For the love of a tractor engine: The life and times of the 18R-G

[o_man_ra23]

Actually signs of advanced grooving are found after just 100kms on new items. 1 year was all it took for Sillycarchick's NOS genuine guides to groove and go hard - faaaaar less than 40,000k's.

Is it the grooves causing the noise, or the requirement to re-adjust the chain tensioner to suit the grooves?

[river]

Hi,

If grooves are forming after only 100 kms then I'd assume it's a known and acceptable design feature of the item. The grooves are a necessary part of the function and wear of the item, so the chain can bed down in a set lot of grooves for the remainder of the life of the engine.

Toyota, at least back in those days, built things to last - especially their engines - and they would of been made to last at least ove revolution of the odo (100,000kms).

Referring back a few posts about changing the cams on a turbo 18R-G.... it comes down to what you want from the engine. If it's mostly chugging about the suburbs, and rarely on the track or drags) then the stock cams are perfectly adequate. Stock cams give good driving performance for urban usage. The last thing you want is to spend a shite load of money changing over to different cams, to squeeze a few extra kw from the engine (at certain revs) and only to make it a bitch for daily driving.

Same for heavy-arse clutches. These become pretty tiresome after an extended start-stop-start time spent in heavy, slow traffic.

seeyuzz
river

[The Witzl]

if you are going to be that much of a namby pamby River.... i WILL be taking trinni off your hands.

[river]

Hi,

Reminds me Witzy-babes... I must call in one day so you can take Trini for a drive. She's a fun car, as those who have driven her will certify, and it gives you an idea of how good your engine will be, when it's finally put into a car.

Not that I namby pamby Trini... but Riverina has asked on more than one occasion as she looks at the boost gauge "Does this thing go above 0?" She's such a smartarse, and doesn't realise I just like to cruise about. No rushing, gnashing of gears, screams of turbos and shredding of rubber... just nice slow take offs and gentle driving. Though, the other night I got a bit annoyed at a silly Yaris driver and I was able to beat them off at the lights and get away from them.

seeyuzz
river

[o_man_ra23]

Checked the amount of groove, the chain does not sit on the rollers when put into the grooves. However, I cannot see a real benefit in removing the grooves by re-lining the guides as there is no imminent danger of the guides disintegrating, so I went ahead and put the motor together.

Currently she sits with the head on, all timing components in place other than the cams, front pulley on. I need to trial fit the cams with the smallest of shims, and calculate the new shim sizes, get them ordered, and wait for them to turn up, as well as wait for Mr MnToyGuy to finalise the pumps so I can order that little piece. Then the last item on the list will be converting a stock dizzy to be a one tooth optical stroke sensor. That will pretty well round out the engine mechanically. Electrically there is plenty left to do (though I will try and find a good spot to put a knock sensor also, however I don't like my chances)

[S. Lowlux]

O man, I showed the guides in my RG to my father inlaw who is a retired mechanic & his opinion was that they were only just worn in & not worn out. They look the same as you describe yours. He also said if you are at all worried about the tension adjuster running out of travel, file the bolt holes in the guide to shift it further into the chain. If you are worried the slotted hole might shift then weld the unused section of slot closed so as to fit the bolt neatly. I did this.
The other Owen.

[o_man_ra23]

Long time no hear Owen. I've put it together with the existing guides. I'm not happy with the idea of using ebonite, no OEM or aftermaket manufacturer uses it despite 30+ years more development (chains are still used in some engines).

The first Owen

[2004lowlux]

i think the carbies need rejetting its so hard to get it revving up but once its over 2500 it picks up nicely revs fine but under 2500 it splutters and backfires

[RAAAH23]

lowlux i had that same problem in my first 18RG with the solexes. If you pull the two covers off there are two brass screws one for each cylinder in each of the carbies. Mine had come loose 4 times in 12 months and are a pretty common occurrence apparently. Do them up tight and it should stop the splattering. Sorry i dont remember the exact details as i had done it almost 2 years ago.

[SilverRA23]

Ok gurus.. help needed ASAP if I am to get to Sydney safely!

We had a dyno day today and it showed up my 18RG is running massively lean.

AFR starts at 14.. and then quickly made its way up and off the scale at 18 as he did the run. At that point he pulled out of doing any more runs for safety concerns.

It drives fine, though "runs out of puff" as it winds out through the rev range, which I guess I know now is it running out of fuel.

Given previous issues with my fuel system, I have replaced the fuel filter (though the one on it looked fine) and pulled the filter baskets out and tried to clean them up, though they are not real flash.

Tail pipe is black so I thought I was ok. I pulled the plugs out and this is what they look like - I think they suggest lean to?








Fuel in the float bowl looks clean and it isn't full of sh*t like previously...

So what might it be? Jets?

Is there a way to improve it with out madly chasing jets in the next 4 days?

Thanks for all suggestions in advance

[Willofan]

Ok gurus.. help needed ASAP if I am to get to Sydney safely!

We had a dyno day today and it showed up my 18RG is running massively lean.

AFR starts at 14.. and then quickly made its way up and off the scale at 18 as he did the run. At that point he pulled out of doing any more runs for safety concerns.

It drives fine, though "runs out of puff" as it winds out through the rev range, which I guess I know now is it running out of fuel.

Given previous issues with my fuel system, I have replaced the fuel filter (though the one on it looked fine) and pulled the filter baskets out and tried to clean them up, though they are not real flash.

Tail pipe is black so I thought I was ok. I pulled the plugs out and this is what they look like - I think they suggest lean to?

Fuel in the float bowl looks clean and it isn't full of sh*t like previously...

So what might it be? Jets?

Is there a way to improve it with out madly chasing jets in the next 4 days?

Thanks for all suggestions in advance

Hi Silver,
Exhaust will always be black with unleaded fuel. Yes the plugs look like you are running very lean...
Tell us more about your fuel pump, is it mechanical rg or electric.
I suspect you are running out of fuel due to lack of pressure and volume at higher rpm.
If you check with a fuel pressure guage, you should have no less than 3psi at any time through the range.
I recommend a high volume electric pump in the boot with a regulator and pressure guage in the engine bay to keep an eye on things.
Lean running at continuous high speed will melt a piston or two.

[SilverRA23]

Running the stock mechanical RG pump.

Thanks for the suggestion Willofan.

[egamirrorim]

...If you check with a fuel pressure guage, you should have no less than 3psi at any time through the range...

I am about to install a brand new 18RG mechanical pump after rebuilding the engine.
How would I check the fuel pressure once it is running, and how would I go about installing a fuel gauge under the bonnet permanently?

[2004lowlux]

ill try the screws pretty sure theyre ok but ill recheck them maybe it will clear it up its just if i try take off itll drop right down till it almost stalls. hopefully ive got a rebuild kit with a new diaphragm comming tomorrow ill change it over and the new clutch slave maybe ill just leave it where it is till sunday seeing as its only about 2 blocks away from the venue.

[2004lowlux]

backfires like a mofo doin anything under 3 grand but once past that it screams took it for a run this evening then the heater hose blew cant belive the extractors were glowing after basically a run around the block