• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

dash bulbs and choke cable

Share this page

J

Jim Lee

Jedi Trainee
Offline
Hi,

Has anybody found the tiny dash panel light bulbs in a local parts store? I found some very close but not close enough.

Also, my choke cable snapped very close to the end on the carbs. Is it possible to get a new cable for that without having to buy the entire cable and casing and knob new?

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
 
I haven't looked for the bulbs...chances are you won't find them, unless you have an import parts store with old stock.

As for the cable, the knob is usually attached to the cable in a manner that is difficult (albeit not impossible to replace.) You should be able to find an appropriate length of cable at an industrial supplier in your area. A good hardware store might even stock some cable, since it's pretty universal stuff.

You might also look and see if you have enough slack to reattach the cable. Some cables are long enough to simply pull out the slack, peel back some casing and reattach the bable to the SU choke linkage.
 
You can get the bulbs at NAPA bring a magnifying glass and an original bulb with you. The choke cable I think unless someone has a better source you will have to get from one of the big three. The knob either has a set screw you unscrew or a button you have to push in to release the pull knob and then you pull the pull knob off from the choke cable shaft. Do not throw the original cable assembly away you may need parts off of it. If you order the new cable you might as well order the bulbs at the same time. Make sure you get the "as original cable" the replacement type is garbage and will give you trouble. Don't ask how I know this. Parts you may need from the original cable include the nut which secures the cable to the back of the dash and the little internal c type clip. This little clip on the replacement cable flies away somewhere. Always under the worst possible spot you can imagine and you will never find it (12 years later and I'm still looking for it) while assembling the new cable. This /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif clip device allows for the choke to pull incrementally out and in and lock into place.
 
Hi Jim,
To answer both your questions at once: No.

The bulbs and cable pretty much are available only from one of the vendors. The bulbs are pretty much unique. You might be lucky and find something but you have to watch the wattage and the cable isn't worth repairing. I tried taking one down to add a third cable to be able to choke all three of my carbs at once. Gave up.
 
Dumb me, I thought you were talking about a TR6. I see you have a TR3. The answer is still no.
 
I was able to find the bulbs at Radio Shack (although a fraction of a watt less, but they seem as bright).
 
[ QUOTE ]
I was able to find the bulbs at Radio Shack (although a fraction of a watt less, but they seem as bright).

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking of Radio Shack, for years they were the place for electronic gizmos, light bulbs, etc., for the hobbyist. In the last few years their company nationwide has undergone a restructuring that has taken them away from an electronics parts store to an electronics products store. The ones in our area, especially the smaller ones, have reduced their parts inventory to one small cabinet. It's a shame but I guess no one is building or repairing their own electrical gear anymore. Everything nowadays is disposable. Except our LBC's.
 
Back
Top