To All --
First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you for all your excellent and
insightful responses. I got her started!. Here's the history.
When I received the car a couple of weeks ago, it was about 0 degrees F. the
weather in Connecticut has hovered around that temperature pretty much since
then. When it was warmer, about 0-25 degrees, it was usually during my
working hours or when I couldn't work on the car. One other piece of
information: when I received the car I noticed that the choke linkage was
disconnected. Thinking that clevis pins had fallen out in two places during
the car's 5000 mile ride, I replaced them with the best thing I had on hand,
wire.
Well, yesterday was the warmest day since I got her, 35 degrees F. I
carefully inspected the choke linkage's movement (with the wires in place)
and decided that the movement left much to be desired. So, I removed them
and let the linkages stay disconnected. I also inspected the fuel "path" to
make sure fuel was present where it should be present; was pumping when it
should be pumped; and was reaching the carbs. I kept the air cleaners off,
having removed them earlier to get at the carbs, said a prayer, turned the
ignition key, and worked the push button on the starter motor. She labored
for a few seconds and then CAUGHT! She stalled. More labor, caught again, I
worked the throttle linkage, and VRROOOOMMM <cough> - <gasp> VRROOOMMM...!
She lives! While I'm glad she starts, it troubles me that the choke linkage
is disabled. I intend to rebuild both SUs this winter. Also, the rear carb
does leak some gas.
This is a daily driver car. Nothing fancy; she has a solid but terrible
paint job in red. The interior is good, but tired. The car is incredibly
dirty from its trip. A fine, grayish, gritty layer of dirt is all over her.
No chance to wash her in this weather (it snowed again today). She rests in
my (unheated) garage while my Chevy Blazer catches all the snow.
But, again, thanks for all the responses. I plan to re-read them all again
so I can further benefit from the combined knowledge of this most excellent
collection of caring and dedicated Triumph owners.
Red Hansen
'58 TR3A TS41439 - VROOMM, VRROOMMM
'74 TR6 CF139994 - sleeping through the winter
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