Spigot/Pilot bush on automatic engine

[dougusmaximus]

Hi there

I wonder wether you can help ..

I've just bought a triumph 2500 engine from an automatic car which I'm going to be using with a manual gearbox. I realise I need a different flywheel so I'm trying to remove the auto one.

However it's stuck on ! I've removed the toque converter, and then the 4 larger bolts whcih hold the flywheel on. But I can't remove it because the pilot/spigot bush (different sites seem to call it different things) is stuck fast in the end of the crankshaft, and is holding the flywheel on. I've wrenched as hard as I can but all I've really done is bend the flywheel, whcih is surprisingly flimsy.

Is there a trick to getting the pilot bush out ? I'm assuming it's just pushed in there, with no other means of fixing it in.
I noticed just now some internet pictures of the pilot bush have a thread in the middle. Is this so that you can drive them out using a bolt ? Mine doesn't seem to have a hole in the end towards the crank, but it could be it's there, just blocked up with old gunk.

Any advice would be welcome.

Many thanks,

Doug

[Alan Chatterton]

they do just pull off............ held in by interference fit with a dowl pin.

Try levering the driveplate on two sides at the same time............... it will just pop off.

I would personally put a couple of bolts back in a few turns, so that when it does let go, you don't end up wearing the driveplate, its heavier than it looks!

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Doug,

I don't know the automatic assembly too well, but you will want to change the existing drive plate (which you called 'flywheel') for a proper manual flywheel anyway. In which case it may not matter too much if you do bend it! Uh, sorry you've already said that!

One way of getting the spigot bush out is to fill the hole with grease or oil and then drive something in there which is the same size as the hole. The hydraulic pressure will act on the back of the spigot bush, hopefully driving it out!

But, does an auto have a spigot bearing? Looking a the Stag ROM (which I have got here scanned at work!) it shows a small plate which is bolted on the end of the crank with the drive plate sandwiched in between. Or maybe the small plate is part of the drive plate. Either way, there doesn't seem to be a spigot bearing as such.

Cheers,
Mike.

[stag andy]

Have had this problem in the past if you dont need the bush again if you are putting in manual box try using a set of stilsons to turn the bush once moved they usually come out quite easily.

[dougusmaximus]

hi

ok thanks all, I'll probably have to get brutal. I've tried heating it up but don't want to do that too much or presumably I'll upset the crankshaft metal.

It's properly suck.. I can't turn it around with Mole Grips so not sure if a stilson will work ? anyway I'll have another go. cheers.

ps. I don't need to keep the drive plate or pilot bush. I might end up having to drill it out *le sigh*

[wild bill]

I'm with Mike on this one,never failed yet with the grease trick.Just make sure the round bar you fit in is a good tight fit before you fill the spigot with grease,then give it Houdini with a large hammer!!!
Good luck!
P.S.Hi Mike, hope all is well and the Stag is progressing as you would want!

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Mike, hope all is well and the Stag is progressing as you would want!

Hi Bill,

It's progressing but a bit slowly at present. We're into trim now and that takes ages. 8 weeks to go on Friday but we have a lot of other commitments over the next few weeks so I am losing time! AARRGGHH!

Good to hear from you too Bill!

Cheers,
Mike.