[6pack] ARE Triple ZS heat shield... review and rant!

[Shawn J. Loseke]

I received one of the first production models of the ARE heat-shields for the 
Triple ZS set up. The "rant" mentioned in the subject line is not about the 
quality of the ARE product. It's fine, though I might offer some tips for 
further production when using this heat-shield with other products out there.

Along with the heat-shield, I also purchased a Rat-Co throttle cable 
conversion. These two items mount in separate areas of the carburettor so I 
thought there would be no interference. The ARE heat-shield even has a cut out 
for the throttle linkage to pass through where the Rat-Co cable can also pass 
through.

The carburettor mounted brace for the Rat-Co cable and the ARE heat-shield did 
interfere with each other on the backside of the rear carburettor though. So, 
I thought about a couple of different approaches to the problem. I could 
modify the heat shield to also hold the cable, but it might flex too much. I 
could also modify the heat-shield just where the interference was. I chose the 
latter and all it took was a little re-shaping of one corner of the 
heat-shield.

Okay, so the slight modification worked, and now both the brace for the Rat-Co 
cable and the ARE heat-shield are both installed and get along well.

Now for the "rant" part. The ARE heat-shield bolts to the carburettors between 
the front of the carburettor and the air cleaner. Not a big deal if your using 
individual air cleaners. Lucky me though, I have one of Richard Good's "Ram 
Air" boxes, so the bolts for all three carburettors have to be lined up with 
the heatshield, air box and carburettors all at the same time. The fun is 
furthered here by the very close clearance of the "Ram Air" box to the inner 
fender where the bolts for the front carburettor are. All of the gymnastics 
needed to get all of this lined up isn't even really that bad. Until you have 
to do it three times in one night because you keep forgetting stuff. DOH!

So there you have it, the "rant" is about my absentmindedness while putting it 
all together. The parts are all fine. I'm the idiot. I have to remove the air 
box once more because I forgot that I have to re-sync the carburettors because 
of some other things that I did while I had it all apart. When I remembered 
that last night, right after I finished puttng the air-box for the third time 
in two hours, I put the wrenches down, turned off the garage light and went 
inside. Now I won't be able to get back to it until Saturday afternoon at the 
earliest. Then, I'll try and make a list to follow. Or at least attack it with 
a fresh brain. ;)

Shawn J. Loseke
Fort Collins, CO
http://www.triumphowners.com/79   (1972 TR6)
http://www.triumphowners.com/690  (1978 TR8)