PeterH

I will relay the comments back to the Mini forum. I admit I was a little concerned when I saw it and didn't sign myself. Peter

I got this from the Mini Forum. There's a TR7 and Herald in the photo. https://www.change.org/p/patrick-mcloughlin-save-the-classic-cars-from-he-scrappage-scheme?recruiter=69448908&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink Peter

Jezza The lift has 2 pivoting platforms, faced with rubber strips. On the Spitfire I lift on the sill seam. Initially you lift the back end then tilt the front up. The Spit is not too badly balance but the Mini being so short and heavy at the front has to be jacked. Once level there is a locking strut to hold it, but I don't rely on that I use a stand as well. The main job I've done on the Spit was to replace the rear spring so I only needed to lift the back. I've recently had the engine out of the Mini, so it was a great help not only getting underneath, but also raising the car to a comfortable working height. It has also been used to take the gearbox out of my daughter's Citroen C2 (what a nightmare that was!!) Peter

I've got a tilting scissor lift similar to the CJ autos one Jezza asked about, mine came from another supplier. It's has 3 widths and is a bit of a fiddle to change. The Spit needs one the Mini another. The only problem is that you have to feed it under the car from the side. OK if you've a 2 car wide garage. Other than that it's very good and certainly helps when you need to get underneath.

Just to add my voice. I like it - several people commented on it last year. My new one is on the car ready for the better weather.

When I was an apprentice (40+ years ago) we were always told to fit circlips with the sharp edge outwards. The reasoning being that it would bite into the groove better and also give you a better hole for the pliers to grip for fitting / removal. I've never seen this detailed anywhere - is it general practice or was it just a quirk of our instructor's.

When the forum was down, as 68vitesse, I tried the 'Facebook' link and had an almost instant reply saying it was under investigation. I can log to the main website and access the shop. I'm using Firefox on a Linux laptop.

At work, we had an electric forklift - one that you walk behind rather than ride on - on charge. One of our fitters was using an angle grinder near by. Sparks over recharging batteries = bang !!!!!!!! Peter

There was quite a lot of discussion on the old forum about paint stripper. Basically the new 'environmentally friendly' stuff is no good for cellulose, or 2 pack paints. You need to get hold of something old with methylene dichloride, but the EU have banned it.

May not be very 'politically correct' but I thought this was good. https://youtu.be/dKef1JFpiCA Thanks for the intro to Seasick Sam - the Summer Time video is - I think the expression is - cool.

Sue's original e-mail to South West members The Southwest Triumph Meet in Cornwall is Sunday 20th September. Organised by Andy Moss of the Stag Owners Club but open to all. It used to be at the Route 38 American Diner but last year he changed it to the other side of Trerulefoot Roundabout, at a place called Windy Ridge. It is now owned by a cousin of one of the SOC members. They have booked for around 30 for lunch there and the plan is to get there for 11am. Tony from SOC has arranged a short run after for us all. John and I will be going, and I hope some of our other members will too. We will meet at Ashburton - Pear Tree Cross near the garage there aiming to leave there at 10am ish. If you know where Pear Tree Cross is? From the Newton Abbot direction, take the second exit for Ashburton / Dartmoor. Go over the A38 and you will see the garage. Turn left into the road immediately before the garage and we normally park on this road. Hope you can join us, and will look forward to seeing you then. Trerulefoot is approx. 15 miles over the other side of the Tamar but gather we do not need passports to get into Cornwall. From Totnes direction, take 1st exit for Ashburton and then follow the directions above.

This could also account for why I didn't notice the noise earlier. The shaft needed to 'unwind'. It probably mean that I will have to replace both, as the other will also be on the opposite side. Thanks Peter

In trying to track down an odd noise from the offside rear (Spitfire III), I ran the car jacked up and wheels off. There is a significant wobble on the inboard end of the drive shaft, so much so it caused the vertical rear link to move. Initial thought are bent drive shaft, bent diff flange, or some problem with the UJ / yoke. The drive shaft flange is aligned with the diff flange and bolts are tight. The car was put back on the road last year after major rebuild when all bearings etc were replaced, the noise was probably there from then. Any thought on where to start and how to check. Peter

I can only comment on the Mk3, but the parts book lists the valances as: 'Fitted to all vehicles up to Comm. No. FD22863 L.H.S. and FD16350 R.H.S. Fitted to Special Order only under kit no 569563 from Comm. No. FD22864 and FD16351.' These were the two different ones i.e. a left and a right. Then 1 under a different part number for Engine Bay R.H. only for USA from FDU75001

I thought they were supposed to make engine cooling worse. I've got them fitted on my Mk3 and it does run quite hot, particularly in traffic (std mech fan). I've put this down to the hot air not being able to exit the engine bay. Don't forget early GT6s had louvres in the front wings to help with air flow.

Fizzgig Any new photos for us to wow over? Peter

Thanks Peter

How is the best way, in a reply to a post, to refer to an older posting? In my reply on rear springs I cut and pasted the web address, I'm sure there must be an easier way. Peter

There are some ideas on this in a earlier post http://forum.tssc.org.uk/index.php?/topic/566-rear-wheel-tracking/?hl=%2Brear+%2Bwheel

Thank for all your comments. I like the idea of the 'Bones' but not sure about the bumper question. The boot rack doesn't sound too clever - all the weight bouncing just on the boot lid ? I might buy a 'Bones' and see if I can rig something - perhaps a piece of angle iron or similar between the two bumper section. Peter

That's more like I was after. I didn't really want to fit a tow-bar. (Not sure you can get one for a Mk3). There's an online video, but its unclear where the bottom struts go - Mk3 has no centre bumper for them to rest against.

Richard That looks good. How does it attach to the tow-bar? Peter

Anyone any experience of carrying a bike on a Spitfire? All I can think of is to fit a tow-bar and use a carrier that fits onto that.

The earlier Mk3 had 3,1/2" steels, with the option of 4,1/2" wires. That was up to the facelift at FD75001, when 4,1/2" steels became standard. (Facelift easily identified by number plate / reversing light combined cluster, rather than separate.)

There must be some good Triumph Videos out there. Lets get some posted. Here's another to be going on with. 1990 Pirelli Classic. (It's not that I'm Mini biased but................!!!!!!!! ) There's a TR (how not to impress a rally check point) and a Vitesse with problems. https://youtu.be/fOVwxQO3QT4 Peter