TR2/3/3A TR3, Failure to Proceed

[MGTF1250Dave]

Aloha All,

Driving to work this morning my TR3 failed to proceed. The engine died and I was able to move to the shoulder without incident. The starter turned the engine over rapidly but it would not start. I checked the fuel side and the pump is working well and fuel to both carburetors. The problem seems to be on the ignition side and I suspect it is either the coil or a broken wire in the low tension circuit. The points are opening and closing as the distributor turns. A friend help me tow it home and I work on it tonight after work.

I had only a screw driver and a crescent wrench (adjustable spanner) so I was limited in trouble shooting electrical items.

 

[donbmw]

Check your rotor I have had some of them crack and short killing the engine.

Don

 

[DrEntropy]

And look to the points "carboning". Run an emery board thru 'em.

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

I now carry a spare rotor and cap, because I've had 2 rotors cause the car to die. I also carry an extra spark plug, plugged into a wire. That way I can plug it into the coil, check spark, plug it into the cap, check spark again and know the rotor is shorting -in a few minutes. -without tools or getting my hands dirty.

You probably have it fixed by now... what was it?

 

[MGTF1250Dave]

Aloha All,

Thanks for the advise. It was the coil and I had a spare, a lucas coil dated 12/58 on the bottom. It took about an hour to diagnois an put in the replacement coil.

I've decided to carry a few extra tools, a test light to check electrical circuits and a few more wrenches and screw drivers.

 

[toysrrus]

Hi Dave,

Glad to hear your Fix was a simple one. Typically they are.

I used to have a `55 TF. I went to a Morgan meet & my car was spitting and sputtering all over the place.

I had "Nothing" on me! No spare plugs, rotors, caps etc. not even a phillips or flat hd. screwdriver! "DUMB"!

After a Morgan mech. replaced the plugs for me; My Tool Box got filled with all the necessary "Emergency" accessories to include a spare Belt (You never know).

Have Fun,

Regards, Russ

 

[Russ Austin]

I think that would be under your 50 year warranty!

 

[MGTF1250Dave]

Aloha Russ,

You may be right, the old coil that failed was stamped 5/58 on the bottom. Since the failure was on 4/30/2008 maybe it would fall under the 50 year warrant, but if it is prorated I would get much.

 

[Geo Hahn]

...I've decided to carry a few extra tools, a test light to check electrical circuits and a few more wrenches and screw drivers.

When you consider how often sudden roadside failures are ignition related, and how the entire ignition system is just a handful of parts -- it may make sense to carry a spare of the whole thing.

 

[TR3driver]

I put a spare loaded dizzy in the center of the spare tire.

But since I've never been stranded by a bad coil, and a usable coil can be had at any FLAPS (even a modern HEI coil will get you home), I don't bother carrying a coil.

 

[Geo Hahn]

...and a usable coil can be had at any FLAPS (even a modern HEI coil will get you home), I don't bother carrying a coil.

That's the case in Sunny SoCal... but when the coil decides to die in, say, Why, Arizona or somewhere just outside Wikiup -- a spare coil is very welcome.

 

[TR3driver]

I've actually been to Why (tho I don't recall why :G)

And I'm confident that I could source a suitable coil there. Almost any car or small truck from 1950 through maybe 1990 would serve as donor; and I saw several candidates sitting around.

Sure, it could happen, and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with choosing to carry a spare coil. It's just not my choice of item most likely to strand me.

Somewhere out in Texas there is a sign on I-10 that reads "Next services 104 miles". I've passed that sign, while driving a TR3 that I had just bought, sight unseen (and had a friend pull out of it's resting place in a cornfield).