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jagnut66

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Posts posted by jagnut66

  1. Hi, 

    A work colleague has asked me to confirm if this (NOS) headlamp rim is for a Triumph Herald. I said I didn't think so but would take it home to compare against mine. 

    Needless to say I am now sure it isn't, my 1200's is much deeper, slightly squarer in appearance and the screw is on the inside edge.

    The one pictured below is narrower, has a subtle point to the apex and has the fixing screw on the outside of the narrow bottom edge.

    So what might it be for? 

    I'm thinking 1966 onwards Sunbeam Rapier or Alpine.....

    But what do you think?

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

    Classic headlamp chrome rim identity   1.JPG

    Classic headlamp chrome rim identity   2.JPG

    Classic headlamp chrome rim identity   3.JPG

    Classic headlamp chrome rim identity   4.JPG

  2. Hi, 

    Just to say that I bought a stainless exhaust for my 1200 engine off one of the 'usual suspects'.

    The exhaust fitment is fine, in fact it was very straightforward, so no complaints there. 

    However, the holes where the manifold studs fit through to clamp the front pipe were too small, so I had to drill them out, after which it was, as above, straightforward.

    Is this a common issue with replacement exhaust systems or did I just get the pick of the bunch? 😉

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

    PS: I now have a complete, one piece(?), mild steel exhaust in need of a new home.

    FREE to anyone who wants to collect it or arrange collection from Mansfield, Notts.

    I only changed it as I was taking the engine out anyway, it doesn't appear to leak, just in need of a clean up (and a new fitting kit).

    Pictured below.

     

    Herald 1200 exhaust.JPG

  3. Hi, 

    The picture shows the state of my thermostat housing. It has been like this for a while and still functions as it should but I have noticed this same type of corrosion happening with my Morris Minor thermostat housings over the years.

    I have always used the blue type coolant recommended for older (classic) engines but it does seem to 'like' the alloy housings........

    However, of equal concern recently was that the mixed coolant that I put in Hetty to seems to coagulate in places, notably around the inside of the housing. This was the first mix I'd used in Hetty, which I have since disposed of, so could it be reacting with something left over from when I initially flushed her out? Although she seemed to only be filled with plain water when I bought her......

    I am thinking of giving her another flush through with plain water to see if this clears up the problem.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

    Triumph Herald thermostat housing corrosion.JPG

  4. On 08/01/2024 at 13:04, Patrick Taylor said:

    I had new tyres fitted on Saturday: I asked the fitter to tighten the wheel nuts by hand and not with the windy wrench. The fitters were amazed to hear that the nuts should be torqued at 40lb/ft: they were doing vans at 170lb/ft! Would have stripped the nuts in seconds, I imagine....

    Glad I read this, otherwise I might have found out the hard way. I may get a spare set for when I need new tyres, then fit them to Hetty myself after the new tyres are fitted to them.

    I find it useful to have a spare 'slave' set of wheels anyway.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

  5. 3 hours ago, ahebron said:

    Didnt some small chassis Triumphs come with 'towing eyes' as an extension of the arb bracket (the u bolt with a loop on it)?
    I am sure I have seen them .

    If someone has a picture of one in situ and / or a link for where to purchase these, I for one would be interested.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

  6. Hi, 

    A thought has occurred to me and I'm hoping there's an easy answer.....

    If I were to need my Herald to be towed, namely (the old way) with a thick rope and given that there's no actual towing eye at the front of my car, what would you wrap  / tie the rope to?

    Front crossmember? Suspension?

    I'm talking about 'down the road' type of distance, not the one end of the country to the other type of scenario, for which I have relay cover anyway.

    Many thanks,

    Mike.

     

  7. Well I've drained and removed the radiator, the fan and slackened off the fan belt, so that it's loose. Spark plugs out.

    I attached my 38mm socket to the crankshaft nut and with my long reach ratchet tried to turn it over........

    Guess what.

    It turned.

    A  bit stiff at first, I admit, but then it has been sat for a while. However, the more I turned it over the freer it got. I gave my arms quite a workout in the end, alternating between left and right, as one got tired. 

    I then tried the starter motor, using my heavy duty jump leads, one to the body one to the power connection, both shielded by the way. 

    The result?

    A loud clunk from the motor and a puff of smoke at the positive terminal on the battery, as I quickly removed the lead from it.

    (NB: Only the jump leads were used, it's live connection was removed and tucked safely out of the way and the car's + and - leads were left off.)

    I have bought a (stated as being in good working order) second hand replacement.

    I hope (with the aid of a little more hand cranking while I wait, to be sure I've done all I can to free things up and get the oil moving round things) it does the job.........

    Keep your fingers crossed for me.

    As an aside, I got a good whiff of petrol whilst I was turning it, so I guess that's the carb primed 😉.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

     

  8. Well the starter motor has now been removed and it tested okay.

    It was then put back in but not wired up, as I used my heavy duty jump leads again, plugs out........

    Back to just a clunk. 

    So whilst the engine turned (with an extension bar I admit) when it was out of the car, it's obviously too tight for the standard starter motor to deal with.

    For me, draining the engine, removing the rad, then the gearbox and all the ancillaries, before pulling the engine out again will be a last resort (too p****d off to even contemplate that at present).

    I want to explore other options first, so I'm going to have a chat with a local engineer I know, during the week, to see what he might suggest.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

  9. All food for thought.

    I will have to 'extract' my starter motor then. Not an enjoyable job due to the tight space it sits in with all my other ancillaries in the way. C'est la vie.

    As an aside I found this on 'You Tube' about high torque units, very useful for anyone who hasn't fitted one before, as it takes you through the installation process. I found in clarified things.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

     

  10. I have just tried my heavy duty jump lead from the Negative side of the battery to the body of the starter motor, no joy. Just clunk and smell, although not as strong now, me thinks the thing is fried.

    Any thoughts on a high torque unit?

    My engine is tight, she did turn (tightly) when freshly rebuilt but I haven't tried with her in the car, spark plugs back in their holes etc. I suspect it may need a bit of extra 'oomph' to get her turning.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

  11. Yes, the car is Negative earth. 

    So a jump lead from a clean spot on the (for example) wall of the starter motor to the battery Negative might get it turning the engine over but if not then a fresh starter motor may be required?

    The engine is clean and freshly painted, would that impede the motor body from earthing?

    Also, would a high torque unit do a better job? I ask as I've never had one on any car I've owned, so have no experience of high torque units.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

     

  12. Hi, 

    I have an issue with starting my freshly installed engine.

    I have recharged the battery and let it sit on 'Maintaining' for quite a while to ensure it was fully charged.

    Also I have had a look round but can't see anything I've rewired incorrectly.

    However, when I try to start the car all I get is a loud clunk / click from the starter motor and the smell of it 'cooking'. Also (at the same time) the battery earth strap appears to be getting hot, although I disconnect the battery immediately after, to try to prevent any permanent damage there.

    The obvious thing (to me at present anyway) is that the starter motor may have gone faulty, yet it was turning the old 1200 unit over okay, up until I took her off the road, as I was unable to select gears (which is a different saga in another post).

    So is this possible or am I overlooking something? Has anyone had this issue before after stripping the engine out and replacing it? Also is a standard 1200 starter motor okay for a 1300 engine?

    As always, thanks in advance for any help and advice given.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

  13. On 14/06/2023 at 23:04, Josef said:

    Do you still have this plate, and do you want rid of it!? I was planning on making my own, but in searching to confirm a different one was needed for an O/D box in the Herald I found this post and thought I’d ask.

    Hi, 

    Yes I do.

    Please note though that this mounting plate is for the Triumph 'D' type overdrive gearbox (not the 'J' type).

    James Paddock are selling them for £14.50 plus £2.90 VAT and another £5 postage on top of that (part no. 148897).

    You can have this for £14.50 and I'll throw in the postage with that (No VAT! 😉)

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

    As a postscript to the above, Josef now has the D type overdrive gearbox mounting plate, so I no longer have one in my spares stash should anyone be looking for one. 

    • Like 1
  14. 19 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said:

    boss white is a good old fashioned solution

    you can coat  the adaptor thread to pump

    you never coat the pipe nut    its the olive being compressed that does the seal  the pipe nut is on the sealed side of the nut so sealing is pointless just seal the olive 

    Pete

    Thanks Pete.

  15. Hi, 

    I just bought a new return pipe, nut and olive from Wins. 

    The stainless pipe took a bit of persuading to get it to sit and the right angle for the rear bracket to line up with the stud but otherwise I was very happy with my purchase and its price.

    What did bother me was that on a dry run the nut took a bit of fiddling to get it at the right angle to screw into the (original) adapter on the back of the water pump. And, when it did, it was a bit 'tight'.

    You've guessed it.....

    When it came to screwing the nut in and tightening it up properly it was a sod to get in and to then tighten.

    After which it leaked when I filled the rad and no amount of extra tightening (a little at a time) would get it to seal.

    Feeling 'slightly miffed' I undid it all. 

    The stainless pipe is fine and will go again. The olive looks good too, apart from a small section of burring on one (part of an) edge, which a touch with a file will get rid of. It certainly isn't crushed.

    The thread on the nut though is another matter......

    So I've ordered a new nut, olive and an adapter from Wins (happy with them).

    When they arrive my next 'dry run' will take a little longer, to make sure everything will go together nicely before I commit.

    My question is this: Should I add some PTFE tape or Boss White to the thread of the nut, or even the thread of the new adapter before I screw it all together?

    What do others on here do?

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

  16. Okay, to clarify, your rule of 9:

    The rule of 9 :)

    1 & 8, 3 & 6

    2 & 7, 4 & 5

    6 & 3, 8 & 1

    4 & 5, 7 & 2

    Or this version:

    Valves fully open.........................................Valves to adjust
    1 and 3........................................................6 and 8
    2 and 5........................................................4 and 7
    6 and 8........................................................1 and 3
    4 and 7........................................................2 and 5

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

     

  17. 6 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said:

    and check the valve clearances after re torque 

    For that I found this:

    Valves fully open.........................................Valves to adjust
    1 and 3........................................................6 and 8
    2 and 5........................................................4 and 7
    6 and 8........................................................1 and 3
    4 and 7........................................................2 and 5

    However, the only setting that I can see mentioned is 0.010", which seems to be a general setting for Triumphs. 

    Also comments on 'another' site suggest I need a different type of feeler gauge to the flat ones I've always used in the past.

    Best wishes,

    Mike.

     

     

    wire type feeler gauge.jpg

  18. Hi, 

    In advance of my needing to change the head gasket on my ex Spitfire 1300 engine I looked up a workshop manual image of the order in which the head nuts need to be tightened. 

    Below is what I have settled on.

    It appears to be the correct one but, as some 'alternatives' show up in any search as well, I thought I'd confirm on here that I have the right one...........

    Also sump capacity is listed as 4.5 litres but please correct me if I'm in error (I have only poured 4 litres in so far because I don't want to overfill it).

    Many thanks,

    Mike.

    Triumph Spitfire mk 3 head nut torque sequence.jpg

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