TR4/4A Gear oil and choke question

[scottkilpatrick]

Hi I am new here and have just taken ownership of my dream car a 1962 TR4.


There are numerous things I plan on addressing over the first year - I a fairly novice mechanic but plan on learning a bit over time.

A few questions I have for other TR4 owners. I am not seeing in the manual the current type of transmission oil to use - I plan on changing the the fluids as I have no idea when they were last done. I already did the old and filter.

Question #1 - Can anyone recommend what to use for the transmission fluid?


Question #2 - The choke control is very stiff and does not stay out will pulled - I have to hold it out or it goes back in (off) - can someone confirm if this is standard or should it stay out when I pull it out?


Thanks all

 

[poolboy]

See if twisting the choke knob will lock it into position.

 

[Sarastro]

The choke knob should be twisted in one direction (CCW, I think) to set it and the other way to release it. But the catch that supposedly holds it in position is not strong and wears easily. As for the stiffness, try a little oil dripped into the end of the cable. If that doesn't work, you may have to take it apart to see what is binding. It is often a little stiff.

Most here will recommend a GL4-rated gear oil like Redline MT90, 75W-90 grade. It's not cheap, but you don't need much. There are others that work, too. The conventional wisdom is that more modern, GL5 rated oils are not compatible with the brass sychro rings, but many GL5 oils these days have buffers that prevent synchro damage. Swepco 901 is one I'm aware of--very high quality, but also expensive (~$100/gal). However, it may be hard to determine which ones are OK. I just use the MT90 in the TR4A and be done with it.

Good luck with your "new" TR4! Keep us informed as to how you're doing with it.

 

[scottkilpatrick]

Thanks everyone. I figured out the choke was a twist - thanks for that. I will go with the Redline. Anyone know approx how much it takes - the manual doesn't say.

 

[Sarastro]

A non-overdirve transmission will require a little over a quart. With overdrive, I'm not sure, but I suspect two quarts should be enough.