> Does anyone else use the clutch
> when shifting the overdrive?
I do sometimes, depending on the situation. If it's just a casual, part
throttle shift into OD, I always lift and use the clutch to soften the
shift. Full throttle downshifts out of OD I never use the clutch. Other
cases I may or may not. The factory never said it was necessary, but seems
to me that avoiding that 'bang' is bound to increase the life of things.
Kind of unpleasant, too.
Note that the TR3-4 A-types engage harder than the later units fitted to IRS
cars. The factory deliberately "detuned" the later A-type, to lessen the
shock to the IRS. It's possible to retrofit this mod to the earlier units.
Also, switching to an aluminum flywheel lessened my "OD shock" quite a bit,
so I don't use the clutch as much as I did before.
> Could my fuel problem be something other than the
> pump? It
> pumps just fine with the hand lever.
Could be something like a major restriction in the line, that will allow
enough flow to pump the bowls full by hand but not enough to run the engine
continuously. A clogged or wet fuel filter can do this, especially if it's
on the inlet side of the pump. I've even heard tales of a foreign object in
the gas tank that gets sucked up against the intake tube, and then falls off
after the engine dies. Since "a mile or two" is a long way to drive on just
the bowl contents, I'd guess it's a restriction of some sort.
Or it could be a problem with the linkage between the pump and the camshaft.
Some of the repro pumps are known for having the pivot pin fall out.
Other's have a 'foot' riveted onto the lever between the pump and cam, which
may have fallen off. I don't recall offhand just what the position is, but
there should be a position of the engine where the stroke that you can feel
through the priming lever is severely limited. Feels like you've got
pressure pumped up even when there is no pressure. If you can't find that
point, then inspecting the internal lever is called for.
Randall
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