Rack questions...

Message

Jon Tilson · #1 Post by **Jon Tilson** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:36 pm

Shock horror my Tahiti 1850 has failed on a Rack...

I may have a spare...but they look identical to spit ones. The last one I bought from ex trader Bill of the late lameted 6 spares was supposed to be off a 1300 fwd and I stuck that on a b'stard 1300/1850 thing that ended up with synch1964? after returning to its original owners for a while. Sadly he broke it, oh well...

Anyway I digress...it drove okay like that and I didnt notice any real difference in lock or steering ratio while I had it.

So whats the story on these racks...are they all the same? Or was Bill up the creek and sold me a proper one?

And where can I get the inner track rod end to repair this one...?
Is a spit/herald one the same?

I know these are the sort of Q's I usually answer but bizarelly I've had very little rack trouble over the years.

Jonners

slant4 · #2 Post by **slant4** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:44 pm

As a rule of thumb if it fts and works, cant se an issue. As you are aware, there are steering stops on the fwd models and the mounts look the same. I'm sure the guts are identical of any car, certainly of ST manufacture. Play in the end of the track rod? You cna shim them if I recall, save pulling the old one off

Judge Mental · #3 Post by **Judge Mental** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:54 pm

sinc1964 also broke the green Sprint myself and Martin sold for £501. It was alot of work though.

xvivalve · #4 Post by **xvivalve** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:59 pm

...but he reshelled the green one into a vermillion auto 1500HL shell and Carl bought it off him.

Jon Tilson · #5 Post by **Jon Tilson** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:05 pm

the thread meanders into the irrelevent...
My own fault I suppose....
Anyone got any idea if a Spit, 1300/1500 or dolly racks have different ratios as per original Q....

Thanks slant I'll have a look at the book re shimming one...
I have on with minimal play that failed and one with about an inch that is bound to!

Jonners

Jon Tilson · #6 Post by **Jon Tilson** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:22 pm

I managed to seperate the joint from the rack in about 10 minutes....
but getting the joint apart has defeated me after an hour...

I dont have a socket the size of the inner nut...so I cant seprate the joint.
The open ender is going to round the nut off so I'll take it to a friendly garage on Monday...

Jonners

David6214 · #7 Post by **David6214** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:36 pm

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Track-Rod-End-MG- ... dZViewItem

Jon Tilson · #8 Post by **Jon Tilson** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:12 pm

David but thats the outer track rod end. My problem is with the inner....

Jonners

David6214 · #9 Post by **David6214** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:25 pm

I think the racks are all the same (someone more knowledgeable than me said so only today)

£47.00 in rimmers

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/cgi-bin/rim ... e/steering

or £15 for a used rack at quillers

http://www.triumphshop.co.uk/Quiller/Parts/parts.htm

Maybe less effort than fixing yours?

xvivalve · #10 Post by **xvivalve** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:30 pm

Or £20 for an exchange recon (which is what Rimmers actually are too) from any decent motor factors!

slant4 · #11 Post by **slant4** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:42 pm

its a while since I've stripped one down. Is there a descreet tab washer? I think there is a spring inside too, but its been a while. If I get chance will have a look and let you know!

I wonder what the Haynes manual says to do (Take it to your nearest main dealer!!)

MalcGE · #12 Post by **MalcGE** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:39 pm

Jonners, shame you don't subscribe to Dolly Mixture. Richard Old produced a full write up on how he stripped and refurbished a rack, successfully, what bits were needed and where he got them from. Without looking, IIRC the cost amounted to approx the same as a recon rack, difference is you know exactly what went in as new and what didn't.

IIRC Richard was feeling a bit let down by the longevity of so called 'recon racks'

In an earlier issue, Steve Waldenberg also stripped a rack and outline the procedure.

IIRC, Herald Racks have a higer ratio, thus lock to lock is fewer rurns. Dunno about Spits. Basic rack is the same I seem to think, just length rack arms and the ratio.

SprintV8 · #13 Post by **SprintV8** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:50 pm

Quick check on the Rimmer's site show's the Herald and Spitfire using the same rack.
With a higher Ratio option on the Spitfire only.
Vitesse show's a different part number

slant4 · #14 Post by **slant4** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:34 pm

I think the 6 cylinder cars had a different ratio because of that rather lump of (useless) cast iron. My gt6 was very heavy. That 6 cyl is so over-rated compared to the slant engines. But they sound nice!

Jon Tilson · #15 Post by **Jon Tilson** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:45 am

old Richards article well....and it was reproduced here so is maybe in the archive.
Ive sourced some shims and ball joint cups from Fitchetts but they only do the 10 thou ones, not the 4 and 2. They've had TR6 ones remade cos the outer track arm is shorter. They have enough core for dolomites and want 43 quid for an exchange rack now, soon going up.

Jonners

The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

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6 cyl

I remember