[Spitfire Mk3 Column Light Switch Connections]

Shorting across the flash contacts with the garage lights of occasionally produces a faint glimmer on the warning light

the warning light glows brightly when on full beam though 

Could this be a  poor connection in the column switch, is it worth dismantling it? 

I tried swapping over the brown leads but no lights worked

[Spitfire Mk3 Column Light Switch Connections]

I’m really stumped on this!

there is permanent 12v on the purple wire from the fuse and there’s 12v switched from the main light switch, dipped and headlights work and the dash warning light comes on when full beam is selected, but no flash 

Just in case I’m just losing it I’ve attached a photo of the temporary connections and one of the column switch, perhaps I’ve got the connections wrong 

[Spitfire Mk3 Column Light Switch Connections]

Thanks everyone, I’ll look at all this tomorrow and will report back

[Spitfire Mk3 Column Light Switch Connections]

Thanks Peter, I’m not sure if the Mk3 Spitfire originally had a flash function

i suppose it could be that the original  column switch which didn’t have flash has been replaced at some point with one with flash function, thus creating a red herring!

or it could just be my rubbish wiring!

[Spitfire Mk3 Column Light Switch Connections]

Sorry meant tried the switch on dipped and lights off but no flash 

[Spitfire Mk3 Column Light Switch Connections]

The fuse is ok. I tried the glad in dipped and lights off but no flash

i thought the purple wire was the non switched for the flash, but as I’ve got it connected it doesn’t work 

[Spitfire Mk3 Column Light Switch Connections]

For information I’ve used the triumph schematic and have connected 

purple to brown 

blue/ white x2 to blue/white

red/blue to red/blue

brown/red to brown/red

lights work fine on the switch but no flash, however the main beam warning light comes on when in the main beam position, so I was wondering if I’ve done something daft 

[Spitfire Mk3 Column Light Switch Connections]

Morning 

after checking my steering column I need to reconnect my column light switch (didn’t think of taking a pic before I disconnected it)

there are four wires from the column switch

blue/white - brown - brown/red - blue

there are five wires from the loom

purple - brown/red - blue/red - blue/white - blue-white 

could anyone please tell me which wires to connect please

many thanks 

 

[Spitfire steering rack]

Thanks Johny, I’ll look at it tomorrow but I think I’ll think to order a replacement rack through the club!

[Spitfire steering rack]

I’ve come back to my spitfire steering rack problem and before I order a replacement I had another look at the shims, plunger etc

Taking off the cap and under the yellow spring I found a flat washer which isn’t supposed to be there, presumably put in to compensate for a worn or incorrect spring 

when the cap is screwed in the spring doesn’t seem to provide much resistance even with the washer, should I replace the spring?

any thoughts?

Julian 

 

 

[Spitfire steering rack]

Is this a diy refurbish with a kit or is it a specialist job?

[Spitfire steering rack]

Thanks Johny, is it dangerous to use the car with this problem?

[Spitfire steering rack]

I set the damper shims up from scratch which solved the steering wheel play problem but made steering very heavy

Is it dangerous to use the car with steering wheel play?

I presume the whole rack will need replacing as opposed to doing a diy rebuild

is there a good supplier of steering racks?

[Spitfire steering rack]

I have considerable steering wheel play on my Spitfire mk3. I had to remove 4 shims from the damper to set the gap according to the WM which made the steering wheel play disappear but the steering became so stiff it makes the car unusable 

Im wondering whether the previous owner added shims to mask a rack problem

Tyre pressures are good, trunnions are well oiled and ball joints are new. The steering coupling is the new type without the earth strap 

any thoughts?

Thanks Julian 

 

[Spitfire wire wheel balancing]

Excellent news thanks Johny 

[Spitfire wire wheel balancing]

Thank you Pete, I guess that ‘balance on car’ type kit is specialist amongst the classic car garages 

[Spitfire wire wheel balancing]

Thanks Johny I’ll try that 

[Spitfire wire wheel balancing]

I’ve just bought a set of wire wheels to fit to my Mk3 spitfire. A local garage has fitted the tyres from my steel wheels to the new wires, however they could balance the wheels on their modern balancing machine 

any ideas how I can check these wheels for balance?

thanks Julian 

 

[spitfire Mk3 won’t start]

Thanks Pete, I’ll go for a points replacement, finding one with a vernier adjustment seems tricky though

[spitfire Mk3 won’t start]

Unfortunately Accuspark don’t have an electronic D200 replacement and won’t have any for 6 months, all they can offer now is the kit to install in the existing body 

[spitfire Mk3 won’t start]

Thank you everyone

accuspark sell an electronic conversion kit that fits into the existing Delco dizzy for about £60

do you know if the existing dizzy needs to be in good working order to fit this? 

[spitfire Mk3 won’t start]

Do you know if a rebuild kit is available?

[spitfire Mk3 won’t start]

Do you know why there’s such a huge range of prices? Are the cheaper ones poor quality?

[spitfire Mk3 won’t start]

Thanks Dan, I’ve tried but still no cigar, it starts but runs roughly, pinks and is difficult to maintain an idle

When clamped up the dizzy has movement and wobbles in the housing 

I think I’ve reached a point when I need to get a new distributor to try, can anyone recommend one, prices seem to vary from £30 to £300?

julian

[spitfire Mk3 won’t start]

I’ve tried Steve P’s approach and ignored the timing marks, it starts but is difficult to maintain a steady idle, it coughs, ticks and eventually dies, small movements of the dizzy don't seem to make much difference

The dizzy is a Delco, is it possible that there is a problem with it?

julian