TR2/3/3A TR3 Vacuum line Q

[mrv8q]

On a TR3, is there supposed to be a complete solid metal vacuum line from the distributor to the front carb? Mine has a little flex hose covering a break in the line about 18 inches before the front carb.

My distributor is at Advanced right now, and if the line is supposed to be complete, Jeff doesn't have any. (He suggested MOSS, which appears to be NLA). Any other recommendations?

 

[TR3driver]

The line is supposed to be solid, from dizzy to carb. If you have the fittings, you should be able to use standard copper or steel tubing in the appropriate size. I don't recall the size offhand, but I found copper "refrigeration" tubing that fit fine.
https://www.mcmaster.com/#metal-tubing/=75xzam

But unless you are really worried about originality, the flex line won't hurt anything. I put one in myself, to make it easier to test the vacuum advance.

 

[mrv8q]

Cool, Randall, thanks!

 

[mrv8q]

Digging around in the "other" list's archives, I found this:<span style="font-style: italic"> 1/16" soft copper "refrigeration" line will work as a substitute</span>. (as posted by Randall).

Thanks again!

 

[Don Elliott]

Where I was working in 1990 as I was finishing the re-assembly of my 1958 TR3A, the scrap bin at work had all kinds of stainless steel bits of sheetmetal and tubing. In a few minutes, I found a length of stainless tubing exactly the same size as I needed. I cut it to length and put the original fittings on each end using the proper flaring tool and it has looked super for the past 20 years.