Living with the Triumph TR4A - Page 2

Here you will find all of the things that go with running, maintaining and enjoying our Triumph TR4A.
Problem solved. The nylon uprated steering bushes were gripping the column. Taking a fine edge off on the internal diameter with a reamer fixed the problem. The steering clamp bolt sheared so this was replaced. In all, to strip down the column, do the work and rebuild it all back up tok around 7 hours. Most of that time is on your back under the dash!!

We are back on the ramp to rebuild the steering - again!!!!!!!

Something is not right so it has to be sorted. The notch feeling in the column looks like it is the new bushes being too tight.

Roger on the TR Register TR4A Forum suggested using a reamer to get rid of any flat spots so that is what we will try next. We will also be looking at the way the shaft locates in to the splines to ensure it is located very tightly.

The picture our the left is our TR4A back on the ramp ready to examine the steering to try and find the issues.
Picture above shows the reamer with the nylon shavings it cut out all over it. Hand reaming is easy enough and took around 2 minutes to do.

If you drive your Triumph TR4A it's going to get dirty - May 2017

I drove our Tr4A in some shocking weather in 2016/17. The wet roads make a right mess of things so now it is time to clean it all up and give the car a deep clean before we use it for the summer. I have was given a Karcher steam cleaner for my birthday and I also bought an American dryer. The steam cleaner does a good job of getting the dirt loose but it still takes plenty of elbow-grease to really get it all clean.
The results are worth it but it takes hours. I reckon the total time will be around 14 hours to clean it all. As a tip, WD40 does a great job of lifting the grime on a white TR. The colour really shows the dirt. Click any picture for a bigger one in the gallery below.

London to Brighton Classic 2017

Another great day out. Some pictures taken by others. As I get them I'll post them here. Real fun day out, quite a few Triumphs but a real mix of different car makes and types. The sun shone again this year!!!

Brooklands Race Track June 2017
What a treat. The London to Brighton Classic started at Brooklands Museum. I cheekily drove on the the historic track to get the photo. One of those opportunities that may never happen again!
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We were at the Darling Buds of May Classic in Kent and a TR pulled up alongside us. We were in our Wolseley Hornet Shorty. We got chatting the owner of the TR, Richard Sewell, turned out to be at Brooklands too. He took the photo of us below. The same picture as above from another angle. What a small world it is.?
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Under the nose of Concorde! - June 2017.

Awaiting our start at the London to Brighton Classic we managed to sneak in this picture.
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London to Brighton Classic June 2017

Triumph TR4A Steering! - Still not happy- June 2017
I thought we had nailed the steering issues but it steel feels like there is something catching somewhere. ARRRRGGGHHHH! Does this mean we strip it all down for the 6th time!!!!??? Investigation required.

Triumph TR4A - Centre console completed and sun visors installed.
Here you can see the AMCO centre console all completed with matching trim. It was vinyl painted and the chrome was re-chromed. It is great having an arm rest and the speaker works a treat (We put a new modern speaker in. Our period radio has a lead that goes to our mobile phone for music.)
The AD below was found in April 2018 - What a find! Evidence that you could get the centre console in out trim colours. Odd the female drier is holding a gun:-)
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Vanity Mirror Installed

After a few trips out with my wife it was obvious that a Vanity Mirror might help the day run smoother. This is a simple fix buying a self-adhesive vanity mirror on eBay and sticking it on:-) It would be great if you could get one that was more moulded with the sun-visor but this does the job.

Triumph TR4A - Tool and parts holders
There are 2 spaces under the boot board and I have made storage units out of foam with a plywood backing. It is a great place to store many of the the things that can go wrong on a drive out.

Triumph TR4A customs luggage boot/trunk board

Due to running our Triumph TR4A IRS on slightly wider wheels - 72 spoke centre laced chrome wires - the spare sits higher than a standard wheel.

This meant that a custom solution to the luggage board in the boot/trunk was needed. It presented the opportunity to make some spares holders that neatly sit in the voids under each side. I have filled a series of small tins with all of the little screws/bolts/fuses/clips/throttle clamps that usually go wrong or missing when doing a roadside repair.

​Also in the boards are gaffa-tape, spark plug spanner, spark plugs. bulbs. fuel hose, hose clips, a sharp knife and other bits and bobs.

Triumph TR4A - Drivers door arm rest - June 2017
After fitting the centre console tat doubles as an arm rest, the drive feels a little lopsided so I have created an arm rest for the drivers side. It will be trimmed to match the interior in leather from the offcuts I have left over from trimming.
The arm rest is held in place with 4 screws from behind the door card. The door card is made of hardboard so not so ridged. There is not much room for using a backing plate as the card sits on the door itself. So, 4 screws were used at equal distance with washers to spread the load. Under test it appears to be very robust so fingers crossed. Again, M&K did the trim.

Another Triumph TR4A Tropical Fan - June 2017
One of the blades on our Tropical Fan split. I was concerned about the imbalance it would place on the engine if only a small one. I bought this one on eBay, blasted it and am now painting it to match our engine. I post a picture of the split one when I remove it.

Using the car every day!

The amazing weather we are having this June makes using the TR4A a lot of fun. Shopping, bombing around and general going places is a blast.

Let's hope the sun keeps shining.

I am still not happy with the steering as it seems to be notch again and sloppy now. So the plan is to strip it all down again to try to get the issue sorted once and for all.

I have some new steering column bushes. I am going to recap some of the threads on the dash bracket captive bolts to get a super tight fit and I will investigate the wishbone area to check nothing os catching the steering in any shape or form. Fingers crossed we get it sorted.