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TR2/3/3A TR-3 Fuel Line Question

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I purchased the prebent lines from Classic Tubes. They were not cheap, but fit perfectly. It said 6-8 weeks for delivery, but it was closer to 10 or 11 weeks.

It comes in two pieces (as did the original), with a joint in the middle under the driver seat. It fit so well, it went into the original frame clips.

When it finally came time to install the gas tank, it mated up to the tank on the first try, with very little adjustment (or swearing).

Overall, I give them 9/10, but only because they took so long to deliver the goods.

So far, no leaks.
 
TR3driver said:
...I've always believed it was removed as part of the cost-cutting measures imposed by British Leyland after they absorbed Standard-Triumph.
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Just to be painfully correct, it was very late in 1960 when Leyland took over Standard-Triumph; <span style="font-style: italic">British</span> Leyland didn't come about until the 1968 merger of Leyland and British Motor Holdings. Regardless of that timeline, I agree with the possibility of it being a cost-cutting idea, but it might also have been a more prosaic simplification of things in general: Standard 8s and 10s had a fuel reserve tap as well, but Heralds didn't. So perhaps it was just seen as an archaic and, therefore, easily deleted item?
 
Andrew Mace said:
<span style="font-style: italic">British</span> Leyland didn't come about until the 1968 merger of
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And I knew that, just a slip of the fingers
grin.gif
But I hadn't realized the Leyland/ST merger was so late. So likely the cost-cutting was more a symptom of the same financial problems that led to the merger, rather than a result of the merger.

Didn't Heralds have a valve on the tank that could be shut off?
 
TR3driver said:
Didn't Heralds have a valve on the tank that could be shut off?
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Not a shutoff <span style="font-style: italic">per se</span>; rather, a "reserve" tap. Swinging a lever a quarter-turn counterclockwise simply dropped the fuel pickup pipe a bit lower into the tank. Actually very clever, and a feature I've made good use of too many times over the years! :blush:
 
Somehow, I was under the impression that it could also shut off the fuel completely. Guess I was thinking of a motorcycle instead.

Definitely been times I could have used it myself! I've even been known to resort to carrying small bottles of fuel stashed in odd corners, since I tend to forget to fill up.
 
It is correct that the TR3 fuel shut-off can completely shut off the fuel. Andy was referring to the Herald. Similar (reserve fuel) arrangement could also be found on the early VW Beetles before they added a fuel gauge around 1964. VW had a lever in the middle of the bulk head. BTW, instead of a fuel gauge, VW supplied a marked wooden stick for measuring fuel level. Of course, you could only do this if you were stopped with the front hood opened.

The early TR3A (mine) has a separate fuel line from the tank and then to the driver-side rear wheel area attached to a coupler there, then a separate line to the front where it attaches to the fuel shut-off. Not sure when the 3-piece feed changed but Rob suggests that Classic supplied a continuous line from the tank to the engine bay?
 
Thanks Randall.

I appreciate your advice and will go softly on tightening the nut on the pump.

I am going to try to find a shop to make a bracket for my new fuel shutoff valve and will install the new line when I am into that project.

Although my car did not come with a fuel shutoff valve, after what I went through to remove and install a fuel pump, I will appreciate having the shutoff valve.

My car runs great and I drive it every weekend here in NOVA with no top or curtains as long as the roads are dry. I have a new top in the basement and had my original curtains restored by the RF three years ago and neither will ever be placed on the car as long as I own it.

This TR is the most enjoyable car of all the sports cars I have owned.

Paul
 
Aloha Randall,

Am I correct that the fuel pipes from the tank to the pump are 5/16" OD and from the pump to the carbs and between carbs are 1/4" OD?
 
MGTF1250Dave said:
Am I correct that the fuel pipes from the tank to the pump are 5/16" OD and from the pump to the carbs and between carbs are 1/4" OD?
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Yes, I believe that's the original configuration.

The pump outlet is sized for 5/16" od, but has a special nut that allows the 1/4" od tubing to connect to it. And suffers the same problem I mentioned above, hardware store compression sleeves don't fit properly.
 
I just measured the OD on my fuel line from the pump to the carbs and it's 5/16". I have the earlier type however...the set-up with the large banjo fittings in the carb float bowls.
 
Looks like you are right, Art. I guess it changed with the push-on connections at the carbs; although I can't find a clear change point for either item. Bill Piggott says it happened "around TS40000" but TS39781LO had the later configuration. TS13571L does have the banjo connections though, and the 5/16" pipe.

Sorry for the bad info, Dave.
 
Aloha Randall & Art,

Thanks for the clarification. My car is currently set up with the push on connections at the carbs and has 1/4" pipes between the pump and carbs. I also have a spare 5/16" pipe that was perhaps original since I think the car probably was fitted with carbs that had the domed float bowl covers and banjo connections.
 
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