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Radio noise

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Gliderman8

Gliderman8

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Hello everyone-
It was a nice day in PA today so I took my TR6 out for a run. Since I have just about finished the restoration, I have only driven it about four times and have 45 miles on it.
My Triumph AM/FM radio functions perfectly with the engine off, but has static and noise with the engine running. I assume it is coming from the ignition system.
Can someone reccommend a noise supression kit to cure the noise?
Any and all help is appreciated.... Thanks
 
Hi, Elliot -

From my old Radio Shack days, I can tell you that if it's a whining noise that increases in pitch with engine rpm, it's coming from the alternator, and there's a filter you can get to take care of that - looks like a transformer. Radio Shack should still sell those; if not, then Best Buy or some other audio outlet can probably fix you up.

If it's a popping noise, it's from the ignition, and you need some plug/coil wires that have built in suppressors.

Again, this is from memory, but I'm pretty sure it's correct.

Mickey
 
Another clue to whether it's ignition noise radiated to the antenna; or alternator noise conducted through the power lead; is whether it changes with band and/or tuned frequency. If it doesn't change, then it's probably conducted through the power lead, and a power lead filter (as Mickey notes) will help.

Another thing that can help dramatically with radiated noise is to be sure the antenna is securely grounded where it's mounted to the body. Remember paint does not conduct, so you need bare metal to metal contact for a good ground.

I've not had much luck buying electronic parts at Radio Shack, seems like they don't carry nearly as much as they used to. But you should be able to find a suitable filter on eBay, for example
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350130715444
 
Don, Andy, Mickey and Randall-
All good help and I will check out each suggestion. I don't recall the noise changing intensity with engine speed so I'm thinking the alternator is not the problem. The noise is pretty much constant.
Don- "Throw out the radio"....hummm Is it possible someone squeezed the "lime juice" a little too hard? :lol:
Again, thanks guys for the help.
 
TR3driver said:
Another clue to whether it's ignition noise radiated to the antenna; or alternator noise conducted through the power lead; is whether it changes with band and/or tuned frequency. If it doesn't change, then it's probably conducted through the power lead, and a power lead filter (as Mickey notes) will help.
Click to expand...

Randall-
One more thing. Since I am almost done with my frame-off restoration, I did not have the heart to drill a one inch hole into the freshly painted body to mount the antenna. Instead, I chose to install an antenna inside the windscreen. I really works well and has an amplifier built in. Here's a close up of it; but step away from the car and you hardly notice that it's there.
 
Gliderman8 said:
I really works well
Click to expand...
Works so well that you are asking us how to make it work better?
:jester:
 
If you listen to AM or FM for any amount of time, you might want the static back.
 
Andy.... Good one!
In the words of Steely Dan <span style="font-style: italic">"girls don't seem to care..."</span> but I do! :smirk:
 
Is the noise on AM or FM or both? Does it happen only when the car is running?

As has been mentioned, most radio noise that you can suppress is usually best heard on AM: crackly ignition, or alternator whine that goes higher in pitch with the speed of the car.

Alternator whine is suppressed with a capacitor, and I think I recall seeing one in place in the engine compartments of cars w/radios in the BL showrooms in the 70s.

Ignition noise is suppressed with resistor plugs and resistor plug wires. The factory spec for US plugs will be the resistor plugs. If you've gone to solid-copper sparkplug wires for performance or personal delight, you'll have to put up with the noise.

If it's a crackly noise on AM & FM all the time, even with the engine not running, it's likely the capacitors inside the radio drying out. They do that with age. Fix is replace the capacitors inside the radio. If you aren't confident with a soldering iron, you'll have to find someone who is.
 
Hello rotoflex-
The radio seems to work perfectly with the engine off. Since I am just finishing my total restoration, I have not driven it a lot. The few times I have driven it, I have only tried the FM, and it is crackly until I kill the engine. I will be installing resistor plugs, and then investigate the wires. I am using the wires the PO had when I purchassed the car.
I could switch to a more modern radio, but I want to keep the original BL radio.
Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions, they are appreciated!
 
If it works fine with the engine off, then the radio itself should be fine internally.

Adding a noise suppression kit, going to the original-spec resistor plugs & plug wires, & checking for integrity of the antenna lead should do fix it up.
 
I might add adding a ground wire straight to the main battery grounding point might help as well. Any loose stuff in the middle will make noise too.

otherwise I agree.
 
Hello achtungeveryone
The antenna I am using is an internal antenna... it mounts to the inside of the windscreen so there is no "mast". It is made by Blaupunkt and <span style="text-decoration: underline">not sold in the US</span>. I have no idea why it is not sold here in the US.
The antenna is called the Blaupunkt Autofun Pro. I ordered mine from a company in the UK www.ktduk.com
but I am sure if you do a google search on "autofun pro" you will find others. Hope this info helps.
 
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