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TR2/3/3A Tr3A Control Head

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DavidChandler

DavidChandler

Freshman Member
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I recently removed the 3 grub screws that help to secure the control head (trafficator)on my 61 TR3A. I thought reassembly would be a simple reverse process, but I'm having trouble getting the grub screws back into a working position. They were holding the trafficator before, but when I try to tighten them down now they seem to not catch on anything - one went all the way through and was rolling around inside.

Can anyone provide any info on what these screws are supposed to latch onto? I'm stumped.
 
Hi, David -

Sorry, but I don't remember from the TR3 that I had. But wanted to welcome you to the BCF, and I'm sure someone will post an answer soon!

:cheers:
Mickey
 
There is a round plate about 3" outside diameter on the rear of the complete assembly. Look carefully at the outer edge of this circular plate and you will notice it has an inverted "V" profile all around. The grub screws are pointed on the inner end and if you unscrew the grub screws quite a bit, you can push the whole assembly into place far enough. The point on the ends of the three grub screws will "catch" onto the inside of the inverted "V" and it should be secure.
 

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Don -

Thanks for the info and the picture. After getting everything back together (correctly, I think), I now suspect that I may have a stator tube problem. The control head continues to turn with the wheel regardless of what I do with those screws.

Based on other posts about the stator tube I think I may need an appointment with the local LBC specialist for that nightmare.

Thanks again.
 
The stator tube isn't that hard to deal with, you could probably do it yourself if you want to. The main hassle is removing the control head & it's harness. Once that is out of the way, you just loosen the nut on the steering box, fiddle a bit with the compression sleeve to get it off, and then pull the tube out through the steering wheel.
 
I repaired mine with some brazing rod. Not too big of a deal. Of course after careful cleaning and lubrication of the control head. I put everything back correctly and the two pieces that should cancel the indicator lever wont extend far enough to fully center the lever. I'm not sure if they are worn down that far or the springs inside of them don't extend enough.
 
ekamm said:
Of course after careful cleaning and lubrication of the control head. I put everything back correctly and the two pieces that should cancel the indicator lever wont extend far enough to fully center the lever. I'm not sure if they are worn down that far or the springs inside of them don't extend enough.
Click to expand...
Sounds to me more like a problem with the long springs on the curved metal piece. They are what actually return the lever to center.

DSCF0020.jpg


Or possibly the little roller isn't in place? Maybe turned the wrong way?
 
Randall the two pieces where your thumb is in the picture don't come out far enough for the ring to hit them with enough force to kick the lever back to the center. Originally the problem appeared to be the ring. There was a grove worn in the ring. I filled it with JB and shaped it smooth with a dremel. It worked well at first but after a few days when the steering wheel came back it didn't contact the "pawls". It's as if they are worn on the ends.
 
So yours don't stick out as far as this?

DSCF0083_crop.jpg
 
They did when I reassembled but with it on the car they don't appear to be working that way. I need to remove it and see if I can tell what's going on. If I understand correctly the hinged part of the piece is spring loaded and that should make it stick straight out. Maybe they just aren't returning to the straight position.
 
Randall - With all respect Randall, I believe that the way the lower end of the "flippers" should be as in my photo.
 

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OK, I've disconnected the 4 wires at the steering box and pulled the control head back out of the stator tube. Now I'm confused as to how the the control head fits back into the tube. Shouldn't there be some kind of spline or something to slide into the slot in the tube? Mine has nothing, and I think something may have sheared off and this is causing the control head to turn with the wheel.

I haven't been able to locate a picture which would confirm my suspicions. Mine is the adjustable steering column.
 
If the tube is broke which is very likely you should be able to pull the upper of the tube up a little with the lower end staying stationary. There is a protrusion from the bottom of the tube extending from the control head. At least on mine the slot or spline is worn and there is some play in the head.

Now that I look at don's picture above I think maybe the stator tube slides inside the control head tube. In which case the spine would project inward on the control head portion.
 
You're quite right, Don, my bad. I just grabbed some bits from the bin for that photo, and put them together wrong.

Here's a shot that shows the dimples where the control head tube engages with the stator tube. This is a non-adjustable version, but the adjustable version is similar (it just has a much longer control head tube).

DSCF0071.jpg
 
Thanks Eric.

It looks to me like the stator tube has to go inside as well, but I don't see anything on the control head tube that would function as a spline on either inside or outside. I'll try the stator tube movement test this evening.
 
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