Mincomp Musings

A couple of months ago, I found myself needing to replace one of the power units for the Mincomp Mini, and in doing so I would be having the opportunity to test some new or updated products. Thus I will be devoting a couple of issues to reviewing some of the parts. Before I start I would like it to be understood that although some of the parts tested and reviewed have been supplied by Mini Mania or Mini Spares, they have given me complete freedom to comment - good, bad or indifferent - on the products. The only stipulation is that if I find something I don't like, I check to see if there have been any changes or updates. Mini Spares has specifically had me test products over the years and I have been very gratified with their willingness to make further improvement based on my input.

I have just switched to the new Mini Spares adjustable belt drive, WOW! Am I impressed! I have used one of these on a customers motor some years ago and was not impressed so I have stuck with the old style until now. Today's belt drive is a nice piece of engineering, ifs adjustable with a single pin in two degree increments. It uses calibrated holes instead of the slotted holes (that slipped, etc.) or the offset fiddle faddle pins! Comparing this new unit to one of the originals whose only redeeming value was the elimination of the chain is an insult!

(See Mini Spares Centre news page 4/5 - Ed) I'm also using for the first time the Mini Spares precision oil pump. It appears to be well made with nice and tight clearances as advertised. But to this point it has only been run on the dyno. Although so far it seems to be able to hold pressure quite well, the real test will be on the track; so I'll come hack to the oil pump in the next issue.

Many years ago I tried carbon fibre push rods with no success. the tips broke off. Recently I had been toying with the idea of trying them again. and I even went so far as holding them in my hands. Then I called Keith Dodd of Mini Spares and said "convince me, please". What he told me about the new construction techniques impressed me until he said that they had been tested to 8800 RPM, but no further. He offered to give me a set to test but I decided I would wait until some other time, winning races here depends on tried and tested parts.

The final really new part is the crankshaft. After many years of using only billet cranks I have set this motor up with a Mini Spares cross-drilled forged unit. You must first understand that I got started using billets many years ago when forgings were unavailable and my newest crank was Circa 1987. There are pros and cons towards each, but the major con here is cost, forged being half the price. Another reason being a new found preference for the swirl grain structure of a forging over the outright superior metallurgy of a billet. I don't want to get into discussing metallurgy any further. Suffice to say, although ifs nice to boast that you use a billet crank. its just not necessary to spend the extra cash.