Here is a quick check to see if the spring setting on the air valve is correct. If the valve is pressed down slightly to open it, does the engine run rougher. Then push the valve closed by pressing on the end of the stem that is in the air intake above the choke butterfly. The engine should also run a bit rougher. If one way improves the running the air valve spring adjustment may need to be moved to either increase or decrease the tension.

The lower kingpin bearings have been modified to tapered roller units as the original ball bearings were completely worn out. The steering is very heavy and I heard a comment from a fellow some time back that the tapered roller bearing was not a good choice because they would tend to bind up with the weight of the car upon them. Has anyone else experienced this problem. I'm considering replacing them with a ball thrust race if necessary.

I had a couple of times when wheel shimmy occurred and its not pleasant. It even broke a hood clip as the radiator rocked uncontrollably. I too have disc wheels. I checked the tyre pressures and the front ones were down to about 20 psi. I found that if they are at around 35 psi there is much less tendency for shimmy to occur. As an extra precaution I fitted a modern steering damper to the tie rod and anchored it to the spring clamp on the front axle. So far I have had no more occurrences.

Thanks Mal you have been a great help.

I have had at least 5 followers fail. three have shed the rollers. Two stretched the loops around the bearing and one of these got caught between the con-rod and a counterweight.
This damaged the con-rod and it subsequently broke causing serious damage.
I have tried to obtain some second hand ones but so far no replies. I cant work out how the private messaging works on this site. There seems to be no way of accessing a member and no way of commencing a message.
One person in New York wanted US$250 for each follower which I could not afford. At present I am looking at getting some made by a local machine shop here in Tasmania.

I haven't heard back from you - are these still available?
Phil Weeks from Tassie

I am very interested in purchasing 12 cast followers.
Please email your price etc.
m-weeks@bigpond.com.au Thankyou and best regards Phil Weeks

I'm looking for 12 offset type cam followers that I can use to retrofit into my 3rd series 6 engine.
I have had about 6 followers break or the rollers come loose. The last failure was the worst. The follower broke free from the bearing and jammed between the con rod and a counterweight. It bent the con rod and then the rod broke just below the gudgeon pin causing serious damage. I am not prepared to risk the pressed metal followers any more. If the forged ones are the same dimensions as the pressed metal ones I am most interested.

Technical letter 1832 refers to a motor to frame brace.
Apparently this was offered as a way of controlling front end shimmy and excessive radiator movement.
I have noticed that shimmy certainly increases if tyre pressures are too low. Has anyone seen one of these braces fitted. I wonder whether the brace would put too much strain on the aluminium timing chain inspection hole area.

Two cam followers have failed in the last 12 months.
The first was the one with the roller missing. The yoke where the roller shaft is located spread apart allowing the shaft to dislodge and the roller to drop into the sump!!

The other follower broke away from the bearing area and was dragged sideways so that it missed the tappet.

The cam followers look to be too light for the task although they have lasted for many years.
A quick fix was to install a used spare and also spot weld the shaft to prevent the yoke spreading apart.
The bearing appeared to only be located with soft solder and we bronzed the follower to the bearing to help secure it.

Has anyone had similar problems or any better methods of repairing the followers.

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