TD camshaft fubar

ed4ferrets · Post by **ed4ferrets** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:54 pm

Scenario is a camshaft in 3 pieces, middle piece now serving as a paperweight. I understand from my 'friend' Search that pistons are unlikely to be seriously damaged from valve impact so will be looking for a 1.9 TD head in the near future.

My question is whether I can get the car from A to B by towing it in high gear to get suspension, brakes, steering (HP pump above alternator as it is a Xantia)?

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:15 pm

You should get away with towing it in gear. Lets face it, the cams mullered so it doesn't really make an odds!
You could remove the glow plugs to allow the cylinders to breathe sut it'll make a hell of a racket!

How fars it gota go mate?

Oh, bear in mind that the PAS will only operate with the engine turning, so it wont work when the cars staionary anyway, and you dont really need PAS when the wheels are rolling...

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:29 pm

docchevron1472 wrote:You could remove the glow plugs to allow the cylinders to breathe but it'll make a hell of a racket!

Having done this with a petrol engine (removed the plugs and towed it in 5th gear) I would recommend leaving them in! I was at least 30' away from the engine being towed in the tow vehicle, and I still got a headache from the noise, despite only doing about 45-50mph. Any faster was intolerable.

ed4ferrets · Post by **ed4ferrets** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:58 pm

Chris, haven't been able to convince Carol (yet) that my recently vacated driveway needs filling so will tow from Forest rd Kingswood to a mate in Longwell Green, maybe 4 to 5 miles if that. Guess I should replace the cam cover or there'll be oil all over the place

. Tow vehicle will be a Discovery 300 so glow plugs shouldn't be an issue.

This self same Disco was written off a while ago whilst towing none other than a BX from Devon on what we suspect was a faulty trailer. It's only been back on the road for a week so fingers crossed history doesn't repeat itself

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:03 pm

DavidRutherford wrote:
docchevron1472 wrote:You could remove the glow plugs to allow the cylinders to breathe but it'll make a hell of a racket!
Having done this with a petrol engine (removed the plugs and towed it in 5th gear) I would recommend leaving them in! I was at least 30' away from the engine being towed in the tow vehicle, and I still got a headache from the noise, despite only doing about 45-50mph. Any faster was intolerable.

Would it be possible to tow it leaving them in given that the valves are closed and not operating?

Given the high compression of a diesel surely there will be tyre scuffing and debatable steering?

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:58 pm

All that will happen is that the slug of air in the cylinder will be repeatedly compressed and then expanded again. The energy used to compress the air will almost all be recovered as the air expands again, so no massive loss. Definitely worth it to have steering, brakes and suspension.

Believe me... the din that an engine being turned at 2000rpm with no plugs in makes is absolutely deafening.

The only issue you will have is to charge the accumulator to begin with, and to get the car to rise in the first place. It is possible to drive the HP pump with an electric drill, but the mechanics needed to do this is usually rather complex. Last time I did it I had to use the right-angle drive from a knackered old angle-grinder to get the torque and angle of drive correct.

ed4ferrets · Post by **ed4ferrets** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:37 pm

I will need electrics for brake lights, indicators, hazards ie ignition on, do I need to disconnect fuel cut-off solenoid or am I being paranoid?

Post by **docchevron** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:39 pm

If the cambelts failed and the cams smashed the likelyhood of the belt still driving the injection pump is about eleventy cajillion to one mate.

kermit the frog · Post by **kermit the frog** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:41 am

Am i being a bit thick here.
if the cam is mullered and the hp pump is driven of the other end of the cam from the belt it aint going to work.
is it.

Regards Kermit

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:55 pm

That's what I thought at first, but he did mention that it was a Xantia (in small print!) where the HP pump is driven from the alternator belt...

mnde · Post by **mnde** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:52 pm

DavidRutherford wrote:Having done this with a petrol engine (removed the plugs and towed it in 5th gear) I would recommend leaving them in! I was at least 30' away from the engine being towed in the tow vehicle, and I still got a headache from the noise, despite only doing about 45-50mph. Any faster was intolerable.

And despite wearing ear defenders too...

I wish I'd never suggested removing the plugs, only the HT leads... as it also made a right mess of the engine bay, didn't it

Ho hum.

I hope you get your Xantia sorted Ed - it sounds like a bugger of a situation to be in.

Cheers,

Mark.

ed4ferrets · Post by **ed4ferrets** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:13 pm

Well, not a situation as such Mark, I'm also the proud owner of a BX TZD estate in perfect running order

The xant has been offered to me on a plate, 90k T reg estate (with a lobotomised camshaft), all else apparently functioning. Trying to find a cheap yet safe way to move it a few miles.....

mike st gilles · Post by **mike st gilles** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:43 pm

Is it not possible to jack up the car and 'chock' the car to that height....seem to remember something re that for the CX and I think that was to just the towing eye up to height where you wouldn't knacker all the front end. Don't know if this would work with a BX.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:17 pm

mike st gilles wrote:Is it not possible to jack up the car and 'chock' the car to that height....seem to remember something re that for the CX and I think that was to just the towing eye up to height where you wouldn't knacker all the front end. Don't know if this would work with a BX.

Again, we're talking about a Xantia here.

And no, you can't. The only reason you can do that with a CX is the very handy "paddles" which have the upper and lower bumpstops. With the CX you can jack it up and then insert a wooden spacer between the paddle and the bumpstop, which is enough just to move the vehicle.

With a Xantia's front struts there is nowhere to put the spacers. You might be able to get something in between the rear arms and the bottom stops, but I doubt it would stay there.

kermit the frog · Post by **kermit the frog** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:49 am

sorry didn't read the small print oops

Regards Kermit

Hope you have managed to move it safely sounds like a good project if it hasn't done too much damage