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Arrgh-- OD worked -- temporarily!

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sammyb

Luke Skywalker
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I got my TR3 back after a month at the shop. It was there for two things: stop the car from popping out of 2nd and figure out why the OD didn't work.

To fix second gear, the old timer mechanic (who worked on my TR3 when new) notched the trans shifter cover and installed new shift forks I had gotten.

He also told me my carbs needed serious rebuilding, so I told the shop boss to order a carb kit.

After a $1130 bill /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/pukeface.gif (which included the guy putting in an MGB choke cable and fiddling with the carbs (and charging me for all this, none of which I asked for.)) I brought the car home to reinstall the trans tunnel.

The OD worked, but then I realized as I tried to refit the tunnel that the harness was installed crossed-up, so when the tunnel cover was placed, everything unplugged. No possible way to get the cover on the way he plugged the harnesses together.

Now I can't get the thing working again, but it looks like the wire from the solenoid is broken.

The car ran pretty well before, but now it's smoking rich. I think I'm going to have to talk to them about 1) why it was so expensive 2)why I have to pay for him to diddle with the carbs when I would want to pay once to have the carbs rebuilt properly.

Who is frustrated? ME!
 
Yeah, don't you just love it when some shop decides for you what you need and then don't tell you about the extra work until it's time to pay!
That is no way to run an honest shop! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
That's a real bummer, Sammy. I think would could all tell horror stories about getting screwed by shops, especially shops that specialize in LBC's. Not trying to top your unfortunate experience but the best that happened to me was when I had my engine and tranny overhauled by one such specialist, his $900 overhaul of my tranny consisted of cleaning the outside. When I finally sent it off to Quantum, John Esposito told me the bad news. The tranny had never been opened up since new. I think Katrina took his shop out, I didn't shed a tear.


Bill
 
Spoke to a friend today about the cost of rebuilding OD's. The costs are escalating because of the difficulty and expense in acquiring replacement parts. Don't expect things to get any cheaper.
Check the wiring diagram from a shop manual. They often have an OD diagram included.
 

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Hello Sam,

coincidentally, I have just dismantled an overdrive solenoid to fix a non operating pull in coil switch (internal). The solenoid wire is easily replaced with a soldering iron.
I'm assuming that your three has an 'A' type.

Alec
 
Hi Sammy I was wondering if you might have a picture of the notched trans shifter cover. I have chased a second gear problem around for years and perhaps I could learn something new here.
sp53
 
HAy All, Sorry to hear about you bad shop experience. I just got lucky I guess in that I have a friend that has a shop that spec. in cars from other countrys and that charges resonable rates for work that actually gets done. The place is about 10 miles down the highway(in the next town)but its been worth it for me as I have 2 forign cars.(`76 tr-7 and `80 supra) Most of the work I do myself(and always have) but for some stuff that I can`t do or for stuff that I REALLY don`t want to do I go to him. Hope you have better luck somewhere else! Robbie in Wyoming
 
[ QUOTE ]
popping out of 2nd

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Sam,

You haven't, by any chance, been using a synthetic oil in the gearbox, have you? If so, switching back to a mineral-based oil might have been the solution. 2nd gear pop-out is a common problem with TR gearboxes when synth oil is used in them.

Regarding the rest of your post... they really should make it right... especially considering how much they charged you! I'd take the car back to get the carbs re-adjusted or corrected as needed and to sort out the OD wiring!

Geez. Sorry your having such a hassle with them.
 
I went back to the shop today, and they're actually good guys. What I gather is that the mechanic (who is in his 80s) tallies the hours and gives it to the shop owner, who puts out the bill.

I mentioned the issues with the carb work, and the owner basically said that I didn't pay for much time to work on the carbs. As for the OD, evidently my car's OD won't work if wired like the wiring diagram. (if someone has ever heard of this, let me know!) Something evidently is crossed, which makes me wonder if the relay is funky. He couldn't remember which wires needed to be crossed to make it all work, but he said they'd put it back together and make extensions to fit the tunnel.

And SP53, as for the notched trans cover, that's evidently the trick the mechanic used back in the 50s when TR2-4s were new and popping out. I don't have a pic, but he showed me the notch at the shop. Essentially, he carved a notch so that when the shifter is in second, the bearing rests in the notch. (Take off the cover, flip it over and pull the handle into second. You'll see how it would work.) I think he also tightened the spring screws on the underside of the cover to keep it tight.

Hopefully it will all work out. I think the owner could tell I was a little miffed. I did say that I didn't mind paying for good work, but I just wanted to only pay to fix things correctly once. I think he understood my point.
 
These things are always difficult-- I hate it when they happen. It always hard to know when and how hard to push these issues. It seems that if we just ask for fairness it tends to work out most of the time. Most of these these guys want to do a good job but some don't seem to care. Part of the hassle is having to go back time after time.
 
Sammy,
I too have the second gear pop out problem and have been delaying chasing it down. I think I know what part you are talking aobut when you say he notched it. Did he also replace the little ball that falls in the notch? Also did he mention what the underlying reason it starts to pop out is. I like the idea of a simple fix as I spent last summer rebuilding the tranny and OD on my TR4 I do not want to do the same on my TR3 this summer.
 
I do not feel the same towards a shop like this and I will try and explain why.
1) They took the money and unless this guy was totally unaware he knew it.
2) These are collector cars and some parts are difficult or nearly impossible to replace.
3) Screw me once and now I should trust you? Sorry but I will find someone else.
For me tolerance and forgiveness are one thing trust is another.
I would have strongly considered taking this guy to small claims.
 
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