Starter relay

[nick]

Searched the forums with no success. Has anyone replaced a starter relay in a TR7 lately? Need a part number please.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[nick]

Removed the round cover from the blue starter relay and found that it works as it should when the key is turned. Yet it will not make contact well enough to turn the starter unless I apply pressure to the contact. I sanded and used cleaner on the contact to no avail. It closes when the key is turned to start but will not turn the starter.

Next I removed the cover from the red air conditioner relay. They are very nearly the same but not quite. The small diagram on the cover is slightly different. But when performing a continuity test on them they test the same. If plugged into the starter connector it turns the starter but when the key is moved to the off position the warning lights on the panel stay on. All this tells me all 30amp 5pole relays are not the same.

There is a 5 pole 30amp relay at my local parts store selling for US$4.00 that I'm tempted to try. I worry however that it could do some damage.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[FI Spyder]

BP Northwest has a cheap replacement, also looks like one that Rimmers sells.

http://www.bpnorthwest.com/triumph/tr7-tr8/engine-electrical/relay-26ra-replacement-lucas-brand.html

This is original (red rather than blue) and although not specifically stated it's for starter as well, much more money).

http://www.bpnorthwest.com/triumph/tr7-tr8/engine-electrical/relay-26ra-red-lucas-brand.html

Robsport lists it for £15:
UKC7219

I've got both types as spares but haven't actually tried it.

Get some contact cleaner or metal cleaner in the contacts/contact block on the wiring loom and brush around with a pipe cleaner, then flush out with alcohol or brake cleaner if you use metal cleaner (be careful you don't want it spraying everywhere). Try closing the contact clamps a little with a tiny screwdriver or pointy tool to tighten them up (something I have yet to do). Twice I had them not make good contact where it would click the relay but not activate the starter solenoid.

When it failed for me when I was visiting my nephew near Seattle I took off the cover and it was like new inside. I taped it back up and after a push start it got me back home. 50/50 chance of working, had one push start to get onto BC Ferry. Cleaning connector block and it's fine now but I think not good clamping pressure in contact block is causing the recurring problem, (twice in last 5 years).




- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[nick]

I have tried everything including attempting to bend the tang inward so that it pushes slight harder against the contact. No luck. But a slight additional pressure from my finger causes it to work every time.

Thanks for the link for the relay. But that second link, the more expensive one, is the same red relay I tried in my car and described in my last post. It will not work. If you look at the diagrams on on the relays the red one shows the 87 and 87a closed. On my blue relay, those two are open. Also the description calls out a bunch of uses but not starter.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[FI Spyder]

I do have a blue one, I don't know where I got it, have to check on other computer. VB lists the starter solenoid for cheap. The original blue ones are quite a bit more.


The first time mine went I cleaned it with contact cleaner. The second time a few years later I didn't have any contact cleaner, I used Wicked metal polish. Any metal cleaner should work should work.







- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[nick]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by FI Spyder</i>

I do have a blue one, I don't know where I got it, have to check on other computer. VB lists the starter solenoid for cheap. The original blue ones are quite a bit more.


The first time mine went I cleaned it with contact cleaner. The second time a few years later I didn't have any contact cleaner, I used Wicked metal polish. Any metal cleaner should work should work.







- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for the inspiration. I took the relay cover off again. For about the 20th time. But this time I removed the small spring and then the contact tang. This allowed me to get a good look at the post. I found it pitted. So I filed it smooth and then turned the tang in so it made the contact with the post a bit more solid. And vola. It works.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC