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Vent Pull Frustration

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angelfj1

angelfj1

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Anyone who has disassembled the cowl vent lid and mechanism on a sidescreen TR knows the frustration involved in this job. Its kind of tedious and reassembly is not intuitive. OTOH, once this job is finished, there is extreme relief that its behind you. At least that's what I thought! :wall: When restoring the vent lid and mechanism, we decided to replace the actual "pull rod", knob, escutcheon, etc. The repro isn't very expensive and we figured we'd save some time/money. Ha! In the first photo below you see the assembly with the knob attached.

vent_pull_DSC06237.jpg


For some reason this assembly is made up from three different metal parts, plus a phenolic knob. The steel wire is snug fit into the brass rod(and pinned), and the brass rod is press fit into the pot metal ferrule but not pinned. We did not recognize this lack of a pin until everything had been reassembled.

The second photo shows the brass rod pulled out of the pot metal ferrule.

vent_pull_DSC06239.jpg


I wasn't there to see it happen but I can only imagine the look on Brian's face when testing the vent. Pull once - looks good. Push back in. Pull twice - very nice. Push back in. Pull three!!! Oh - you dirty, no good, blah, blah, blah. That's right! The brass rod/pot metal ferrule came apart, and Brian is standing there with the knob in his hand. He realizes that the vent and mechanism job has to be repeated.

I took the repro unit home to show my wife. My 3 year old grand son was able to pull it apart. There's no way a press fit would have lasted. Then, I had a revelation! Perhaps in their infinite wisdom, the engineers at Canley counted on electrolytic corrosion between the dissimilar metals, brass and zinc(pot metal). Surely there was a reason for selection of three different metals! :jester:

So, a word to the wise is sufficient - check your repro vent pull! :yesnod:
 
well s..t on me once same on you manufacturer, looks like you will have to drill and pin it yourself, the easy part, redo the installation. Priceless metaphores. but the second time will be easier I promise

Hondo
 
Makes me glad I made my own, from an old bicycle spoke and a PC board standoff.
 
"Adapt, innovate, overcome!"

I'd be for threading th' beast! I did a similar "improvement" to the choke cable on Her MGB. An old knob for observational originality and a new cable modified to fit the facia, cable and old receiver. The vent rod on the TR is under much more load so Randall's spoke and 'pooter bits would be a good solution. :thumbsup:
 
I went one step further, and purchased an early TR2. So, I don't have to worry at all about the cowl vent, it's not there.
Been into those buggers before though. I agree, not a fun job. very little "finger room" to get all that hooked up.
 
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I've got one of these for "Statler" when I get done with the B/E.

Paul
 
Mine did the same , pulled apart. Krazy glue works good too...
 
bicycle shops are good places to get cables supplies, outer cable housing or just the inner spiraly wound cable

Hondo
 
Yup.My local bicycle shop supplied a perfect replacement for a broken outer door handle cable on a Ferrari 308. I asked the guy, after I paid for the cable, "Did you know you sell Ferrari parts?".
 
:lol: I've done that as well, Ben. They always look at ya funny, tho.

I've restrung Italian window regulators with stainless cable for rigging sailboats, too. :wink:
 
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