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Ransomes Marquis Mk4 - rattle from Grass Screen

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stevecross Mon, 01/05/2017

The perforated Grass Screen behind the recoil starter on the BSA Sloper engine fitted to my Ransomes Marquis Mk4 has developed an irritating rattle.

Is this part supposed to be secured, or is it just a loose fit?

Any suggestions welcomed on how to prevent this rattle as it detracts from the otherwise musical note from the Sloper!

Photo attached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forums

wristpin Mon, 01/05/2017

The screen is a push fit over the starter cup. You can tighten it by removing the starter, the cup and screen then pushing the screen off the cup. Then carefully tease the inner circumference of the screen to make it a tighter fit and then push it back over the cup.. 

However are you sure that it is not the starter itself that is rattling? If you look at the centre of the starter case you will see the peened over end of the centre peg that the starter pulley rotates on. Observe this peened over end while gently pulling the recoil rope (may help to remove the spark plug).  If there is any sign of the peg rotating it may well be the cause of your rattle - the starter pawls will "ding" against the cup. Tightening the peg is complicated by the presence of a washer below the peened end but the permanent cure is a couple of diametrically opposed spot welds between the washer and the starter casing and the washer and the peg. By applying the opposed welds the centre peg will hopefully not be pulled sideways.

I've seen other methods attempted, such as centre punching, loctiting or re-peening the centre peg but none seem to be lasting. Ideally the welds need to be applied quickly and with reasonable skill to avoid the appearance of molten lava or having been applied by a passing pigeon.

stevecross Tue, 02/05/2017

Thanks Wristpin. I'll investigate further. Hopefully the solution will be the simpler of the two you suggest.