Could this be the cause . . .

. . . of some 'harshness' at about 65-70mph?

It's a '98 4.6 HSE.

Harshness is the only word that sort of describes it, it's not really a vibration, or a rumble, it's just not as smooth as it runs at 60 or 75, and it's hard to identify where it's coming from.

Anyway whilst grovelling about underneath it recently, scraping dried mud and odd stones out from nooks & crannies, I found the piece in the attached photo (with a pound coin for scale) lying in the 'U' shaped thing that I assume stops the end of the rear propshaft flailing about if the UJ fails (don't know what it's called).

I think it may be a balance weight off the propshaft, 3 layers thick and it's about the right diameter - there is also very slight evidence of a couple of spot welds on the inside.

The question is, as I have no access to welding gear, if I can identify (via matching spot weld marks on the prop) the correct position it came from, would be worth trying to araldite it back on rather than replace the whole prop. Also wondered about testing correct position by using a cable tie.

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated . . .

THX - Alastair

looks about right for proshaft balance weight would need to go backin right place, my be better of getting another prop putting new uj`s in and fitting that

Put a couple of Jubilee clips on the prop should be easy enough to see where the weight came from. Move them round see if your vibration improves.

brianp38dse said:

looks about right for proshaft balance weight would need to go backin right place, my be better of getting another prop putting new uj`s in and fitting that

Click to expand...

+1 on the balance weight, the prop should show some sign's of loosing it though. If you can see where it was fitted, whip the prop off, drill the weight in the middle and have it MIG welded back in place filling the hole in the process.

tomcat59alan said:

+1 on the balance weight, the prop should show some sign's of loosing it though. If you can see where it was fitted, whip the prop off, drill the weight in the middle and have it MIG welded back in place filling the hole in the process.

Click to expand...

Don't forget to use some heavily corroded welding wire.

wammers said:

Don't forget to use some heavily corroded welding wire.

Click to expand...

Metal should be clean where it's drilled, if it's not chuck it away I'm only back one day and you fecking start on me.

tomcat59alan said:

Metal should be clean where it's drilled, if it's not chuck it away I'm only back one day and you fecking start on me.

Click to expand...

Good holiday i take it Alan.

wammers said:

Good holiday i take it Alan.

Click to expand...

Bit hot for the first two weeks so I took it easy. She had me painting the outside in the third week, looks good and well worth the effort. Spoilt her and got a new satt tv system, keep her quiet. All in all a great time

tomcat59alan said:

Bit hot for the first two weeks so I took it easy. She had me painting the outside in the third week, looks good and well worth the effort. Spoilt her and got a new satt tv system, keep her quiet. All in all a great time

Click to expand...

Same as the ones in Spain were you pay some Russian company not a lot and get all the Sky and European channels?

wammers said:

Same as the ones in Spain were you pay some Russian company not a lot and get all the Sky and European channels?

Click to expand...

No, but unless you've signed the official secrets act I cannot tell you. Does that give you a clue.

tomcat59alan said:

No, but unless you've signed the official secrets act I cannot tell you. Does that give you a clue.

Click to expand...

I have indeed signed the official secrets act.

As have I will pm the details

tomcat59alan said:

+1 on the balance weight, the prop should show some sign's of loosing it though. If you can see where it was fitted, whip the prop off, drill the weight in the middle and have it MIG welded back in place filling the hole in the process.

Click to expand...

that little piece would make no difference

jamesmartin said:

that little piece would make no difference

Click to expand...

I agree James, certainly won't make the car rattle.

wammers said:

I agree James, certainly won't make the car rattle.

Click to expand...

Didn't think it would myself but as he's got it........ Lost one off a Classic in Southern Spain, did the Jubilee clip job, got it back to England before the real reason came to light. Turned out a new U/J had been fitted into a worn yoke, after 5000 miles the bearing became oval

Thanks for your thoughts (and the entertaining excursion into an alternate universe of spurious satellite tv and official secrets )

Also - it's not really a rattle - it's a speed related 'lack of smoothness' . . .

Anyway - further research seems to indicate that props are supplied to LR ready balanced by the manufacturers, surely the bean counters wouldn't let them do it if it didn't 'make a difference'.

The bit weighs 20 grammes, I know it won't have the same centrifugal effect as 20g at a wheel rim but I think it's worth trying to re-attach it to see if it does cure the harshness.

odyssey said:

Thanks for your thoughts (and the entertaining excursion into an alternate universe of spurious satellite tv and official secrets )

Also - it's not really a rattle - it's a speed related 'lack of smoothness' . . .

Anyway - further research seems to indicate that props are supplied to LR ready balanced by the manufacturers, surely the bean counters wouldn't let them do it if it didn't 'make a difference'.

The bit weighs 20 grammes, I know it won't have the same centrifugal effect as 20g at a wheel rim but I think it's worth trying to re-attach it to see if it does cure the harshness.

Click to expand...

balance weights are commonly corroded off but no one notices

odyssey said:

Thanks for your thoughts (and the entertaining excursion into an alternate universe of spurious satellite tv and official secrets )

Also - it's not really a rattle - it's a speed related 'lack of smoothness' . . .

Anyway - further research seems to indicate that props are supplied to LR ready balanced by the manufacturers, surely the bean counters wouldn't let them do it if it didn't 'make a difference'.

The bit weighs 20 grammes, I know it won't have the same centrifugal effect as 20g at a wheel rim but I think it's worth trying to re-attach it to see if it does cure the harshness.

Click to expand...

I would be looking elsewhere for the problem to be honest.

odyssey said:

Thanks for your thoughts (and the entertaining excursion into an alternate universe of spurious satellite tv and official secrets )

Also - it's not really a rattle - it's a speed related 'lack of smoothness' . . .

Anyway - further research seems to indicate that props are supplied to LR ready balanced by the manufacturers, surely the bean counters wouldn't let them do it if it didn't 'make a difference'.

The bit weighs 20 grammes, I know it won't have the same centrifugal effect as 20g at a wheel rim but I think it's worth trying to re-attach it to see if it does cure the harshness.

Click to expand...

Stay confused, if we told you we would have to kill you.