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TR5/TR250 Another Example of British Engineering

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glemon

glemon

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My thermostat quit today, was driving around and it started to overheat, usually runs pretty cool, had noticed it wavering around a bit the last time I drove too



Imagine, breaking down after only 46 years, it looks like the little tab that is supposed to hold the crosspiece in place wore or corroded off, causing the crosspiece to sit sideways on the shaft and bind, kind of hard to see in the pic, but the right side is lower.

Actually thought the originals was kind of cool and left it in after my rebuild five years ago, assume it is original as people seldom replaced them with the more expensive bellows type back in the old days.

I only had a spare 160 F lying around and it runs really cool now, only going about a quarter up the scale, will probably go get a 180 F one tomorrow, was that the standard temp as original? looks like I could get a 195 too.
 
glemon said:
I only had a spare 160 F lying around and it runs really cool now, only going about a quarter up the scale, will probably go get a 180 F one tomorrow, was that the standard temp as original? looks like I could get a 195 too.
Click to expand...
Kind of hard to say. According to the workshop manual, the original Tstat started to open at 160F (70C) and didn't get fully open until 197F (92C). Since normally they are rated by the opening temperature, that would make it a 160F thermostat. But, it opens so slowly that normal operating temperature will be well above that. So I think a modern 180F is a better approximation.
 
Hi There glemon,

The 180-185 F Thermostat is typ. used for both Winter & Summer driving. More of a Gen. Purpose use; If there is such a thing.

Regards, Russ
 
Thanks for the info, I think the internet makes me lazy (always blame an outside factor, never take responsibility) as after I posted my question about the stock thermostat I found the answer in my trusty Haynes manual, which was all of 5 feet away from me at the time. Got a 180 F thermostat and a gasket at the FLAPS, always a bonus when you can actually go down the street and pick up a part locally, even listed in their database as correct part for a TR250, so avoided the usual confounding of the parts counter guy by telling him year make and model wont help in his search.
 
Thanks Randall, I like technology, but I still feel I can flip through a book faster than a scanned or otherwise stored book onscreen, but it would be handy to have all the guides stored or available on a cheap tablet out in the garage. As an aside, I drove around with the 180 thermostat today, and the gauge, once the car was warm, stayed in right in the middle between the two small dots that I think are there to show where it is supposed to be. Never have had an old british car that runs so cool the thermostat actually determines operating temp til the TR250, I had the later big red fan on the car, but took it off when I realized I didn't need it and it was probably robbing a couple HP.
 
TR3driver said:
See, what you need is a version loaded on your hard drive :smile:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2...NDEzLWJjN2YtNTc1OWRkNjE4MjY4/edit?usp=sharing

I'm not so fond of the Haynes, so I generally "reach" for the factory manual instead:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2...NGUzLWE4NzMtMGRkODRkYzU3MDU1/edit?usp=sharing
Click to expand...

NICE!! That's a later version of my paper shop book - a TR2 book with "supplement" that I always forget to look through! I have been thinking the garage needs a large touch screen monitor, or a tablet on a larger monitor, for pictures. But, now with a book too....just need to figure out how to break it to the wife.
 
Well, just a thought. What I like to do is print out the pages I need for a project and carry them to the garage. Gives me something to write on, to tick off tasks performed or note parts needed; and if they get dirty they can just go in the trash.

And if I forgot something I need, then it gives me an excuse to clean up a bit, have a cold one and so on :smile:
 
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