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I’ve found a Wagner grease gun in an old box of tools, no idea of the model. Given it a quick clean up, emptied as much of the manky grease so now need to refill. I’m guessing this should be filled as vanadium23 post, locally the grease seems to be cartridges, is there a way of filling or am I better ordering some Castrol LM in a tub. Ive got no instructions so any pointers what the valve on the rear does or the bolt on the top?

Thanks Pete, definitely things to consider. Yes I was using sand blasting in it’s generic term, in fact the company that does the powder coat option raised the point that their blasting may not be aggressive enough.

Ive found a chap who will sand blast the wheels and prime them only - Id need to get the tyres removed and put back on once painted, and arrange to get them painted (or use a spray can white) or an option with a local firm that will complete the whole process but will powder coat rather than spray paint them (about £60 per wheel for either option) [Id be interested in the Birminham company info as we go past Birmingham 5-6 times a year] I then noticed on ebay I could get 4 minilite typre wheels, nuts and centres for less than £250, but not sure how they would look on a wedgewood blue vitesse saloon. My old GT6 had powder coated wheels and they were good for years but the center cap was held by the wheel nuts. I started to get think about the hub cap and the powder coating (it maybe I just have to accept that it will get damaged but will be a huge improvement generally)

I need to tidy the wheels on the vitesse, the options I’m thinking of are:- 1- new minilites (and I guess I’d have to change the wheel studs?) 2-a refurb of the existing steel wheels - with the steel wheels I have 3 options i/sand down, mask and either brush / spray the wheel with white paint ii/get the tyres removed, the wheels sand blasted and primed, then paint them myself with white gloss spray (as noted on a previous post this may be easier for touching up damage etc.) iii/chemical stripping, media blasting and powder coating. options (ii) and (iii)are similar cost to buying minilites. Given that the wheels have a chromed hub cap I’m guessing the fixing of the hubcap would damage the powder coating etc. opinions appreciated

Doug I agree trolley jack for the garage every time. I’ve never really like scissor jacks or their type but it’s for road side wheel changing. I’d thought about a bottle jack for compactness (something like a Halfords 2t)

Thanks both, I hadn’t thought about the limited rise on the bottle jack or the oil leakage so I’ll stick with the scissor jack. I’ll source a replacement winding handle as there’s not one in the car.

I need to maximise the space in the vitesse boot for camping weekends - Im considering moving the tools and jack to inside the spare wheel well. The jack supplied by triumph was a scissor jack, howvever a bottle jack is more compact, are bottle jacks a viable option or am I better sticking with a scissor jack.

This is what Im intending to do, Ive got the fascia plate in the polished aluminium which Id like to change to black either crinkle finish (if I could find the paint) or satin black, what would I need to do to key the surface, a good sanding, and a primer plus a couple of top coats or would I be better covering in vinyl?

It’s an aftermarket job, under the dash is easy to follow as it’s got a woven sleeve on the cable. I think it’s a battery disconnect and then remove back to source and put it on eBay.

Looks like I’ll remove the ammeter, and associated wiring, just curious where it’s connected

I was thinking something daft eg rotor arm not put back on (I seem to do these sorts of things too often)

Daft question have you checked for a spark at the plug?

My car currently has an ammeter installed and I’m not sure of the benefits of one with an alternator (I thought they were more useful with dynamos) so was thinking as part of the work I’m doing to remove the ammeter in its entirety and install a clock. Is there any real benefit in retaining the ammeter?

Pete just noticed your suggesting greasing the gear lever ball, is this the black plastic bush on the vitesse (if so what do you recommend as I could find any reference to grease or oil etc)

Badwolf can’t answer your question but I share the sentiments of your revised title. Since returning to the Triumph fold I find each task significantly more difficult and frustrating than when I had triumphs before. Your findings of a garage is concerning me as I was just beginning to reconcile using a garage for a service and a few jobs I want doing, the PO had the vitesse serviced annually and it’s quite clear they greased the easy to access points including the trunnions (my winter task to take apart and rebuild with ep90 lubrication) they failed to check / fill the gear box (guess that was too hard) and a few other bits and pieces.

It does seem a lot and 2 relays would have done the same job (I think this is what the Devon TSSC website details) Relays for everything, I’m not convinced, but I have been told it maybe beneficial to integrate a relay into the ignition circuit to prevent the load on the ignition switch.

I’d definitely do the upgrade, the lights are vastly improved. The issue I had is a PO had scotch locked cables together and then I discovered that not all the Lucas connections were actually complete and the electrical tape was holding the connections together.

Badwolf, I gave up with the idea of these kits and used Andy Cooke’s blog, this gives a new fused supply to each light. On the vitesse I added 4 relays (1 for each dipped headlight unit and 1 for each set of main beam) it was a bigger job than I expected but I’d inherited a dodgy earth connection which this did away with.

Well I think the leak is in this area, but feeling is the fibre washer - is this an easy fix? Guess so as I’ll be rebushing the lever as the plastic bit has disintegrated.

Pete, thanks, the plan for next year is a fibre glass tunnel - is it still worth doing an access on the old fibre one? I think there is a small leak from the top of the gearbox, Ive cleaned the gearbox so I will be able to tell properly next time, unless its an easy fix / check? Having looked at it again the leak looks like it could be the switch on the top. Not sure I understand the 7/16" washer comment - really silly question now - is that a washer that fits inside the knurled nut of the angle drive - also should the nut be tight as mine moves if you move the cable - seems wrong to me. .

Just topping up the gearbox on the vitesse, Ive put about 1/2l of oil into the box, is this normal, I dont know when it was last topped up? It looks like theres a bit of a leak but only the odd drop that Ive noticed on the floor. Whilst the tunnel is out is there any other maintenace / lubrication tasks that are worth doing before I put the tunnel back? I’ve just checked the gear lever and I think a new bush kit is required.

Thanks Colin, Id never considered making my own leads, but I may now have watched a Youtube infomat video - it looks fairly straightforward. Ive also had a go at repairing the lead - hopefully I will never need it!

New leads fitted , but I was hoping to keep the old ones as spares, the coil to distributor has come apart at the coil end, I’ve retrieved the end, is it possible to remake the lead or am I better scrapping it and getting another spare - any suggestions where from?

Thanks all, so the Castrol from car parts would be better. Not sure what I will do with the transmission tunnel yet but a grp with the access hatch sounds like a good idea.

Need to get some EP90 oil for the trunnions, diff top up and gearbox top up - is this ok? Or would I be better with a branded product? Ive got an oil gun I used to use for the trunions, What’s the recommended way to fill / top up the diff / gearbox - is it an oil can or do I need to buy something like the Castrol product and the refill the 1l container. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smith-Allan-EP90-Gear-Oil-API-GL4-GL-4-5-Litre-5L/302556071920?hash=item4671bf47f0:g:kwEAAOSwYXVctfYi&frcectupt=true https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/p/-/-/-/-/?522777762&0& &gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_9CW77mV4gIVJbXtCh1kFwK2EAQYEyABEgJt9_D_BwE