Nick Jones

It’s very easy if you have the NHS app (not the track and trace one). I’ve done two trade exhibitions (as an exhibitor) in the last few weeks and my impression of the Covid control systems can be summed up as “lip service”. I was astonished to test negative twice a few days after the first one, and to feel well. I definitely did pick up something at the second one, though all testing has be negative so far, so maybe only a cold. Nick

Been selling hoarded Triumph bits that I’ll never use……. Surprisingly lucrative so far. Clears storage space too. At some point there’ll probably be a grand weigh-in of stuff nobody wants…. Like Roto wishbones. Nick

Try Bastuck direct? €136.85 each, exchange rate around 1.15 https://shop.bastuck2.de/index.php?cat=20000&hg=22700 Ive bought 3 pairs over the last 5 years and they’ve been consistently cheapest. Lark speed usually the cheapest UK supplier. Nick

Like he stole it usually 😛😊 Nick

I agree. Unless it's fitted the wrong way round. What does the fitting on the other end of the hose look like? Nothing wrong with rubber hoses. May give a slightly longer, softer pedal, but not sure it's enough difference to notice. And you can see when they are getting past their best. Nick

Usually a driveshaft UJ where one of the yokes has spread very slightly allowing the UJ spider to shuttle back and forth across the gap (only a few thou) and strike the inside of the cups, making the click, twice for each wheel revolution (though sometimes you only hear it going one way). The cure is to identify the offending side and axis of swivel and either put shims under the circlip or use thicker circlips. Sometimes you'll also find that the offending cup(s) are spinning in the yoke which means it needs renewing. Nick

😀 Made me chuckle…….. no polisher he….

Bin the Spax and fit Konis, especially at the front. Regret to say that ride height is not down to the dampers, that’s springs (or just possibly partially seized trunnion bushes. I agree on the 1500 needing an oil cooler. Probably the only small chassis Triumph that does in standardish form. Do include an oil-stat in the installation though. Exhaust…… wheel barrow type vary in fit and noise. I’d choose a GT6 Mk3 transverse box in sport pattern I think

Amen to that

I agree actually. However, what we tend to forget as highly experienced, mechanically competent people, is that not all Triumph owners have the benefit a lifetime experience and what seems obvious/trivial to us is a mystery to them. Nick

Well the stuff I got from Merlin (on Vitesse) is 4 years old now and still good. The Glencoe stuff (GT6) is maybe 2.5 years old and still good. So I'm content that it's either genuine or at least fit for purpose. By comparison various lots of "R9" purchased either from AFS direct on via ebay has all fallen apart externally within 9 months. Actually old and well used R6 salvaged with used FI components did better. Nick

Not a runner since 2008, but re the "mechanical snowflake" thing, or as I prefer, the common cause of getting all the cars round the route, I have a couple of thoughts. One is to have a sweeper crew in a van or even an estate carrying a selection of basic tools and spares and a couple of mechanically competent persons to apply them. I suspect volunteers wouldn't be a problem (doing the whole run might be to big an ask - shifts could be arranged!) but actual expenses payable from entries. Alternatively or as well, have a network of local contacts. There are quite a few of us dotted around the country with tools, expertise and assorted spares (and who also know others locally with more spares), who would likely to be happy to be "on call" for a few hours as the run passes by. For example, a TR4 succumbed to alternator failure at Haynes on Sunday. Haynes is 15 minutes from me and I have various alternators..... but I knew nothing of it until too late. Nick Edit: Re organisation at controls, it is my ambition to be a bit more organised next time. And maybe have a gazebo or at least a big brolly. In my defence, I don't recall having so many arrive in such a short time before.........

Well yeah, so some personal choice here. Carry carefully selected spares and tools and aim to be self sufficient as far as possible. I accept that not all have the skills for this, but actually carrying the spares (alternator, water pump, fan belt, hoses, points, condensor, rotor arm, fuses, bits of wire, connectors, gaffer tape, zip ties, couple of wire coat hangers, even a head gasket or UJ) might mean that you can enlist a roadside garage, AA man or fellow traveller to get you rolling again. Parts for these cars are not as available as they used to be. You can't buy points, condenser or coil in Halfords on a Sunday afternoon any more. Alternatively cross your fingers and carry nothing but a mobile phone and AA card (other recovery companies exist). Of course, there is no substitute for using your car regularly, keeping it cared for and getting to know it. I absolutely agree with you on the Trail Fix btw. I grew up in various parts of Africa and Dad very much liked a road trip, but spending money on cars... not so much. Some of our trips were quite eventful mechanically (and occasionally otherwise). He was mainly a gaffer tape and coat-hangers man (not sure zip ties were invented) but did carry water hoses, fuel hose, ignition parts, instant gasket and basic tools. My contribution was carving a new carbon rod for the our Peugeot 404 distributor cap from the core of a torch battery. That saved a long walk in the Kalahari. Thanks to Wilbur Smith for the idea (though I daresay he borrowed it from somewhere else) Nick

Ben, Cohline 2240. Merlin Motorsport or Glencoe Ltd https://www.glencoeltd.co.uk/cohline-2240-r9-specification-rubber-fuel-injection-hose-8mm-push-on-e85-compatible-2267/ Not especially cheap, but cheaper than burning your car down, or even loosing half a tank of fuel. Avoid AFS in Kent or ebay. Just because it says R9 on the hose, doesn't mean it is. Guess how I know that...... Nick

Ah…… it depends on which car and your mechanical abilities but….. Alternator - I always carry a spare on the long runs and on Small chassis cars it takes about 10 minutes to change. Carb diaphragm - Carry a spare, or even two or three. They are cheap, small and light. Takes 5 minutes to change one. If you are doing an event like the RBRR with no spare fuses…… well, you are not even nearly prepared. There’s always aluminium foil to wrap the blown fuse with or even a suitably sized bolt, but the fuse blew for a reason, so you might burn the car down….. Take one nut each of the other 3 wheels….. good idea to carry some spares. Small, cheap etc….. Misfuel…… ideally drain and refill with the right stuff, but depending on ratio of misfuelling (£30 is only 20L these days!) you might get away with filling any remaining space with the right stuff. It’ll smoke and pink probably, but if you keep diluting as space is made you likely be ok. No dipped beam…. Mend it? If it turns out to be the switch and you have no spare then maybe swap the wires at the lights so you have dip working rather than main. Head gasket on a Spitfire/Dolly Toledo OHV/even 6 pot at a pinch is just about possible as a roadside repair if gasket and tools are available. Motivation likely to be higher if a long way from home (10CR) No you shouldn’t drive with no working rear lights…. But you could maybe team up with another car to drive behind you to get to a safer/lighter place to investigate and fix. ISTR that there is a pretty comprehensive guide written on this sort of thing that is sent out to all crews? Nick

I shall be at Badgers Holt (Dartmeet) soon after 12pm tomorrow putting the banner up. Either a grey Vitesse or Damson GT6, haven’t decided yet. Cars can’t move on before 13.17. Usually takes a good couple of hours for them all to go through. After that they head for the A38 at Ashburton south. Nick

Of Werthers originals?

Never seen one snapped….. Carnage. I would think that either it’s a side effect of running without the pivot pin or possibly the carrier pivot is seized? Nick

🙂 Seems to work for me. I have a collection of parts that have done a lap of the UK and visited at least 15 European countries, most of them several times, purely as passengers. Of course the rules for European travel are a little different as there could be some advantage to carrying parts a local garage could fit (but not easily source), but that doesn’t apply here.

Damn right!

😳🙄😵

Sounds like manifold air leak to me…. Nick

Get well soon Bruce….. Nick

RH Specialist offer 1k, 3k & 5k. My Vitesse is actually unlimited but that is a legacy feature (I’ve been with them a long time) and not available now. They covered my son on a 1 week, only when I was also in the car for the 2017 10CR. He was 21 at the time with 3 years ncb. It was 25% of the cost of my years premium though…. Nick

Hmmm….. Have you thought of looking for a less distressed starting point? Nick