Rutty

Hi Chris, Looking forward to it and you are using some of roads and places I used when organising an HCR a few years ago but never got to drive as I was an organiser. One question, If the crew members are from different house holds will we have to wear facemasks? Thanks. Mark

The reason I was given on my IAM biannually assessment I have to do for work is that using the engine to slow down puts more wear on the engine and gearbox which will be more expensive to repair. While using only the brakes will only wear the disks and pads which are cheaper to replace. A load of bollocks if you ask me and the real reason is it is not politically correct to make lots of noise dropping down through the gears and blipping the throttle as you go. Guess what method I use and in the Vitesse I get lots of popping from the exhaust as well. They must think the beelzebub has arrived when I drive by.

The switch did fail on my Vitesse last autumn but as Rob says it could be a connector. You could bypass the switch and that would prove you problem.  

They have always been illegal but have only just been added to the MOT checks on the 11th of Jan. Fitting an LED bulb to any exterior light on you car that is not originally designed to take an LED bulb is illegal. So that includes indicators, brakes, etc. The chances of being pulled up for having LED bulbs fitted in you brake lights is very slim and they are not tested on the MOT Yet! But a switched on insurance company might try to use it against you in an accident? Mark  

Have you got the fast idle cam set right. The first 5-10mm  of movement on the choke cable should only operate the fast Idle and not increase the richness of the mixture. Only after that should you see the cams in the throat of the carbs start to turn.  Even when warm you should be able to pull the choke out 5-10mm to increase the RPM without upsetting the mixture. Handy when at stopped with the lights and fan on.  Mark    

Hi Phil I was told by my hood fitter that this is not the time of year to fit hoods. You need nice hot summer days. I paid just over £100 + vat to have mine fitted by an David Aspinall At Anglian Triumph services. He has had a lot of experience fitting Vitesse hoods, I think was very good value for money and he took all the risks of cutting and gluing it. I am really please with the result. He even supplied the hood and seals from Don Hoods and I didn't have to pay the carriage on the hood so that was another £20 saved. Mark

Having not experienced  VSR myself I assume you can tell if you have it with out removing the head by the fact that the tappets are at the limit of adjustment. Mark

Yes that's correct or in my case  I caught my foot under the pedal and flipped it up causing the cable to detach.  Mark

I had the same problem on my 2L Vitesse which decide to come detached at the pedal end while sitting at traffic lights in the middle of a multi lane contraflow. I had the limp the car at idle speed trying not to stall it till I could pull over. Even then I had the drivers door open in a live lane while I re-attached it. I found a trim clip has solved the problem. If you search on James Paddocks site for GFH1560 you will see the type of thing I mean. It was a bit of trail and error to get the right size. Mark

Thanks Mark

Quick question.  Is it a volt or Amp gauge I should us with an alternator. I have a feeling it's volt for alternator and Amp is for a dynamo. Can anyone confirm this. Thanks Mark

When you say fire on starter fluid are you meaning easystart or similar? and how fresh is the fuel that is being drawn from the fuel tank. Petrol can go stale in a matter of months and stale fuel is only fit for cleaning parts.  

  KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE Rant over. Jim. The ironic part of you quote above against using technology is that technology would simplify the process. I think Colin's idea of using QR codes or barcodes is a very sensible, low cost solution. Yes our cars are from the past but that doesn't mean the way the event is run has to stay in the past. Mark

It was well publicised where the marshals were at Wetherby,we had banners outside the sliding doors and Jane standing outside in pouring rain, shaking a bucket advising where we were inside......and the queue was because everyone arrived early . We were not allowed to open up before checking in time so we collected all the books as they arrived, put them in entry number order and had a rubber stamp to `sign` everyone in....It was quite speedy, and all crews went through in less than one hour. Marshals take a lot of flak.....even in pouring rain on top of Carter Bar at the witching hour draped in army coveralls  No one is criticising you or the other marshals at Wetherby as you did a great job but being towards the back of the queue it took us nearly 45 minuets to get through as would be expected with only two marshals and 125 crews. Yes you collected the books as they arrived and had a rubber stamp to speed things up but it was still slow and not speedy. This fact is being echoed by other people on this forum. I brought it up after the last RBRR as you have suggested but you put the same claim forward that it was speedy. It might have felt speedy to yourself as you where busy but being in the queue it felt like an age to get through.  All we are asking for is a few more marshals at the first control so we can get through in 10 to 15 minuets like we do at the other controls. Surely this will help you and spread the work load. Mark

Do we really need food and toilets at the first stop. The A1 has services all the way up that crews can stop off at. As food is available at the start hopefully everyone would have eaten before they started. All I want to do is get the book signed and back on the road. The main problem I could see at Wetherby was the marshals could not cope with the volume of crews that turned up together leading to a long queue. Ideally the first stop could do with more marshals than later stops when the crews have spread out. To that end all we need at the first stop is a car park big enough for all the cars. IMHO Mark

Thanks Clive for some great advice. I have a None O/D box that came with a load of other spares when I brought the car. The owners son told me he stripped it out of another Vitesse he brought for spares. I hadn't appreciated that the layshaft and other parts would be the same. So is it only the mainshaft length that is different between O/D and none O/D boxes?  So my first job is to strip down the none O/D box and inspect the parts. I am not sure quite what I am looking for regarding wear but I guess it will be obvious once I have the box stripped down. Thanks Mark

Interesting comment as everyone else I have spoken to has said they would rebuild the gearbox but give the O/D to a specialist. I understand the triumph gearboxes are very simple and looking at the manuals and online it would seems to be the case. Thanks for you comment all information is gratefully received. Thanks Mark

Has anyone got any recommendations as to who produces the best Gearbox refurbishment kit. My Mk1 2L is starting to whine quite badly in 1st, 2nd & 3rd so I suspect the layshaft bearings are past there best. I intend to have the box out over the winter and fit a refurbishment kit but I have heard that the metals used in some of the kits are not that great. Its an overdrive box if that makes any difference. Thanks Mark

Gutted you have changed the date. Team Mike Banks/Mark Rutter will be withdrawing as I am on holiday on the 20th.

Ahh! the old hot wire.....do that a lot in Essex?😉 Colin also Hot Wire's on the M74 south of Glasgow!🤭

Thanks Ben. Some useful information I will have to have a proper sit down and get my head around the offsets.  Thanks Mark

I need to replaced the tatty wheels on my Vitesse Mk1 and am looking at a set of Minilites.  I was wondering what other members have put on their cars. I have been looking at JBW which I understand is a popular choice. Am I right in thinking that 5.5 X13 wheels with +25 offset and 175/13-70 tyres will fit but I have been considering 5.5 X 14 wheels with +22 offset and 175/14-65 tyres. Does anyone know if these will fit? or have any other suggestions. Am I also right in thinking the PDC is 95.25mm in all cases.  Thanks Mark

I have checked for leaks and the fluid level is staying the same so its not leaking.  I will get a seal kit in the morning. Thanks