Kelv Posted January 4, 2021 Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) Hello all. I'm having problems finding a mechanic who doesn't shake his head and run a mile when I ask if they can look at my car. Edited January 4, 2021 by Kelv Improving the photo selection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 4, 2021 Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Does it have a lower half? Maybe that's why... Hi Kelv, welcome to the forum, great car (love Herald 1200s) but show us the rest of it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 4, 2021 Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 whats the problem that needs mechanic help ??? lots of help on here just ask Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted January 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Wonky suspension. Doors don't shut. Indicators and lights playing up. I would like rear seal belts installed. I need a full service. Door Windows don't operate. Choke nob missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted January 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Having a play 😛 received_429783838196819.mp4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted January 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Sounds like a Sherman tank 😅 VID_20210102_102610_001.mp4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted January 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Another vid VID_20210102_101121_002.mp4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted January 4, 2021 Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 37 minutes ago, Kelv said: Wonky suspension. Doors don't shut. Indicators and lights playing up. I would like rear seal belts installed. I need a full service. Door Windows don't operate. Choke nob missing. Hi Kelv and welcome to the mad-house. There is nothing on your list that can't be sorted by searching here. You'll be amazed at what you can do with the info that you will find here and..... if in doubt ask. And...you will save yourself a fortune and know that it will be done right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted January 4, 2021 Report Share Posted January 4, 2021 Hi Kelv, Welcome to the forum. As BW says, nothing you list is beyond a bit of assisted DIY with the advice you'll get on here. From the videos it's clear your car has had some meddling in the past - the bodged horn button presumably fitted by a PO who didn't ask on here about the correct way to fix the usual problems with the big one in the middle of the wheel, for example. The "Sherman tank" noise sounds to me like a combination of several minor and easily fixed things (bad mixture, probably timing off a little, tappets out of adjustment, possibly a leaky gasket or two). It's really just a case of taking it one step at a time and being patient. Oh, and drinking lots of tea, apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted January 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Thanks guys. As I've never done any mechanical jobs I'm a bit scared lol. I wonder why my nearby garages don't want to take a look at the car?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffds1360 Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 My local garages are the same! They only know about electronic systems and how to replace a 'unit' at an extortionist price. they charge 50-100 an hour and do not even get dirt in their finger nails. Your lucky if they can even change brake pads/shoes never mind a clutch! Note that we now have 'specialists', who either do Brakes or clutches or tyres or exhausts but you have to search the back streets for a proper mechanic and unfortunately, they are all much older and generally retired !!! Don't let me go on, it is a particular sore point of mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Its purely down to the garages lack of experience with older technology. Theres no doubt they could do anything you want but they would have to investigate and read up on how to do it which takes time and therefore costs. They would have to give you an expensive quote to cover this cost and also the risk of getting something wrong and having to redo it plus they wont be able to get replacment parts through their normal suppliers so adding an additional complication.... If you do want to use a professional with this experience they are still out there but few and far between so you might have to travel quite far. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 38 minutes ago, Kelv said: I wonder why my nearby garages don't want to take a look at the car?? Because they can't plug their computer into it and have it tell them what's wrong. Of course, they can't reliably get the correct answer by that method on a modern car but most of them don't realise that and don't care that their ignorance costs their customers a lot of money. Also, as johny says, they have no idea where to buy parts for old cars because their usual suppliers don't carry them. Even the good, old-school garage I use struggled with my Toledo's clutch, despite being smart enough to do some research! (Their problem was that they identified TRGB as the local specialist supplier, but TRGB don't know Toledos so they called Rimmers, who apparently also don't know Toledos and told them the clutch was special and unavailable. It's actually the same as a Mk4 Spitfire and TRGB had a shelf-full of them - all it needed was for them to finally ask me and I could tell them that.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 26 minutes ago, johny said: Its purely down to the garages lack of experience with older technology. Theres no doubt they could do anything you want but they would have to investigate and read up on how to do it which takes time and therefore costs. They would have to give you an expensive quote to cover this cost and also the risk of getting something wrong and having to redo it plus they wont be able to get replacment parts through their normal suppliers so adding an additional complication.... If you do want to use a professional with this experience they are still out there but few and far between so you might have to travel quite far. Johny has hit the nail on teh head. They don't want to do work on a type of car that they have never worked on before, too much grief involved. Best bet in normal times is to go to a Triumph club meeting. But in these odd times not possible. Plan B is to get in touch with local owners, or area organiser etc. They come into a few categories. Some do all their own work, some will be willing to offer help/advice, some do a bit of work for other people on a paid basis, and some use garages. Ideally you want help/advice and possibly pay somebody to do the tricky stuff. Or a recommendation for a classic-friendly garage. But if you have a set of tools (you WILL need some) most mechanical jobs are not difficult. Worst part is rusted up stuff. But there is a wealth of information on here, and all you need to do is have a search, and if that fails to fully answer your question, ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Twitchen Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Kelv, Echo Clive's advice above; there is a South Wales Area in the, well worth joining, club. If you look on the home page under 'Area' for contact details and I would start there for local support/advice in these early days of ownership. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Yes, ask here you will be surprised how much help is available plus most of your problems seem to be DIY type jobs. Do what I did, get a manual (or 2) set of tools, big box of tea bags, coffee. Take a deep breath ask away and go for it. There is nothing more satisfying than getting it sorted yourself. As for a garage, look for a small back street one and be prepared to say you will supply the parts. My own experience might give you some encouragement. The first time I took my Triumph to my local garage it was for a problem with the oil sensor/ light not working, he didn't want to investigate because there was no computer plug in point. The next time was for replacement tyres, no problem there, then brake work ( I think) no problem as I got the parts. Now he is my first port of call should I need someone. Although I do want to get the wheel alignment checked I'll be taking it to someone else, my local man doesn't have the equipment, who is at British car fan - over 150 in his 'shed' - who has an arrangement with a nearby specialist who takes his word for what the figures should be. The moral is, I suppose, there are people out there just just might have to try a while, oh I nearly forgot - welcome to the mad house! (You'll soon see why it is one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 original reprint workshop manuals are more detailed than Haynes each to their own on this wsm available from club shop and others Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 If you rely on a garage to maintain your Herald it will be a money pit . My experience started 5 years ago when I bought my Vitesse . I hadn’t got a clue and initially the car needed a replacement differential and gearbox . The cost of these 2 items was almost as much as I paid for the car. Expensive lesson learnt and I had to make a decision. Cut my losses and sell the Vitesse or learn to maintain the car myself . Luckily I had joined this forum and the TSSC Club which has so much knowledge available just for the asking . I had no mechanical experience so my Vitesse journey started . You can get a lot of satisfaction with maintaining the car and there’s so much help when things don’t go according to plan . Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted January 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Brilliant responses guys. Many thanks. Love you all already lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 If you haven’t checked your MOT history go to https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk . This will give you some idea of jobs to be checked Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 link for Chris and wheel alignment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 49 minutes ago, Paul H said: there’s so much help when things don’t go according to plan . What do you mean? We are talking Triumphs here what could possibly go wrong 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Pete, thanks already noted that. It might still be beyond me plus the rear needs looking at as well I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 My first port of call for supplies is https://www.canleyclassics.com. Canleys also have useful works diagrams to identify the part you don’t know the name of . Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 two planks and a tape measure does front and rears both need a weight on all seats (150lbs) or rent a crowd the trackrite is a doddle toy use worth every penny Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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