TR8 Steering Wheel

[Maki]

Motalita recovered my original TR8 wheel no problem.

[Ianftr8]

How long since you had that done Maki?

Cheers

Ian

edit have now sent email to Mota lita as well.
Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC KDU 315V
Triumph Courier
Triumph owner for 32 years

[kermit]

Sounds like Moto-Lita is still doing the 13" wheels (see correspondence from them below):

Scott

Thank you for your email. We can recover the wheel, but are not taking on any repairs until January. We have a two-week annual break and return to work on January 3rd.

The cost of recovering the wheel is £85 plus delivery (£13), plus VAT.

If you are in the UK, please return to us in January with a full covering letter, stating your name, address, telephone number and email address. If you are not in the UK, please contact us again before sending the wheel.


Best regards
Karen MacKenzie
Moto-Lita Ltd incorporating Aviation Leathercraft

www.moto-lita.co.uk
www.flying-jacket.com

Tel +44 (0)1264 772811
Fax +44 (0)1264 773102
karen@moto-lita.co.uk

Thruxton Industrial Estate
Thruxton Airport
Nr Andover, Hampshire
SP11 8PW, England

Registered office: Aldwych House, Winchester Street, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 2EA - Company Reg No: 821489

From: Scott Bancroft
Sent: 07 December 2013 23:15
To: Info
Subject: Triumph TR8 Steering Wheel Recover

Greetings,
I was told that you recover old steering wheels. I have a 13" Moto-Lita leather steering wheel from a 1980 TR8 that needs a recover (see attached pic). Can you do this and what is the cost?
Thanks,
Scott


80 TR8 DHC
Poseidon Green

[Maki]

I think mine was recovered about five years ago, £80 rings a bell but the finish was perfect.

[FI Spyder]

Pretty cheap when you consider the cost of a reproduction steering wheel for a Mustang. A customer told me it cost him between $350 and $400 and that was quite a few years ago. Mind you they are worth a lot of money these days.[:p]



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

[Ianftr8]

I had this one line email from them this morning:

"Thank you for your email. We cannot refurbish a wheel that we have not made (i.e. that does not have the Moto-Lita logo stamped on the spoke). Our jigs and pattern cutters are only set to take our wheels.

Moto-Lita Ltd incorporating Aviation Leathercraft

www.moto-lita.co.uk"

I have however had a reply from the other company I tried and will make some more enquiries with them.

Cheers

Ian


Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC KDU 315V
Triumph Courier
Triumph owner for 32 years

[FI Spyder]

Sounds like they're passing the buck. How come they do it for some then (Monica in US and Maki in UK)?


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

[Ianftr8]

Ah ha,

May have some news - as they say watch this space!

Not to be put off by a one line email - My Friend has been in contact with Moto-Lita by phone this morning December 19th and has at least got a we'll look at it response.

So with the wheel I have to get done, can we have some idea of how many wheels other people have needing refurbishing.

Happy Christmas

Cheers

Ian[;)]

Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC KDU 315V
Triumph Courier
Triumph owner for 32 years

[Spectatohead]

I have the one on my car and another one on the shelf in my garage. I would get at least one of them done.

Jim Clark
'80 TR8
'97 Maxima 5spd

[kermit]

Ian,
I would be interested in a recover.

Happy Holidays!


80 TR8 DHC
Poseidon Green

[Ianftr8]

Great,

Mota-Lita are now shut until 2014. once we have approval on the first wheel I'll let you know the news.

happy Christmas

Ian

Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC KDU 315V Poseidon Green
Triumph Courier
Triumph owner for 32 years

[kermit]

The latest correspondence from Simon at Moto-Lita from yesterday:

"The wheel in your photo was manufactured by the French company, and has a different shaped rim, which our rubber moulding will not fit."

He suggested buying a new 13" Mark 4 wheel which is almost identical to the original.


1980 TR8 DHC
Poseidon Green

[Ianftr8]

Hi Kermit,

That's interesting to know about Mota Lita - I'll try the other company that quoted and let you know how I get on.

Cheers

Ian

Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC KDU 315V Poseidon Green
Triumph Courier
Triumph owner for 32 years

[FI Spyder]

Rubber molding? I thought they recovered in leather.



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

[Ianftr8]

Ok, here is the latest,latest news!

My Friend sent his wheel off to Mota Lita, his wheel which looked the same as mine is basically an aluminium stamping with a mild steel ring riveted to the back of it (for strength) which has an injection formed / moulded rubber/foam which is then in turn covered with a leather outer.

The wheel has been looked at and what Simon at Mota Lita is saying is these are a copy of their design (French made). Because they have the mild steel riveted ring this makes them too thick for their rubber moulding process.

<font size="3">But</font id="size3"> here is some good news!

Mota Lita can supply a wheel that looks exactly the same but comes with polished aluminium - if we want an anodised finish this will take longer all for around £130 + postage and tax

I have one of these new wheels which is black painted and rather than polished leather it is like suede (rally car job) which looks exactly like the original.
They also do the bosses and the proper screws as well.

So is it really worth having a wheel recovered I ask?

Cheers

Ian

Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC KDU 315V Poseidon Green
Triumph Courier
Triumph owner for 32 years