[Idiot question about setting timing]

Hi Marco,

What setting have you used for your TR4a and what fuel do you use please?

Regards d2

[Exhaust Manifold Glows red]

I fitted an alternator some years ago and the recommendation in Roger Williams book is to fit a heat shield.

No problems.

David

[Bespoke bag for Surrey soft top and frame?]

I purchased two bags made to my measurements - one for the frame and the other for the cover.

The company was a family business. Great price and quality.

If of use I can look up the details?

Regards

David

[Spin on oil filter kit RF4022]

I ran with a Moss adaptor for about 15 years before leaks appeared. Read the article and decided the easiest solution was to fit appropriate washers.

Measured, purchased and fitted - no further problems after a couple of years.

David

[Expansion Tank]

Thanks all for your comments and advice.

Referring to Marco's note.

The car is a 4a and the engine was rebuilt two years ago and the timing and carbs were set up by a TR specialist garage. Last summer the engine ran very hot and I replaced the thermostat with a bellows type on the understanding that this would aid flow of the coolant; in fact it made matters worse. For a time I ran without a thermostat and all was well. This would have meant a longer time to get the engine up to operating temperature in the winter. I fitted a 72degree thermostat and all was well until the summer came and the engine is running hot again requiring the electric fan to run all the time. The plugs show that the mixture is on the rich side of normal; my understanding is that a weak mixture would increase the running temperature.

[Expansion Tank]

Having looked around I am going to follow Stuart's design.

I cannot see your pipework Stuart but assume that the top connection of the new header tank goes to the existing catch tank, and the bottom connection goes to the radiator.

d2

[Expansion Tank]

Thanks for the advice.

Your installation looks a very neat job Stuart.

The wax thermostat was faulty and I have reverted to a standard 72 version Marco.

I will look at the Technicalities CD Ian.

Thanks all

d2

[Expansion Tank]

Hi,

Has anyone fitted an expansion tank as a means of increasing the amount of water circulating?

Which is the most appropriate tank to fir please?

Thanks

d2

[4a speedo wobble]

Thanks Stuart,

David

[Spare wheel or not?]

I have been lucky and not had many punctures.

however the one I remember was when the tyre deflated rapidly on the A5 in North Wales and I had to limp to a safe place to inspect and replace by which time the tyre was ruined.

d

[4a speedo wobble]

I have had the speedo checked and assume that the wobble/surging is caused by bends in the cable.

If I reposition both the speedo and the tach, it looks like the speedo cable would have a better alignment. However I assume that the tach cable will enter the cabin where it currently does near the glove box and need turn through two lengths of 90 degrees as it does now. Are I correct?

thanks d

[4a speedo wobble]

Thanks everyone for your comments/advise.

Tim - My email address is d2alfa155@gmail.com

Best wishes

David

[4a speedo wobble]

Hi,

My car is a 1967 TR4a with overdrive. The speedo has always wobbled a bit and so I got it refurbished.

It now surges.

On looking through the Moss and Rimmer catalogues I see that both companies show the speedo on the left and the tach on the right; mine are the other way.

The former denotes a 78" cable for a RHD standard gearbox and the latter denotes a 69" cable for overdrive; I have fitted a 69" cable.

Is the wobble/surging caused by too short a cable or does it suggest a restriction in its curvature please?

Any advice would be welcomed.

Thanks

d2

[Speedo repair]

The speedo on my TR4a stopped working when the cable receiver in the gauge seized.

I sent it to a firm in Yorkshire who repaired the gauge but altered the calibration; the readings were secure but incorrect.

They reinstated the correct calibration but I noticed that even when just carrying the gauge the needle wobbled.

Sure enough on installation the needle wobbles violently randomly (eg not to any pattern).

I am reluctant to send it back again and wonder if there is a damper of some sort that needs replacing or is it a case of sending to a repairer?

David

 ;

[TR4a Cooling Problem]

Yes it looks like the correct TR4a water pump housing is fitted; I added an uprated pump some years ago.

Thanks

David

[TR4a Cooling Problem]

Thanks guys,

Just for info some years ago I fitted a narrow belt conversion with a damped pulley and alternator.

I will order a wax thermostat and try again

David 

[TR4a Cooling Problem]

I think you are saying that I have an airlock such that the radiator stays cold and the fan will do nothing to help.

The temp gauge shows nothing because that part of the system currently has only air present.

Am I correct?

How do I get the airlock out please?

[TR4a Cooling Problem]

Thanks guys,

It is a TR4a and I changed to a bellows thermostat because I understood that type allowed more flow.

In the past I removed the original fan and fitted an electric (push eg in front of the radiator) fan which should have come on.

David

 

[TR4a Cooling Problem]

Hi,

I got stuck behind a tractor going up a long and steep hill at 1mph and the water boiled.

Hence I replaced the cylinder head gasket and put in a new thermostat.

On the first run the gauge showed the engine was getting hot and so I stopped.

Oddly the engine was very hot but the radiator was cold and I therefore removed the thermostat. The gauge needle on my return home showed no value.

I checked the thermostat in hot water and it appears to operate correctly.

What is going on please?

Has the water pump failed and how do I check?

David

[1967 Tr4a Ammeter]

Hi RobH & Lebro,

The battery is getting charged properly and the ignition warning light behaves as normal.

I have kept the old ammeter and will carry out your suggestions.

Thanks

David

[1967 Tr4a Ammeter]

Hi,

Hopefully you will see two attachments:

the first shows the instructions

and the second what I believe is the wiring diagram.

Without the engine running there is a slight discharge.

Regards

David

TR Wiring incl headlamps Sheet1.pdf 27021903.PDF

[1967 Tr4a Ammeter]

Hi,

Some time ago I replaced the dynamo with a 65 amp ammeter.

Following advice I replaced the  +/-30amp ammeter with a +/- 60amp unit and wired as the instruction that came with the alternator from Revington.

The ammeter never shows any positive charge but only a very small negative discharge.

I wonder what is going on and why I changed the ammeter?

Should the wiring be different to show both charge and discharge?

Regards

David

[TR4 door glass]

Hi Guys,

My windows have never fitted the screen angle.

At the International a few years ago I bought some TR4/TR4a replacements in better condition with a view to replacing them when time permitted but I noted that they were to the same shape.

One member earlier showed a diagram with TR6 and TR4 patterns and guess what they are for a TR6!

B....!

Regards

David

[Surrey top conversion TR4A]

Hi,

I used the original 4a capping and soft top fixing clamps with the supporting frame landing on MGB supports.

It works well enough.

Regards

David

[Mr]

Thanks Guys,

I will forget xenon bulbs and look at LED

d2