Rutty

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

Quoted from A TR7 16V-

I can't seem to find a clip for the pedal end of the cable. Anybody know a source, got a spare to sell, or able to suggest an alternative?

Graham

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

Quoted from Dannyb-

You are correct

Danny

 

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

Quoted from Velocita Rosso-

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

Quoted from cliftyhanger-

My friend Pete has built many boxes, and after a bad experience years ago with a layshaft pin that lasted 5 miles (yep, that was all) has so far managed to find good used pins to re-use. For some reason non-od boxes have a much easier life so are a good source of parts. 

I think the pin is common to later spitfire boxes as well as GT6/Vitesse? 

For bearings he uses a local bearing supplier, but buys proper brands only. Some bearings he re-uses, and keeps just about anything from inside a gearbox, though he is getting short of stuff now the supply is drying up. 

Moral is, find a good non-od box as a source of parts. Or maybe give Mr Papworth a call??

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

Quoted from nang-

No disrespect intended but quite happy to rebuild engines and even  overdrives but I think I would give my gearbox to a specialist, which I did with my 2500TC.

Tony.

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.

Quoted from Velocita Rosso-

Quoted from thescrapman-

I suspect that you haVe a duff ignition switch. Hot wire the car and see if it keeps running

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

My brake pedal is firm when pressed but after about 15 seconds the pedal slowly goes to the floor. No brake fluid is lost. I seem to remember this most likely to be the master cylinder seals. I am i right?

Thanks 

Mark

Thanks Mike and Colin.

Results have now been checked and code boards collected. One code board on a LWR on section 2 has gone missing overnight so it makes no difference to the placements. Also a miss count on the fails for car 6 and 3 means they both drop 1 fail each but it makes no difference to the results.

Mike Banks/Colin Wake - Mk3 Spitfire - Expert     1st overall 2 Fails

Roger Saunt/Richard Warr - 2000 Mk1 - Novice    2nd and first Novice 4 Fails and 15:30 on tiebreaker.

Dale Barker/Nigel Abdullah - 2000 - Expert          3rd and first Expert 4 Fails and 27:30 on tiebreaker.

Clive Senior/Gill Senior - Toledo - Novice            4th 6 fails

Leighton Ball/Alison Ball - 2.5Pi MkII - Novice      5th 9 Fails

Tim Hunt/Pierre Miles - TR4A - Novice                 6th 21 fails

Annie Andrews/Ruth Jennaway - 2500TC - Beginner   None competitive class 5 Fails would have been 4th if competing.

I hope you all had a great time it has been a lot of hard work but fun setting it up. Its now time to have a well earned rest.

Mark Rutter and Pete Jackson.

I have already said my two pence worth about the ques at the first control and LE but if nothing changes for next time around I will still be taking part again and for as long as I can drive I will keep taking part. As for favourite parts its all great just some bits are even greater than others.

Mark. 

I heard a rumour that shuttleworth is being considered for the start/finish next time does anyone know if that is correct? If its not correct it would be worth considering and it would give a better route on the last section.

The changes that would be nice to see are More marshals at the first control when the cars are still all bunched together it took 30 minuets to get our road book signed and I know its been said before but we have to sort out the breakfast que at Lands End. Talk about the most inefficient method of working I have ever seen.

As for the rest of it I love it and would hate to loss Badgers Halt.

Mark

1. Clive Senior/Gill Senior - Toledo - Novice

2. Mike Banks/Colin Wake - Mk3 Spitfire - Expert

3. Annie Andrews/Ruth Jennaway - 2500TC - Beginner

4. Leighton Ball/Alison Ball - 2.5Pi Mk II saloon - Novice

5. Dale Barker/Nigel Abdullah - 2000 - Expert

6. Roger Saunt/Richard Warr - 2000 Mk1 - Novice

7. Tim Hunt/Pierre Miles - TR4A - Novice