When I was racing my TR-2 and my TR-3 there were NO FREE PARTS. There were
also no free mechanics working for me and even after a couple of years of
the Competition Department I finally was allowed to hire ONE guy. The one
thing I did have FREE was an 18 hour day and there were 7 of them in every
week. The most the department EVER had was three and we ran fifteen races
with three different models of cars and then an occasional 12 hour event in
Florida with still just the same amount. I don't think scavaging through
the return warranty parts is a defination of FREE PARTS. But in those days
you were not allowed to run anything but the stock item (air filter) so
messing around with countless materials was never an option The last couple
years of the departments existance were good I'll admit, a real budget and
access to some inventory at the factory, BUT then there were eight years of
"tough sleding with no snow".
----- Original Message -----
From: TeriAnn Wakeman <twakeman@cruzers.com>
To: fot mail list <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 7:11 AM
Subject: Re: Air Filter choice?
> >Very interesting all the opinions on air filters etc. In ALL of my
Triumph
> >cars including the enduro cars we NEVER had an air filter of any kind. I
> >know, we did do a lot more rebuilds a we were a factory
enterprise..<<SNIP>>
>
>
> Kas, with unlimited "free" supplies, a pro shop with all the tools &
> excellent working conditions and a group of "free" professional Triumph
> mechanics I might not pay all that much attention to air cleaners either
> (I'm just jealous of the resoruces you had). Or if you are racing on a
> healthy budget and do frequent tare downs an air cleaner might not be a
> real high priority.
>
> But things like that do become important when you are on a limited budget
> and trying to achieve both power and longevity out of an engine.
>
> One of the things that convinced me it was time to do a complete rebuild
> of my TR3A was the #3 spark plug oil fouling within 50 miles from new.
> At the end, I always carried a big supply of spark plugs & swapped in a
> new one whenever I came to a hill.
>
> The engine ran strong with no problems until I just happened to find
> myself in creeping freeway traffic downwind of a freshly plowed field.
> There was a lot of fine dust in the air. I had an old pair of cheap foam
> air cleaners on the engine. I knew the foam was old and that there was a
> small break in the foam near the front of the rear filter. I was going
> to get around to replacing the filters "real soon now"
>
> Afterwards compression was down a little on all cylinders ( I tend to
> keep track of those numbers) the exhaust picked up a slightly bluish cast
> and #3 was oil fouling.
>
> It has made me a believer in air filters. And I have a pile of
> "round-to-its" ready to spend if I detect any problems with the filter.
>
> ---
> Someone mentioned that they were getting dirt behind an itg filter and
> thought it was coming from the filter to back plate connection. I have
> noticed that my itg filter to back plate connection is very tight and
> that there is a seal on the bottom of the filter where it fits to the
> back plate. I would imagine if the were any kind of back plate warping
> or damage to the seal dirt could get through. The inside of mine has
> remained clean so far. But then again my engine is still VERY low mileage
> since the rebuild and new itg filter.
>
> Take care
>
>
>
> TeriAnn Wakeman If you send me direct mail, please
> Santa Cruz, California start the subject line with TW -
> twakeman@cruzers.com I will be sure to read the message
>
> http://www.shadow-catcher.net <- Photography for sale
> http://www.overlander.net <- Web directory for Land Rover
> http://www.cruzers.com/~twakeman <- My personal web site
>
> "In the world of type A & type B drivers consider me a type C gypsy
> traveler. Destinations are optional and not necessarily desirable."
>
>
>
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