tr7triumph.com

Has anyone experimented with different column stalks for the tr7?

I think we would all agree that the oem ones are very flimsy and don't age well

Brian

We'll have to agree to disagree there
I am driving TR7's since 1988 and never had one fail ...

Both of my cars have had stalks replaced. There are two styles but I don't know what year they changed.

Replaced them on mine.

Early RHD cars had the indicators on the right of the column and the indicators to the left, later RHD cars had the opposite which makes for some awkwardness in overtaking manoeuvres, having to both indicate and change gears at the same time using the same hand!
Who knows why they made this stupid change???? I suspect it was another bright idea from the damned bean counters.

My car had a broken indicator stalk when I got the car, so I took the opportunity to change both stalks to the earlier type.
The new indicator stalk burned out on the first day (bloody Lucas rubbish) so I took it back and got another.
This time I wired a relay into the indicator circuit so as the stalk wouldn't have to carry all the current, It's worked fine ever since.

We have had trouble with the 8 in a number of ways, basically from brittle plastic.

On the 7 mine weren't working at all. Fortunately I had the spares car, because things [balls & springs] sprang everywhere when I took the old one apart. I used it as a tutorial, & when I took the one from the spares car apart, I knew what not to do.

After cleaning everything up, I decided the detent springs were too strong for the old plastic where the levers go in. I cut one coil off each spring, & squared the ends.

That was 14 years ago, & they still work well.

My son suggested I was cutting the wrong springs, if I wanted to lower the car. Do you think he was right?

Hasbeen

Mine had a broken mechanism in the high beam change mechanism and the indicators didn't work (actually was dash switches that the indicator electricity goes through) so I put a new assembly in. I agree the indicator stalks are flimsy when compared to American cars or Japanese cars but that's part of the character having a European car. The only objection I have is the auto indicator shut off does not do it half the time and is not vary sensitive to steering wheel movement.