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TR 3 Dip Stick

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Tinkerman

Tinkerman

Darth Vader
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I have two dip sticks that came with the car when I bought it. They are both the same length, one had a junk yard tag on it that said TR3, the other was in the engine. They both are used. The tagged one has evidence of chrome plating, the other does not. The Judging Manual merely states that the dip sticks were not painted. No mention of chrome.

My question becomes chrome or not chromed?

Thanks, tinkerman
 
Per

Triumph Register of America
Formed to Preserve the Marque TR-2/3/3A/3B
Judging Standards
and
Restoration Guidelines
February 1993 Edition
May 2004 Revision


T R A
UH-18
Breather Pipe. Two versions of the breather pipe (dog-legged tube mounted low on the rear of the distributor side
of the engine) were fitted although the two are not readily distinguished without disassembly. The later version was
introduced at TS972E; it includes an internal baffle to prohibit loss of oil through the breather while running at high
speed. According to Service Bulletin Vanguard/3/B, August 1954, the cylinder block was "modified, without
change of Part No. at Eng TS.972E and the Breather Pipe Assembly is affected". The same bulletin offers a
modification to older breather pipes to curb oil loss. Breathers are painted black.
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Dip Stick. No changes are listed to the oil dip stick. The dip stick is not painted.</span></span></span>
 
Yep, FJA read that, but as I said one of my dip sticks have evidence of being plated. Just curious. I guess your dip stick is un-painted and un-chromed?

Tinkerman
 
My dip-stick was silvery plated like "clear zinc" when I got my 1958 TR3A. Most of this plating had disappeared when I did my resoration so I had it re-plated "clear zinc" which is like aluminium in colour and shine. I think they used to call it cad plating.

No judge at TRA ever docked points because of the plated finish on my dip-stick.
 
Mine show no evidence of chrome or paint... just bare metal. Any plating such as Don mentions likely wore off long ago.

Something I have wondered about is that felt gasket on the dipstick. Mine is pretty mooshed down (thin). If I replace it with the one offered by TRF (as I have seen theirs) the oil will read quite a bit lower as that gasket is quite thick. So how thick should that gasket be?

Okay, I realize that these dipsticks aren't precision instruments -- just ttying for some accuracy.
 
Well Tom, after giving it due thought, I would say yep they are one in the same. Heh Of course the dip stick is functional, therefore it is done. It's just the finish that is un-done ..................uhh excuse me, my head is spinning I guess I will go bead blast something or bang on the anvil with the MBH.

Tinkerman
 
ISTR one of my dipsticks had traces of some sort of light color plating on it. Certainly not chrome, might have been zinc. Or tin, or cadmium.

Never tried calibrating the dipstick, but it's easy to do. Drain the engine completely, then fill it with the prescribed amount of oil (being sure to note Imperial or US units). Start it briefly (to fill the oil filter) then shut it off, wait for the oil to drain back, and check the dipstick. You can even make a new mark if you're so inclined.

Haven't tried it myself yet, but I suspect the TRF gasket will crush down pretty quickly in use. It's just soft felt.
 
yes, that's right we had the dip stick clear cad plated and then I cleared it with powder. Actually IMO, most of the steel parts that were used in these cars were either painted or plated either by Triumph or their supplier. This includes hardware. I suspect that these dip sticks were originally zinc or clear cadmium plated. The original plating would not have lasted very long. But any ferrous metal part not painted or plated would have rusted before it reached the POE.
 
Does anyone have a copy of the service bulletin to add baffles to the draft tube. I would be interested in having access to it.

Phil
 
Ok...
 

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[edit]
Ok... Figured it out. Because I remain a #$@!*& free member, I am limited to one attachment per post. So I'll tell you where you can find this: click here and you can download ALL service bulletins, 1954 - 1958 and 1963 - 1965
 
You can download the bulletin from https://dbuettner.dyndns.org/tlms/trsite/bulletins.html

However, if you read it carefully, I think you'll find that the TRA description is somewhat misleading. The baffle was added to the cylinder block casting; and the pipe only modified to accomodate the change in the block.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">Cylinder Block for the Vanguard, Part No. 301138, has been modified to incorporate a baffle, integral with the main casting, adjacent to the breather pipe, in order to prevent any possibility of oil loss. The modified block incorporating this baffle is supplied under Part No. 301487.

The introduction of the cast baffle has necessitated a new Breather Pipe Assembly, Part No. 202126, alternatively, the original Pipe, Part No. 201650, may be modified, as shown in the illustration. <span style="font-weight: bold">The modification necessitates shortening the projection of the pipe beyond its locating dimples from 2.53” to 1.22”.</span></span>

<span style="font-size: 8pt">[Emphasis mine]</span>
 
Early TRs had a fuel pump that sucked oil somehow on the reverse stroke of the diaphragm and this caused the oil to run (flood?) out the crankcase vent pipe. So S-T changed the fuel pump to a different one which had a different diaphragm and this solved the problem.
 
I think that FJI hit the nail on the head about finishing everything or mostly everything due to the rust factor. I'm off to the platers in the next day or two to pick up my windshield parts so I think I shall carry the dip sticks along with me.

Thanks all, Tinkerman
 
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