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re: 'The non
adjustable steering uses a black "birds beak" shaped lever.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes">'<br>
<br>
Is that the one the Brits call the "Witch's Nose?"<br>
<br>
</span><br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/26/2020 6:08 PM,
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:gradea1@charter.net">gradea1@charter.net</a> wrote:<br>
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<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:eb7c3fe7e7941dfe134f03782bd12826c756d82a@webmail">
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<p style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri Light""><span
style="font-size:20.0pt">A
Christmas Story </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">by Hank
Leach</span></p>
<p
style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:10.0pt;color:#767676">Friday,
December 25, 2020</p>
<p
style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:10.0pt;color:#767676">5:41
PM</p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt">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.</p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt"> </p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt">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.<span
style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.</p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt"> </p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt">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.</p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt"> </p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt">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.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>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.</p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt"> </p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt">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.</p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt"> </p>
<p style="margin:0in;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11.0pt"> </p>
<br>
</blockquote>
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