BYD Posted December 6, 2009 Report Share Posted December 6, 2009 My control box is playing up when starting the car after it has been sitting for a few weeks/months. The metal on the contacts has started to corrode and now needs to be cleaned with wet/dry paper befoe she will fire up. I have decided to replace the box but wondered if anyone could recommend a supplier (I understand there are some dubious boxes out there). I dont want to go the alternator route as the dynamo is only a few months old. Thanks Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Hi Mark, if you PM RichardTR3A he will give you verse and chapter on the state of play at present. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Hi Mark, pull up the 14th Nov thread on dynamos and electrickery in the TR3 section and you will have a fair idea of things. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwifrog Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 (edited) Mark Repro control boxes are **** of variable quality. Try and get a decent used origonal Lucas one Cheers Alan Edited December 7, 2009 by Kiwifrog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
steve clark Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 I have a genuine Lucas B90 unit thats no longer required. Its had very little use. PM me if you are interested. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 My control box is playing up when starting the car after it has been sitting for a few weeks/months. The metal on the contacts has started to corrode and now needs to be cleaned with wet/dry paper befoe she will fire up. I have decided to replace the box but wondered if anyone could recommend a supplier (I understand there are some dubious boxes out there). I dont want to go the alternator route as the dynamo is only a few months old. Thanks Mark Mark Have a read of my thread referred to by Roger, http://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=21321&st=0 My control box and C40 are now at Cox Automotive being 'properly sorted' by Ken Cox, see: http://www.coxautomotive.co.uk/ - don't waste your time with lookalike repro Lucas RB106 control boxes, they are cheap rubbish – just compare the coils and windings. Buy yourself a few old RB106s (not the 106/2 they push out too many amps i.e. about 16 - 17 compared to the 14.4 of the straight 106) and have Cox refurb them. Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Hi Andrew, I think you're getting your amps and volts mixed again - 14.4Volts Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alec Pringle Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Hi Roger, I hate to think what might happen if Andrew ever gets his paws on anything that takes AA batteries . . . . Good Vibrations won't be the half of it ! Beach Boy George rides again !!! Cheers, Alec Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted December 7, 2009 Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Hi Andrew, I think you're getting your amps and volts mixed again - 14.4Volts Roger Oh, bloody hell yes! - what did I say about 'Electrickery'............... As for you Pringle, you'll get yours - buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....................................! Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BYD Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Thanks for the advice,I have attached a photo to show the corrosion on the bottom coil.The box is a Lucas RB106. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Has anybody produced a solidstate regulator to replace this item? Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
angelfj Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Has anybody produced a solidstate regulator to replace this item? Roger yes they have Solid State Control Box Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hi Frank, thanks for that - shame about the MGA tag . Surely this must be the way to go Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Thanks for the advice,I have attached a photo to show the corrosion on the bottom coil.The box is a Lucas RB106. Mark I would suggest your RB106 is refurbishable and not as bad as some that Cox Automotive have brought back to life, but a call to Ken Cox would confirm. Cheers Andrew Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richardtr3a Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 I have spent years on this problem. New boxes are usinginferior copper and poor quality parts. I suppose that it is surprising that any one would bother making them at all. I found Cox and I now run an overhaule 1966 Controol Box with no further problems. See previous threads. It has taken meyears to sort this out and now it is really satisfying. Good Luck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
angelfj Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 Hi Frank, thanks for that - shame about the MGA tag . Surely this must be the way to go Roger Of course, you're welcome. I have not seen these in person or heard any reviews, so if you go this route please let us know. Frank Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Elliott Posted December 9, 2009 Report Share Posted December 9, 2009 I shall be receiving my new control box (voltage regulator) re-furbished by Cox in time for Christmas. Our daughter who lives in London will be bringing it home to Canada when she comes to see us during Christmas week. Thank you Richard for your big part in all of this. Since my TR3A has been in winter storage from October 31st (we just had our first snow of the winter today - 6 inches) I will be putting the control box in sometime between the 12th day of Christmas and April. My original control box from 1958 still works but it sometimes spits battery acid up through the vent holes in the caps on the top of my "original-looking" LUCAS replica antique battery. I had been looking for a workable and reliable spare control box for about 5 years (when I bought one brand new in a green and white "LUCAS" box) and it wouldn't work when I installed it to test it, so now I will have a good "new" Cox control box and I'll carry my original one as a spare - not that I should ever need it. If this new one from Cox lasts as long as my original one (52 years), I'll be 124 years old by then. My, how time flies when you're having fun. The photos are from my 1958 TR3A, taken about 5 years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BYD Posted December 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 Thanks for all your advice and offers of a replacement box. I have gone down the 'cox' route and my crusty control box is on it's way for them to work their magic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StevedTR4A Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Hi all Interesting reading for a novice but how can you tell if a control box is playing up? When I picked up my 3A from its PO it burnt out the dynamo on the way home. The car had been stored for about 2 years and the contacts in the control box (non original)had apparently "welded up". I scourced an original Lucas item but unfortunately the guy who supplied and tested it dropped it and rendered it useless. He supplied a non original item which he said he had tested. I fitted it 18 months ago and it seems fine. Having read the thread I will look out for a good spare. To complete the picture I would however like to understand what the symptoms of a faulty unit would be. thanks Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
angelfj Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Hi all Interesting reading for a novice but how can you tell if a control box is playing up? When I picked up my 3A from its PO it burnt out the dynamo on the way home. The car had been stored for about 2 years and the contacts in the control box (non original)had apparently "welded up". I scourced an original Lucas item but unfortunately the guy who supplied and tested it dropped it and rendered it useless. He supplied a non original item which he said he had tested. I fitted it 18 months ago and it seems fine. Having read the thread I will look out for a good spare. To complete the picture I would however like to understand what the symptoms of a faulty unit would be. thanks Steve Steve: A common symptom of a control box problem is over-charging of the battery, evidenced by boiling and overflow of the electrolyte. This is not only bad for the battery but the acid can cause damage where it spills. This condition can usually be corrected by an adjustment of the control box. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StevedTR4A Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Thanks Frank, I appreciate the info Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
angelfj Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Thanks Frank, I appreciate the info Steve cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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