HOW TO RESTORE A SMITHS HEATER

RESTORING SMITHS HEATERS AS FITTED TO A 1959 TRIUMPH TR-3A

Triumph offered Smiths heaters as an optional accessory in all side screen TR’s. The diagram below shows a schematic of the heating circuit, which is fed from the cylinder head through valve (7) through the heater core, then returning to the water pump through fitting (12). These heaters were fairly trouble free when coolant was changed on a regular basis, and if the cooling system and heater were flushed annually. Most problems involve a plugged core or some type of electrical malfunction. This article will provide a simple step by step procedure for (1) checking the heater for proper function, (2) dismantling the heater for examination of components and (3) refinishing and reassembly.
Attachment 59572