From: IAN MOORCRAFT(UK)[email protected]
Date: 14 Apr 2002
Time: 05:36:58
Remote Name: 62.7.111.232
Oiling up of the combustion chambers, was a problem discovered with the very early Sevens, contemporary reports suggest that the problems were overcome by altering the type of bottom scraper rings, experimenting with the oil baffles never seems to have been an issue, they had been fitted as part of the original design and must have worked as intended. I have always had the view that part of the design philosophy had been to take out some of the "hope" out of the "spit and hope" oil system, in original condition ( not cut and bent back ) each baffle would ensure some direct oil flow to the edges of the big end bearings, one could argue that the oil may be contaminated by the cylinder bore, but if this was thought likely a wider slot would have been put in the baffles directing the oil away from the bearings. Bill Williams in his book "Austin 7 Specials" says that you must fit the baffles to insure that access oil is not thrown up into the bores, no advantage will be gained by leaving them out. The only good reasons I have heard for leaving them out are " No time to fiddle about--- I have got to get this engine back in by six to pick up the girlfriend" or " I can't fit them because the last owner hacked them to bits and they don't fit anymore". Regards Ian