Tim Hunt

Did you notice Mike that in your link the height of Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio was give at 13,000 feet! It is of course 1,300. I thought it was the Yanks who were given to exaggeration. Tim

Finally got around to replacing all the 2.2W screw fitting panel light bulbs with appropriate LED alternatives. The six that are permanently lit at night will save me 1 amp, useful when you are still running with a dynamo. Another motivation was to render the instruments easier to read in the hours of darkness. I prefer the whiter light of the LEDS. Whilst the lights are brighter they are not intrusive or distracting. However, there is one downside, the brighter bulbs produce images in the windscreen from the speedo, tacho and ammeter. these are a bit like an unwanted heads-up display and definitely distracting. I solved this with a piece of fabric- backed grained PVC leather cloth held in place by insulating tape on the demister outlet. Looks a bit odd but does the job and is easily removed when not required. I didn't want untidy insulating tape on the chromed instrument bezels LED bulbs were amazingly cheap (from PRC of course) and perhaps unsurprisingly not well made. Fitting one I found that the glass envelope came detached from the body when I screwed it in place so I used Araldite on the others to avoid this problem. Have adjusted headlights to give maximum possible reach along the near side, must be fine since no oncoming driver has flashed me at night since the adjustment. All set now for two comfortable long night drives. Tim  

Thanks Andy, done. isn't it easy when  you know how? I was initially frightened off by the facebook prompt then realised I could log in with email address and pre-established password. Tim

Thanks Howard, I clicked on the link you gave and can see all the teams listed for the 2016 event. My page is http://www.justgiving.com/tim-hunt2 and has £320 of donations to date. I would like to add it to the team list, as Andy has done but can't see how to do this. Can someone tell an electronic klutz like me how to do it please.  

Prompted by Howard's comment I did a search for Round Britain Reliability Run on the justgiving website and was surprised to see several entries still coming up for the 2014 event, all mixed up with Guide Dogs pages. The Macmillan references can cause confusion, cannot they be removed? Tim

I struggled to input my list, is there a limitation on number of characters? Anyway I gave up and will email the full list of what I will be carrying to the other entrants in TR3-TR4A vehicles, currently seven by my count. Tim

I am so sorry to hear your news Chris and wish you all the very best. Please try to take things easy. I am sure I speak for all when I say that the next RBRR won't be the same without you, I can quite understand why Jayson and Steve didn't accept your typically kind offer of the car. I don't know if 1986 was your first Round Britain but I certainly recall picking your brains that year in Morrison's workshop in Stirling where we had my dynamo stripped on the bench and were trying unsuccessfully to breathe new life into it. That was the year that I got round thanks to Andy Roberts who kindly shadowed me round the rest of the route exchanging his battery for mine when the latter had almost run down. I can also recall your taking one look under my hood and suggesting it was time for a rewire. I hope I am not tempting Providence to point out that nearly 30 years later and following the addition of several more after market electrical goodies my original loom is still in place and functioning fine! Chin up, Tim

Just had a look at the latest entry list and am surprised to see that whereas there are nine TR6s to date only 4 tractor-engined TRs feature. It might be an idea for us to share details nearer the date of what bits and pieces we will be carrying, not that Mark's lovely 4A is likely to need anything. I don't know who A and W K are but respect for entering a Gentry! They must be praying for a dry run; I recall a Gentry taking part many years ago when we had a lot of rain. I can't recall whether or not the car finished but can still see the occupants now, looking like two drowned rats. How great to see Nigel Abdullah actually planning to take part for the first time in many years, and so appropriate for the 50th Anniversary event. No chance of that team getting lost then - except perhaps when Nigel take kip - eh Dale? Tim

Gary, I am pleased to note that you are sticking with the original size 4.5" wheels on your 5 and are in the market for 165x15 rubber. There is a surprisingly large choice in this size, many of which I would not touch with a barge pole, but you may be interested in my recent post as follows on the TR Register Forum, if you hadn't spotted it. "I needed new rubber recently and following strong recommendations on this forum invested in five VredesteinT-Trac 2 tyres in 165/80 sourced from Mytyres. Based on my experience on a very wet motorway drive I can now also strongly endorse this tyre choice. Steering response and feel on a road surface with running water was excellent and the tyres inspired confidence under braking. They remind me of the Dunlop SP Sport "Aquajet" of forty plus years ago". Tim

I see I'm in at entry 42, my guess of number 50 wasn't so far off the mark! Thanks for the early heads up Jason, great to see some new names I don't recognise. Tim

Clearly if we ever went to online entry payments these would need to be into a CT account. However, I would strongly advise sticking to cheques for as long as we can. Sue and I manage a block of just 30 flats. This involves collecting insurance once a year and maintenance charges twice. About half the leaseholders choose to pay by direct transfer and despite repeated exhortations we always get one or two payments coming in that are not identified, involving several phone calls to sort. With the number of individual payments we could expect for an RBRR I can confidently predict a nightmare! Tim

Pete, try http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk I have always found them most competitive and the site is even easy for me to navigate! Tim

Before V.R. picks me up on it I did mean the cars were particularly nice (a 4A, a 5 and a Mk1 2000 superbly converted to PI). It goes without saying that all our members are nice! Tim

I was in Warwickshire yesterday valuing three particularly nice members' cars. On returning home I found the November mag on the door mat - super edition yet again Dale. I copied the RBRR entry form, completed it and stuck in in the post (with cheque of course). No collection until Monday so by the time Jason gets it I will probably be entry 50 or thereabouts! All being well this will be my 21st start in the 4A and this year I am once again teaming up with Mike Hockaday, a veteran of 13 Runs together, with 12 finishes. No, it wasn't unlucky 13th, our one failure (and the last RBRR DNF for my car) was in 1982 . I calculate that next October Mike will equal dear Les Mills's record for the number of RBRR starts by a co-driver. In fairness though Les did finish all of his! Tim  

Good thought Bill, I do not have oil temperature gauge however. Workshop manual figure for the 4A engine is 70psi at 2,000rpm hot. Marcus - can't see exactly where matrix failed, will investigate when I have removed it from the car. As for the bore of the thermostat inlets and outlets I have 1/2" i.d. cooler hose so these bore cannot be more than 3/8 max I guess. However, the Mocal OT1 stat was the one recommended for the TR4A cooler kit when I bought it over 30 years ago and apart from replacing what will now be three coolers I have had no trouble with it. I have a sandwich plate between filter head and block, retaining the original canister and disposable element filter. I tried a spin-on conversion twice but could never get it to seal so junked it and reverted to standard. Have a pit so filter change a doddle anyway. Tim

I recently spotted a drop in oil level after quite a short run in the 4A. I had a look round the engine for possible leaks and saw a film of oil over the radiator, the front mounted Kenlowe fan and motor and the radiator overflow bottle. I then noticed oil under an oil cooler mounting and over part of the cooler matrix - the cooler, mounted just behind the grille, was the culprit. It's an ill wind since I had planned to check out the ten-year-old cooler and change the hoses this winter anyway. I wanted to use the car yesterday so disconnected the cooler from the thermostat and linked the inlet and outlets with a short length of braided hose, which I have always carried in the car for just this possible use.(See attached). Under any conditions of road use my oil pressure never drops below a gauge reading of 70psi at 2,000rpm and 25-30psi at the (rather low) idle of an indicated 700rpm. I was interested to note yesterday that after around ten miles of dual carriageway, when the oil was fully warm, the pressure was 60psi at 2,000rpm and 15-20psi at idle. The oil is Millers Classic Performance 20w50 and has only done 2,000 miles. It is clear that when the engine is working hard the oil cooler is worth an additional 10psi. I have heard it said that for normal road use the 4 cylinder TRactor engine does not require an oil cooler. It may not strictly require one but I now have very good evidence that it does provide a benefit. Tim

I always go M2/A2 to and from Dover, looks like we dodged a bullet this time! Howard spent yesterday fettling the 4, new tacho cable, new wiper arms, oil change and greasing and is now off to Angouleme with the TR Register for the Circuit des Remparts. I really enjoyed the Run, being in a 4 I didn't miss my 4A too much, really love that unburstable feel of the tractor engine. However, I dislike the foot dip switch with a vengeance, doesn't suit my size 12s and even with some pipe insulation round the handbrake it was a bit uncomfortable on my left leg. The live axle made its presence felt over the rougher roads and the ride was not as compliant and comfortable as the 4A but a great car nonetheless. Tim

Thanks for the good wishes Roger - see you at the start. I know you will be with us all the way round in spirit. Tim

See you at Dover Laurence, all being well. Howard and I are  also on the 10,00 and we are staying in Dover tomorrow night. Tim

It's not a bad idea to make a note on each page of the roadbook which pages of your map(s) cover that particular roadbook page. This enable you quickly to find where you are in  my experience. saves allot of stickers/page markers. Tim

Will be fitting my 7"right hand dip units in Howard's TR4 since, hopefully, we will not be driving to or from Dover in the dark. I have used these units on the 4A for the last three 10CRs. Black insulating tape absorbs light which is lost. In the past I have cut masks from self adhesive aluminium tape, This does a good job since completely opaque, whilst a lot of the incident light will be reflected back from the rear of the mask and then reflected back through the lens. Anyway, that's what I reckoned! Tim

I'm sorry you feel upset Mike but I think you must have had a different email from Andy to the one I received this pm. I didn't' read it as at all threatening or aggressive but merely reflecting Andy's frustration that despite requests from the organisers, emphasised at the drivers' meetings that the route NOT be published outside the Club some have apparently done this. No allegations were made against any particular individuals, if the cap fits then it should be worn. Regards, Tim

I am with you Mike re floor mounted dips switches, never liked them. Shortly after we acquired the 4A in 1970 I removed the foot dipper and fitted a heavy duty two position on-on switch below the dashboard about six inches to the right of the steering column. I was pleased to find that the leads to the foot dipper were long enough to reach the new switch. I fitted a stiffish rubber extension to this switch and can operate it with fingertips whilst still keeping the heel of my right hand on the steering wheel. Tim  

According to the SC Parts catalogue the first TR6 carburettored engine number was CC25003, dating to September 1968. hope this might help. Not sure about the suffix "e", if a capital letter does it mean low compression - anybody? Tim

Surely you save £4.50 by using three £6 discounted vouchers to buy food/non alcoholic beverages and then the £4.50 buys you a pint if you must. However, isn't it better to keep a clear head for continental driving. Tim