TR2/3/3A TR3 Capillary Tube Clamps

[martx-5]

Yeah, those aluminum straps that hold the temperature capillary tube onto the fuel pipe. What is the proper procedure to put them on?? Zip ties would be easier, but I want the engine bay to have some sort of period look. :laugh:

 

[angelfj1]

Don E is the expert. hopefully he is watching

 

[DougF]

I don't have my car handy to explain the strap, but the inner wrap is very similar to friction tape.

 

[Geo Hahn]

I wrapped the cap tube to the fuel line with friction tape, then did the aluminum strap around that looping the end thru the two slots. Finally, trimmed the length of the strap to get rid of the excess and concealed the end on the backside.

No idea if this is correct, I was just trying to duplicate what I saw in photos of original cars.

 

[TRopic6]

After looking at some original (I think) cars, the tape was a 'tacky' black fabric type. I used a type of electrical tape that was close. Sorry - this is the best picture I could find right now.

Jeff

 

[PeterK]

I used hockey stick tape for patching the harness. mAYBE THAT'S THE STUFF FOR THIS TOO. lIKE FRICTION TAPE BUT LESS TACKY.

cap locks now off.

 

[Geo Hahn]

The guys in Arizona and Hawaii don't know much about Hockey Stick Tape... but I think we're all talking about the same stuff.

The roll I have is 3/4" wide and tacky is a fair description of it's stickiness. Mainly designed to stick to itself I think.

 

[angelfj1]

George, Jeff: I noticed that the oil fill cap on George's car has indentations while Jeff's pic shows one with a smooth cylinder. My 3A does not have indentations. I was not aware that there were different styles. Can you tell me which one would be correct for my 3A? TS58476LO

Thanks

 

[Don Elliott]

Frank - If you plan to enter your GRAY LADY in a TRA concours, put on the cap with the three indents. See a photo of mine with no indents. I lose a part of a point every year at TRA because "This is not a S-T oil cap". I argue that this is the one that came with my car when I bought it brand new in 1958, but to no avail. Greg Walker of Windsor, Ontario has been changing his cap for the 3 indent one when he goes to TRA for years. Maybe that's why he always beats me.

It seems there were three types. The two you see here plus a chromed one. I can't say why, but cars sent from Coventry to Canada and to Australia (at least) had smooth caps and cars sent to USA had the 3 indents. Maybe the factory engineers thought that Americans suffered from low torque force (limp wrists) and needed the 3 indents to help them pull them off. Who knows ?

 

[TRopic6]

Generally, I think the earlier cars used the smooth caps (mine's 44xxx built in Feb 59) and later ones had indentions. Like many variations, I don't know if there was an exact change point, and both were probably used for a while depending on the supplier.

Jeff

 

[Don Elliott]

Jeff - For the top hose clamp on the by-pass hose, may I suggest that you turn the whole clamp 180 degrees so that later when you want to tighten it a half a turn, that the slot in the screw for the screwdriver is accessible from above the distributor cap, and not hidden under the valance or the bonnet spring latch assembly.

 

[martx-5]

My TS23677L has the cap with the indents. I don't know if it's original, but that's what is on there.

And BTW, thanks for the info on the capillary tube straps. I never knew that there was some sort of tape under them.

 

[TR3driver]

FWIW, the cap on TS39781LO when it came to me in 1984 looked exactly like yours, Don (except for the decal and peeling paint). Obviously that doesn't prove it's original; but what are the chances of two cars almost 3000 miles apart getting the same aftermarket cap ?

Also FWIW, I don't believe that is the same "squared style" cap that the TRA guidelines say was fitted through TS17372E. It doesn't match the photo shown in the owner's manual, the diagram in the SPC, or the cap on my TS11-something TR3.

 

[angelfj1]

Thanks guys - now I need to find another cap! :frown:

 

[mrv8q]

Art, here's a couple pix that might help you out, as well .....

 

[Geo Hahn]

Thanks guys - now I need to find another cap! :frown:

My cap (with the indents) came from Moss... perhaps that is still what they supply.

Otherwise, just tell them your car was built in Coventry UK -- not Lancaster Ohio or Goleta California -- and they used plain caps (some of the time) over there.

 

[martx-5]

Art, here's a couple pix that might help you out, as well .....

Ah, yes. Those pics really show how the straps are installed.

Thanks