Hi folks,i had a very busy day today.I managed to get all three of my old engines stripped down

The condition of all three was quite an interesting look into what goes wrong with CX engines.I think the biggest bonus is that i think i could now strip an engine down blindfold,in my sleep
Engine 1)died due to big end failure

,there was a big ole heap of filings in the sump.I could only find 4/5s of the left hand big end,i think the rods are shot but the pistons look ok.The crank is totally trolleyed but the cam looks ok
Engine 2)Again died due to big end failure,this time when i removed the front cover not only was i greeted with a pile of swarf by the oil pick up but an inch square chunk of big end bearing as well

The pistons look ok but crank and cam are fit for the bin.
Engine 3)Well now i'm in the "Last chance saloon" for a crank,first signs dont look good,this engine was left until last for good reason,firstly it had the plastic z type grille so it was the oldest,secondly it was covered in leaves and the aluminium corrosion was so bad it looked like it was covered in fur,and thirdly it had no plugs in and was partialy siezed.Right down to brass tacks with it,heads off and the pots look like thier full of ash

but after a quick clean out and a wd40 session shes turning over smoothly.Front cover off, HALLELUJIAH no swarf or lumps of bearing,but a layer of sludge an inch thick instead,i guess that because it looks like its been stored under a tree for twenty years

Rear cover off and the reason this engine died becomes apparent,broken tensioner blade and lots of flailing chain damage,but by some miricale both crank and cam appear ok .The pistons have perfect valve inprints in the so thier for the bin but the rods look ok

.
A couple of observations,all three engines had very slack oil pump chains,and all three had ART pistons were these the originals?
So now its off to the engineers (when i get paid next month

)to have all the best bits checked,fingers crossed.
Regards Sean........