Bargain Basement Motoring

[Dormouse]

From my experience of Micra's there wasn't any on the earlier model (my wife had 2 and loved them). Therefore, I suspect that you will need to part the bellhousing to release the debris, given that it will be non magnetic.

The nose cone section looks like it is low pressure alloy casting and would have had a bronze bushing in the pointy bit to support the end of the shaft.

[NewcastleFalcon]

For a little more dramatic nose-cone trivia head to the pickled egg quiz!
viewtopic.php?p=737012#p737012


Meanwhile the investigation in daylight revealed this under the car

Regards Neil

[myglaren]

Maybe whacked by a thrown up stone?

[mickthemaverick]

In which case that suggests the piece was still in place though tinkling to give you the noise before you removed the motor at which point it slipped out onto the ground unnoticed. Pretty good news I'd say if there are no signs of missing chips around the crack. You may just get away with a replacement motor although I'd still have a look inside if you have the kit and at the least have a blow with an airline and see if you see/hear any bits!

[RichardW]

Looks to be all there! I suspect the clutch cover has taken a beating, but if there is no gear oil on the floor, I'd bar the engine over to make sure it doesn't stick on anything, shove a replacement starter in, and hope you still have clutch!

[NewcastleFalcon]

In which case that suggests the piece was still in place though tinkling to give you the noise before you removed the motor at which point it slipped out onto the ground unnoticed. Pretty good news I'd say if there are no signs of missing chips around the crack. You may just get away with a replacement motor although I'd still have a look inside if you have the kit and at the least have a blow with an airline and see if you see/hear any bits!

Yes, everything was being done in inadequate torch light yesterday tea-time, and that was what had happened. Being Bargain basement, although very very useful and deserving of a proper thorough repair, I may see if I can get away with just a replacement motor and crossed fingers, rather than have it standing unusable until I can be bothered to take the bell housing to bits.

I am wondering about a bump start test run, with the starter motor "hole gaping". Semi reluctant in that it should bump start, and I have a very suitable hill to do it down but if for some reason it doesnt I am left with an avoidable retrieval situation.

Any reason why a normal bump start wouldn't work Ignition on, in gear with clutch down, clutch up when speed picks up, Bob's yer uncle engine fires up. Run it for a while listening for metallic tinkles.

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

The bump start option is a possibility but I'd still want to be sure there are no stray bits in the bell housing which if roused may cause much more expensive damage to the clutch or starter ring. I understand the access grief but if you can at least whip the plugs out and turn over the engine by hand crank to make sure nothing has wedged in the flywheel before you start it, it may save you much grief. If all seems smooth then plugs in and bump start in 2nd gear but don't stall it at the bottom of the hill!!

[Dormouse]

I agree with Richard and Mick. It looks like it is all there although I can't see the bushing clearly. Turn it over, listen carefully and pray the clutch is OK. Fingers crossed for you.

[Dormouse]

Had another look at your pics and I think you might be OK. The nose piece hasn't broken up so all the noise would have been it clattering against the flywheel and clutch cover. As the nose is soft alloy and the rest is steel you might just be ok.

[MattBLancs]

It looks like it is all there although I can't see the bushing clearly.

Needle roller bearings here to my eyes

Zoomed in to the max!

I too would turn it with breaker bar on the crank pulley bolt, probably leave the plugs in if it was me (being lazy)

[NewcastleFalcon]

I have turned the engine over by shoving it in 4th and rotating the offside wheel, so at that speed at least nothing was jamming up. Can't remember having the need to bump start the Micra before, and it's probably in the infancy of electronic-icity, but always a slight doubt that "computa says no" to a time-honoured method of starting an internal combustion engine!

Just imagine it flywheel spinning round creating all sorts of air currents in the bell housing, and a gaping gap where the starter used to be, and Falcon with the household vacuum cleaner sucking the flow of any suspended metal particles out as it spins. Genius or madness?

Regards Neil

[Dormouse]

Yes, could be a needle roller one but can only see part of the bearing but it looks pretty intact - fingers and everything else crossed.

[mickthemaverick]

Just imagine it flywheel spinning round creating all sorts of air currents in the bell housing, and a gaping gap where the starter used to be, and Falcon with the household vacuum cleaner sucking the flow of any suspended metal particles out as it spins. Genius or madness?

Regards Neil

Definite madness in my view!! The possibility of having an accident with the flywheel grabbing your hose and gobbling it up into the clutch doesn't bear thinking about!! Not to mention that the lady wife may not be too impressed when she emptys the vac as nasty black gunge ouzes out!

[mickthemaverick]

With the use of the dark arts I think there may be a needle or two missing as arrowed:

Enhanced view

[NewcastleFalcon]

Decided against a run down the hill for a bump start with a removed starter motor in favour of returning BB Micra the 100 metres from where I had parked it to chez nous with a bit of manual labour. Should be able to get it higher off the ground for a bit more working room for a reinstallation in the home outdoor workshop. The job to be done is a replacement starter motor, but I would like to introduce a simpler push-button start option rather than relying on the dodgy ignition key barrel/switch.

Regards Neil