[Healeys] A Christmas Story

[Richard Kahn]

That is what I refer to as the domino game. One thing just causes another to happen. A game you cannot win.

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From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of gradea1 at charter.net <gradea1 at charter.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2020 6:08 PM
To: 'kentlambert1957 at gmail.com' <kentlambert1957 at gmail.com>
Cc: 'healeys at autox.team.net' <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] A Christmas Story


A Christmas Story by Hank Leach

Friday, December 25, 2020

5:41 PM

This is a story of a new trafficator lever, a lost filter and a new flashlight for Christmas. How all three items relate is the makings of a Christmas Miracle.



It starts out by first obtaining the correct trafficator (directional flasher) lever to fit on my Austin Healey 100. That car uses the early adjustable steering setup so that lever is a curved chrome handle (same one used on the later adjustables). The non adjustable steering uses a black "birds beak" shaped lever.  That one was wrongly used on my 1953 BN1. So with new part in hand, the procedure is to remove the trafficator indicator unit, disassemble it and replace the lever. Lets just say it’s a time consuming task that requires nimble fingers and a set procedure. Upon completion of the project its time to check the working characteristics.



Turn on the key, listen for fuel pump to stop then check horn and flashers…uh, oh, fuel pump is not stopping…stuck float. So now move to the rear carburettor float bowl, remove lid and free up brass float, clean needle and seat and check float height. Reassemble, being careful not to drop any parts. Darn, there goes the fibre washer, brass filter and spring. The washer was laying under the car, but the filter was no where to be found. Looked everywhere on floor, within the engine bay, on the frame, on the suspension too, but it was not located…it just disappeared. I tried blowing out the area with compressed air, then a vacuum maybe to suck it up from some obscure spot. Not found. That was Christmas Eve.



Christmas Day we open presents and one was a 500 Lumens flashlight from my Sister-in-law; she is so thoughtful. So, after we opened the gifts, I thought, why not try out this super-bright flashlight and see if I could to locate the elusive filter-its out there somewhere. Shined the light on the engine, under the carbs, on the frame and master cylinder-where is it? As I moved the new flashlight toward the frame support, it touched the edge and the lens fell out into the Healey frame.  You know that spot. It collects any part you are unable to find, and it is curved just enough that you can't see to the bottom where it ends on the frame rail. I shined the lens-less flashlight down the frame and sure enough there was the lens…and the filter, and even a missing choke lever return spring lost during the re-assembly in 2015. With the help of the flashlight and a long armed grabber all items are now retrieved.



Back to the trafficator, key on, horn and flashers work correctly with the new lever, so everything was assembled correctly, including the overflowing float bowl…a Christmas Miracle.





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