Bad vibrations

The 2.5 nas in my series three swb has developed a bad vibration. At first changed uj,s in rear prop then suspected diff. Now am pretty sure it is the Engine, I changed the injectors as it was hard to start and have ordered new engine and gearbox mountings but wondered if I am missing something. It is an old engine but still starts and runs quite well though black smoke most of the time now when under load. Things are starting to come loose and break.
Billy

Balance the wheels.

Bobsticle said:

Balance the wheels.

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I know I will probably get a pounding for this, but in over 40 years of driving Gipsies and Land Rovers I have never balanced a wheel.

I don't bother balancing the rear wheels. A series isn't going to go fast enough for it to be a problem. If it's the front wheels you'd feel it through the steering.
Does it do that if you're driving what about idling? Surely that's the way to eliminate the transmission.

Mine rattles like a bag of horse shoes on spin cycle over 45mph. Does it down hill with the clutch pressed as well so it aint t'engin. It must be the spinney twirly bits thats causin it underneath. I dont like the underneath. Mucky orible place it is.............

Apart from knackered mountings the most common cause of engine vibration is probably not firing on all cylinders. If it was something coming loose it would have to be fairly heavy like a flywheel and if it was something like that there would be other symptoms. Has the sound of the engine changed from before it started vibrating. Without being there to witness it, at this stage, I would agree with Bobsticle, it is probably a spinny, twirled thing underneath.

Col

OK I will change the engine and gearbox mountings when they arrive and if no joy I will try a spare diff on the back and let you know how that goes.
If that doesn't work I will think about breaking the engine and getting the bike out.

Erm, what about front prop UJs??
If it's that horrendous a vibration & it's gone engine, I wouldn't worry too much as it will probably self destruct next time you start it

Check the exhaust! Could be a mounting or join that needs tightening

puddlejumper said:

Erm, what about front prop UJs??
If it's that horrendous a vibration & it's gone engine, I wouldn't worry too much as it will probably self destruct next time you start it

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Its a nasty vibration by that I mean it is loosening fuel lines, the odd bolt and even weakened the sill where the aluminium was turning to powder. Front prop is fine.

DR0844 said:

Check the exhaust! Could be a mounting or join that needs tightening

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Funnily enough I had to change a couple of exhaust brackets a few months ago so can check again. SS exhaust but the brackets have reached the end of their service life.

Sorry I forgot to update this topic. I changed the engine mounts, better, still not right. Checked the front prop again and there was movement in the splines so removed it. Better, still not right. Oiled the springs as the ride was getting quite uncomfortable, much better.
So I think it was a combination of all three plus the engine is getting worn, but really if I had kept up the regular maintenance I could have saved a few months of annoyance.

Billy

Replacing the track rod ends did mine a power of good. No sign of wear in the steering but one of them was barely holding on.

I think I replaced a track rod end for the last MOT. So that is definitely another thing to check. It has rusted up a lot underneath so i am going to go through everything again as its around 5 years since I rebuilt it and I have the urge to do it all again.