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Wedge TR7 Maiden Voyage [since 1995]

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mgb4tim

mgb4tim

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Me and my 6 year-old assistant took our first trip out of the neighborhood this evening.

It was about a 16-mile trip out through town, and back in through the country.

There's a shimmy around 45 mph, but settles out around 50 - I think the tires might just need balanced. It's a little heavier on left turns, but only at that speed. There's no shimmy beyond that, even turning left. With that in mind, I don't think I'm concerned that the tie rod end is failing.

BTW, this is the same trip that I take to work when I don't want to take the interstate.

I can tell the timing is still a little off - so much for trying it by ear. If I can find that blasted timing mark, I'll be able to to set it right. And, is sounds like there's a heat shield rattling.

I rebuilt the passenger side window assembly last fall, and it's perfect. Now, I really need to do the driver's door - the rattle is driving me crazy.

The shifter felt a little warm, but it's been a while sine I've driven a small 4-cylinder stick, so it may be normal. But, all 5 gears worked fine. Is there an easy means to check the fluid level in the transmission?

All in all, my daughter loved it, and has already requested that I take her to the pet store tomorrow in it. I told her, "only if it's not going to rain."

To wrap it up, <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="color: #CC0000">thank you for all the help getting this beast back on the road</span></span></span>.
 
mgb4tim said:
The shifter felt a little warm, but it's been a while sine I've driven a small 4-cylinder stick, so it may be normal. But, all 5 gears worked fine. Is there an easy means to check the fluid level in the transmission?
Click to expand...

One word answer...no. To check the tranny fluid, you need to jack it up evenly, and remove the plug located on the left side towards the back. You'll need a 24 mm socket or wrench. If it's low, you need to figure out how to get the fluid in. Personally, I use one of those pumps used for filling the lower end on boats, and screw it into the top of an ATF bottle. If you're going to go through this much hassle, you might as well drain and refill it - it only uses about 1 1/2 quarts of ATF. My transmission has a slow leak, so I drain and refill it every year.

Congrats for getting it back on the road!
 
mgb4tim said:
ATF-really?
Click to expand...
Well; my Bentley sez GL5 for the 4-speed and GL4 for the 5-speed.

And Type F for the autobox, which may not be what you have.
 
TR3driver said:
mgb4tim said:
ATF-really?
Click to expand...
Well; my Bentley sez GL5 for the 4-speed and GL4 for the 5-speed.

And Type F for the autobox, which may not be what you have.
Click to expand...

ATF or Pennzoil Synchromesh Manual Transmission Fluid seem to be the two of choice. I've the latter in mine - no complaints.

Mickey
 
TR3driver said:
mgb4tim said:
ATF-really?
Click to expand...
Well; my Bentley sez GL5 for the 4-speed and GL4 for the 5-speed.

And Type F for the autobox, which may not be what you have.
Click to expand...

There was a factory service bulletin, that the TR7 Bentley or the TR8 ROM do not have, about hard shifting when the transmission is cold. The service bulletin said to use ATF. Many wedge owners on the wedgelist, myself included, have found using the GM/Pennzoil synchromesh fluid to yield even better results. Smoother shifting and less noise.
 
Thanks for the info, Shawn, I didn't know that.

Did the bulletin apply to both 4 and 5 speeds ? Did it mention what types of ATF were acceptable ?
 
TR3driver said:
Thanks for the info, Shawn, I didn't know that.

Did the bulletin apply to both 4 and 5 speeds ? Did it mention what types of ATF were acceptable ?
Click to expand...

I believe it specified Dexron/Mercon. Only for the five speed. The four speed was the same as used in Dolomite's, Marina's etc... The five speed was a whole new design. Often referred to as the "Rover 5-Speed", it was actually designed by Triumph engineers, though they were all under the British Leyland banner at the time.

I prefer the Pennzoil Synchromesh. It actually smoothed the shifting even more than ATF for me. The GM fluid carries the same part number as the Pennzoil product and the Pennzoil product can be found at my local NAPA for 1/3 the price.
 
Shawn- On the TR7.com site they talk about running a
Mobil 1 or a Castrol RS at 0W-40 or 5W-40 as being a better replacement than the ATF.
 
I don't see why that wouldn't be worth a try as well. I'm not sure of the availability of the synchromesh fluid in the UK where that site and most of its members are based. Its probably sold under another name.
 
Congrats! I know the feeling! Last fall, the maiden voyage in my Stag was 54 miles round trip. Since it was a transplanted Buick motor done by someone else and I had it in and out of the car twice since I bought it I was a little worried. I told my wife the motor's new name might be "core"! Also read: I'm not walkin'! It all went well. I have about 5-600 miles on it now and am pretty happy. Now if I can only get my 3-year-old daughter to quit calling it the "mouse-pee-car"....
grin.gif
 
Tim - just a thought on the "wheel shimmy". If balancing and/or rotating the tires doesn't fix the problem, it could very well be that the wheels themselves are bent and/or out of round. Happened on my on TR3 with original steel wheels. Fine 'til 40mph, then increasing wobble through around 50mph.

After balancing all the tires as best we could, and replacing the u-joints "just in case", I checked the wheels.

Lifted the car, braced my arm, and held a screwdriver pointed directly to the rim. Spun the wheel. You could see and hear the wheel move in and out from the tip of the screwdriver. Was bent at the rim and at the center. You can often fix the rim bend, but the center bend is nigh impossible to repair, as the steel was old and brittle.

Got four spiffy new wheels from Moss. Made a night and day difference. What a dream to drive now.

Just my 2¢.
Drive safe.
Tom
 
Wheel shimmy on wedges can also be loose front wheel bearings. If the balancing and rotating doesn't work. Also, how old are the tires?
 
I just changed the fluid in my TR*8 gearbox using this persons method.
Gearbox fluid change
The longest thing was just to find the fill plug on the box.
I would strongly suggest the tube method for filling. I used a 1/2" OD tube that hooked up great to my suction gun.
Will let you know how it works after.
I drove it straight to bed after wards.
 
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