Subject: Re: [TR] TR3a

From: Greg Lemon <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2025 10:38:47 -0500

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I don't have real expert advice, just shade tree mechanic.  If gear oil was
kept in it, or more importantly water out, and it spins freely I would put
new seals on it, fill it up with fresh oil, and see how it goes.

The last time I was wondering the same thing I took it to a shop I trusted
run by older timers.  They told me tearing it down to properly check
clearances, etc., would cost nearly as much as a rebuild.

The rear axles on these cars are fairly sturdy, have also heard that a
rebuilt unit, though sound mechanically, often can be noisy/whiney.

Greg Lemon
TR250

On Mon, May 12, 2025, 10:15=E2=80=AFAM dave northrup <[email-masked]> wro=
te:

> i have a 59 TR3a that i am resurrecting; it is more or less in kit form.
>  the car has been off the road since 1982 or so.
>
>
>
> originality is not an issue - it won't be.
>
>
>
> is there a way i can tell if the diff is still good before i put the
> engine back in and drive it? should i just have the diff redone while the
> car is apart? what are my options here? i saw the limited slip for $5k bu=
t
> that's out of my price range. does anyone offer an exchange? i'm not doin=
g
> anything radical nor will i race it but we are enhancing the performance
> whereever we can.
>
>
> ** [email-masked] **
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> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
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<div dir=3D"auto">I don&#39;t have real expert advice, just shade tree mech=
anic.=C2=A0 If gear oil was kept in it, or more importantly water out, and =
it spins freely I would put new seals on it, fill it up with fresh oil, and=
 see how it goes.<div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">The last tim=
e I was wondering the same thing I took it to a shop I trusted run by older=
 timers.=C2=A0 They told me tearing it down to properly check clearances, e=
tc., would cost nearly as much as a rebuild.</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></d=
iv><div dir=3D"auto">The rear axles on these cars are fairly sturdy, have a=
lso heard that a rebuilt unit, though sound mechanically, often can be nois=
y/whiney.</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Greg Lemon</di=
v><div dir=3D"auto">TR250</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto=
"><br></div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div=
 dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Mon, May 12, 2025, 10:15=E2=80=AFAM da=
ve northrup &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</a>&gt=
; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .=
8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">

<div lang=3D"EN-US" link=3D"#0563C1" vlink=3D"#954F72" style=3D"word-wrap:b=
reak-word">
<div class=3D"m_-7318281728011998764WordSection1">
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">i have a 59 TR3a th=
at i am resurrecting; it is more or less in kit form. =C2=A0the car has bee=
n off the road since 1982 or so.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">originality is not =
an issue - it won&#39;t be.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt">is there a way i ca=
n tell if the diff is still good before i put the engine back in and drive =
it? should i just have the diff redone while the car is apart? what are my =
options here? i saw the limited slip
 for $5k but that&#39;s out of my price range. does anyone offer an exchang=
e? i&#39;m not doing anything radical nor will i race it but we are enhanci=
ng the performance whereever we can.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:11.0pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u=
></span></p>
</div>
</div>

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</blockquote></div>

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From: "TeriAnn J. Wakeman" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2025 09:07:11 -0700

On 5/12/25 8:38 AM, Greg Lemon wrote:
> I don't have real expert advice, just shade tree mechanic.  If gear 
> oil was kept in it, or more importantly water out, and it spins freely 
> I would put new seals on it, fill it up with fresh oil, and see how it 
> goes.

I suggest draining the oil & pass a magnet through it looking for metal 
slivers, then pulling the diff back plate to look for wear in the R&P 
gears. If the ring and/or pinion gears are sharp pointed replace them.

TeriAnn
Who once replaced a TR3 gearbox because the R&P gears were screaming. On 
the positive side the replacement box was a fresh rebuilt TR4 overdrive box.

Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/[email-masked]

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From: Hoyt Duff <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2025 13:36:13 -0400

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Spin one wheel. The other should move in the opposite direction.  Listen
fur grinding/chrunching noises. Drain the oil,  remove the cover,  looking
for metal chunks.  Check the the axle seals are not leaking, pinion seal is
not leaking. Rebuild the brakes, one side at a time.

On Mon, May 12, 2025, 11:30 AM dave northrup <[email-masked]> wrote:

> car is apart? what are my options here? i saw the limited slip for $5k but
> that's out of my price range. does anyone offer an exchange? i'm not doing
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/[email-masked]
>

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<p dir=3D"ltr">Spin one wheel. The other should move in the opposite direct=
ion.=C2=A0 Listen fur grinding/chrunching noises. Drain the oil,=C2=A0 remo=
ve the cover,=C2=A0 looking for metal chunks.=C2=A0 Check the the axle seal=
s are not leaking, pinion seal is not leaking. Rebuild the brakes, one side=
 at a time. </p>
<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=
=3D"gmail_attr">On Mon, May 12, 2025, 11:30 AM dave northrup &lt;<a href=3D=
"mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockqu=
ote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc s=
olid;padding-left:1ex">

<div class=3D"m_3532790060509176619WordSection1">
</div>
</div>

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</blockquote></div>

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From: "Kinderlehrer" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2025 10:40:09 -0700

I think the easiest test for differential health is to check for play by holding one wheel steady and rotating the other and watching the drive shaft. Or turning the driveshaft and observing the amount of play before there is movement in the wheels. I am less of an expert than TeriAnn, so don't really know how much play is too much.
Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Triumphs [mailto:[email-masked]] On Behalf Of TeriAnn J. Wakeman
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 9:07 AM
To: [email-masked]
Subject: Re: [TR] TR3a

> I would put new seals on it, fill it up with fresh oil, and see how it 

I suggest draining the oil & pass a magnet through it looking for metal slivers, then pulling the diff back plate to look for wear in the R&P gears. If the ring and/or pinion gears are sharp pointed replace them.

TeriAnn
Who once replaced a TR3 gearbox because the R&P gears were screaming. On the positive side the replacement box was a fresh rebuilt TR4 overdrive box.