't trust myself doing this by turning the distributor alone. Talk of clutch clatter is interesting... I'm based in Brighton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Where Clive when you need him hes down your way Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Just got back from completing the Club Triumph RBRR! That is where I have been! Feeling a tad tired, but about to crawlunder the car to check a few things. Anyway, yes, in Hove, so on my doorstep. Drop me a message, see if I can help out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nortonius Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Message sent to Clive, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Nortonius, Or may I call you Nort? Aldon are sold by the club shop, no greater endorsement than that! Also Aldon is an alternate brand name for Pertronix (I think). Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nortonius Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Great – I didn't realise the shop sold it, I'd bought mine by the time I joined the club. You can call me Nort if you must! Anything that isn't rude, in fact! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 sorry i read it as Notorious !!!! well we had tea early so its past my bedtime need to awaken as we have H &B committee meeting tonight , now i know where Doug resides .... there's a friendly plan to take over Thames Ha !! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nortonius Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Pete, others have made the same mistake – though I may become notorious, it's early days here yet and I hope not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Im known to make typo.s bad spellin amd such now I cant read keep at it , most drive line noises are cured by removing the roof and turn the radio up roar the exhaust and smile pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AidanT Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Are you not Notorious Pete? HA ???????????????????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 I new it! All those Herts &Beds trips to Wallingford on THAMES, lulling us into a false sense of security. Pete's car's not in for repair! It's being converted to an amphibian so he can cruise his new domain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Its all knocked out and primed ready for top coat , had acall to have a look yesturday she could be back this week had second thoughts on Thames , all the mud and water I stay this side of the Chilterns but how about an area raft race ???? Aidan if you dont want your tappets tapping I would lie low if I was you ...Ha Sorry seems we're off course again was it me?? all calm down and listen,,,,,,, cant hear any noise, so Nort there is othing abnormal hope any meet up with young Clive will identify the sauce theres plenty on here. pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Me? Young? What are you after Pete? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Hi well it just proves youre not a computor Well you were awake after the RBRR thats a start, like the film For ever young I can doze off going to sainbury, s but get the car back this week that should improve concentration pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 There used to be a nice Amphicar cruising the Thames at Eel Pie Island in Twickenham. I thought it was Herald based, certainly looked like one, but I'm told they were German with a Triumph engine. Sorry, thread drift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AidanT Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Aidan if you dont want your tappets tapping I would lie low if I was you ...Ha I used to be over 6 foot! Sorry thread drift again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Just one thought back on thread (perish the idea!) - I had a thrumming style noise from the rear of my GT6 when it was running too much rear toe. Disappeared when the wheels were properly aligned - free fix too! Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nortonius Posted October 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 That's an interesting tip, thanks Gully! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted October 15, 2016 Report Share Posted October 15, 2016 Colin popped round today. Pete (not that Pete,the other one) went for a spin, and gave a diagnosis of propshaft. Vibration starts suddenly at speed, nothing below at all. Inspection revealed a strap drive prop, and the straps have been "played with" and actually look a bit home-made. Odd bolts and incorrect layout of the straps too. So that would explain it...... No undue wear on rear tyres, or indeed fronts which would be a sign of poor wheel alignment The car is actually rather nice, and apparently drives rather well.....(apart from the prop and some clutch judder) Updates due later I suspect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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