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An old problem returns.

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Hasbeen
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An old problem returns.

Postby Hasbeen » 16 Apr 2013 05:26

These cars are most definitely in the use it or loose it brigade. They don't like doing nothing. I think this is what has precipitated my little hiccup today.

Mine has had months off in the last year with having the Air conditioning fitted, the full paint job, & the new engine. It has run less than 25% of the year.

One product of this is a miss that returned today. I was on my way to a suburb on the fringe of the big nasty city, & feeling a slight hesitation from time to time. It produced even a couple of back fires, [through the tail pipe] along the way.

I figured I knew what it was, but when it cut for a half a second, & the rev counter dropped almost to zero, before catching again, I was pretty sure.

Over time the brass bayonet connectors bolted to the coil go a dark colour, it is not corrosion, just oxidisation, but it must inhibit electric contact. The connectors can also loose their spring & make poor contact.

I stopped & checked the connectors, & they were tight. I worked them on & off a few times & the car ran OK when restarted, so I continued.

It was coughing a bit by the time I reached town, so my first stop was the parts store. Now armed with a tin of contact cleaner I removed each connector, sprayed it liberally, & worked it on & off a few times. With this done to all three, the car runs sweetly again.

However in my previous experience, this "FIX" only lasts a few months. Last time they only fully responded to taking the bayonet fittings off, acid washing them, & polishing them with a fine disc in the Dremel.

This time I just might go for a FIX that lasts more than 9 years. I'll see if I can find some that don't oxidise.

Hasbeen

dursleyman
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Postby dursleyman » 16 Apr 2013 11:49

Hasbeen, I would have thought nine years was a pretty good life span for a small fix like that on our cars, after that you will then have a reason to fix it again.

One of my neighbours was passing the other day whilst I was tinkering and asked me "Is it finished yet?".
I had to explain that she was missing the point, the car is to tinker with, drive, and tinker with some more, so it will never be actually finished.
She walked away puzzled.

Russ

1980 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

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FI Spyder
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Postby FI Spyder » 16 Apr 2013 18:45

After cleaning your contacts, try some di-electric grease on them. It is a non conductive grease (seems counter intuitive) that prevents the metal from re-corroding as oxygen never touches the surface. A little tube/pack goes a long way. Any auto parts store should carry it.



- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT
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Hasbeen
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Postby Hasbeen » 16 Apr 2013 23:30

I did Spyder, but it appears I should have given it a re-grease sometime in the last few years. Should have mentioned I think that was what made it last 9 years.


Russ, I've got a few things to tinker with right now. My wheels are not looking too good, & need a polish, I've got the fuel pump spacer, & it is time for a brake fluid change.

I usually do anything that does not require a floor jack out beside the shed, on the lawn, in the sunlight. These old eyes don't see too well in the dark of the shed these days.

If ever it realises our wet season should have been over about 6 weeks ago, & stops raining, I promise I'll get into it again. That's my excuse anyway.

Hasbeen

195r13s
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Postby 195r13s » 17 Apr 2013 12:22

One of my neighbours was passing the other day whilst I was tinkering and asked me "Is it finished yet?".
I had to explain that she was missing the point, the car is to tinker with, drive, and tinker with some more, so it will never be actually finished.
She walked away puzzled.

1980 TR7 Sprint DHC
Dursley
UK
Russ,
http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

Russ,
Thanks for reminding me of the proper perspective...

Once, on a bus in the West of Ireland, I caught a conversation between the driver and a local farmer. Both were lamenting their new 'tinkerproof,' computerized motors.
The farmer's tale concerned a daily tractor ride--in any weather--to the pub that he used to give his cousin, "God rest his soul." Most days they would make it, but sometimes not, and would spend some hours by the lane 'tinkering' w the stalled tractor. Driver and farmer (and me) then acknowledged the deep truth in this condition... "Aye, wasn't it grand!"

For some reason, not all seem to agree on the grandness of tinkering. Ah well,










Tom D
'76 TR7V6 FHC

FI Spyder
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Postby FI Spyder » 17 Apr 2013 13:12

Ah, yes, the "tinkering. It certainly adds something to the experience. Harken back two years to my "Road Trip" post. The TR7 that didn't start the first overnight because of split carb mounts. The three hours we tried everything to get it going which ultimately revealed a chipmunk under the TR6's bonnet thinking it was a good place to go to sleep.

The continual shorting out in the Dolomite Sprint's overdrive's wiring that caused multiple stops while I blissfully continued in the lead only to have to wait at next stop, meeting people I wouldn't otherwise have met.

The flat tire on the TR6 with the same result.

The rattling on the TR4 resulting from hitting the exhaust on the ferry ramp the first day resulting in wrenches coming out to make "adjoostments" that became the rallying cry throughout the trip (I'm not fixing anything, I'm making an adjoostement). (He was from upper East coast of UK so Shaun knows the accent).[:D]

The MGB that wouldn't start in Morro Bay because of loose/corroded starter connection.

The leaking heater valve on the TR6 resulting in one last pull over to cap off the voyage before getting back on the ferry.

Of course these memories are enhanced by the fact that no stops or pull overs were caused by the Spider (that every one was waiting for it to happen but never did).[8D]



- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT
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Hasbeen
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Postby Hasbeen » 19 Apr 2013 05:51

OK I've now fitted my fuel pump spacer, but I could not check the pressure as I dont have a low pressure pressure gauge, I use a mates when needed.

Reducing the pressure also reduces the flow, & going too far induces fuel starvation. To check that I was pumping sufficient fuel I gave the thing a full acceleration test from rest, through 5000 RPM in each gear, & 4000 in top in some respect of our speed laws.

When playing with this in the past, the thing was suffering fuel starvation by the top end of 3Rd, when the pressure was down to 1.8 PSI. This test was passed in flying colours. I repeated the test, not because I needed to, but because it was fun.

However a little later, doing a gentle U turn, the car missed a couple of times, & some evidence of that slight "fluffiness" I'm attributing to the coil connections was still there.

It was there again today, on my way to town despite a further cleaning of the connectors, so I picked up some small ring tail connectors while there.

Cut the existing wires back a couple of inches, & fitted these once back home. Removed the bayonet connector fittings from the coil & bolted the new connectors direct to the coil.

Took another test run, & no combination or power or throttle could induce anything bet beautiful response. So in the words from My Fair Lady, [don't worry kids, before your time], I think she's [I've] got it.

Talk about tinkering!

Hasbeen

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