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Tips

1st flat tire

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Kirk_Fisher

Kirk_Fisher

Jedi Hopeful
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I drove the TR all day yesterday. It ran perfectly and we even had short run up to about 70 on the interstate. I went out last night to put the car cover on and noticed the left rear was flat. I pulled out the owners manual and took a look at the jack. Are they kidding? That is the jack? How the heck does it work and is it safe?
 
If you're talking about an original jack from the TR4, actually, they work very well. They lift the whole side of the car. You have to remove the carpet in front of the seat on the side that has the flat. You will then see a large (about 3") rubber plug in the floor. Remove that, and stick the jack in the hole. The hook on the jack connects into a hole in the side of the frame. Crank it up, and the whole side of the car will lift up. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

If you're worried about it being safe, just put a jackstand underneath when you get it up. I wouldn't crawl around under the car with just the jack there, but it is great for just changing wheels.
 
Assuming we're talking about your '4, and the jack is the cylindrical device you found, you should also have a ratchet type device w/ the jack. On the jack itself is a little tongue. Once you pry the round gasket from your floorboard, the jack goes through the hole, and the the tongue will mate up with a recess along the frame. You use the ratchet to raise and lower the jack, raising and lowering the car.
The first time I used it on my '3, I thought it a joke, but it's a rather elegant, simple, space saving system. Although I use a floorjack in the garage, I've used the stock jack a couple times in tight confines, and it's also something most people have never seen used before.... just another quirk of British cars!
 
Ok, I jacked up the TR and started inflating the tire. After it got some decent pressure in it, I turned off the compressor and I could hear air escaping. Turns out, there is a spoke missing that I had never noticed and the air was coming out the hole where the spoke attaches. It looks like the tube herniated through the hole.

Need a new wheel? I suspect finding a spoke and getting it in tune will be tough.
 
Call Fosters Wheel Service in Ballard Wa. They will take care of you no problem!
 
Well it seems that the tube should not have herniated out the missing spoke hole if you had properly installed rim Bands on the rims. Replacing broken spokes and retruing wire wheels is a standard LBC exercise. Check for the service in your area.--Fwiw--Keoke
 
Hi Kirk:

Once you get your spoke installed you tune it by sound. A properly tuned spoke will give off a nice sounding tone. A loose one will be a dull thud. You will need a spoke wrench (Moss Motors $9.75). the spoke wrench is the proper size for the spoke nipple. Hit the spoke with your spoke wrench NOT A WHACK but a tap, try it on all of your spokes and you will get the idea. I bought my spokes from British Wheel in either North or South Carolina. Go on the web to find them. They were $6.00 each a couple of years ago. The object is to get them to all sound alike. Best to do with the tire off the wheel.
The other problem with spokes is that the spoke nipple tends to get corroded and a bugger to get off. They have a bad habit of getting rounded corners. I have had to cut some off. I understand that heating them with a torch and putting water on them tends to pop them loose. Haven't tried that trick yet, but I have only done one wheel so I have 3 or 4 to go and I reckon that it will be time for the old torch and water trick.

Good Luck, Tinkerman
 
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