[TR] TR4 road draft tube plug

[Brad Kahler]

Alan,

So much for the official Triumph documentation!

Does anyone know why the real early TR4s (and I think late TR3Bs) had the
brass plug in the top of the valve cover?  I've never seen anything
relating to that plug written anywhere.

I don't think the bottom end can be completely sealed due to the openings
for the push rods.  When the switch was made to the "sealed" system the
draft tube went away for good.

Thanks,

Brad


On Tue, Sep 8, 2015 at 4:48 PM, Alan Myers <amfoto1 at aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> ... Then at
> engine number CT14234E through end of TR4 production the
> cars had air
> filters with vent openings coming from a flame trap from the valve
> cover
> along with a "sealed" valve cover cap and no road draft tube.  TR4As had
> a
> gulp valve with a vented (1/8" metered opening in the cap) valve cover
> cap
> and no road draft tube.  This information was found in Service
> Bulletin
>
>
>
> I can tell you for certain that's incorrect. The change from open
> breathing to flame-trap, etc. came later than that.
>
> CT17791E (fitted to CT17602L, built in late October, 1962) originally had
> the vented cap and the road draft tube.
>
> The cap is the push on type, has big vents on the underside and filled
> with coarse  "steel wool" to reduce oil spray, I'm sure.
>
> The road draft (or draught, I suppose) tube is large diameter, press fit
> into the side of the block and locked in place with two screws (maybe 1/4
> or 5/16").
>
> The original valve cover has no vent, but it does have a large brass plug
> where one could be fitted.
>
> Never had a problem with oil out of the push on cap or an unusual amount
> of leaks.... but the road draft tube kept most of the underside of the car
> rust free!
>
> The car now has an aftermarket cast alu valve cover with a breather pipe
> and a low profile, twist-in filler cap (with a single, tiny breather hole).
>
> I've replaced the road draft tube, but didn't plug it. It now has a nipple
> for a 1/2" or larger hose fitting. I don't think it's a good idea to
> completely seal up the bottom end of the engine. It needs to be able to
> breathe, same as the top end.
>
> Car is not yet back on the road, but when it is the plan is  to have a
> catch tank or can fitted with a breather cap, with hoses running from both
> the valve cover and the fitting at the draft tube.
>
> I intend to use a catch can similar to this:
> http://www.summitracing.com/parts/jrc-555-6402
>
> Alan Myers
> San Jose Calif.
> '62 TR4 CT17602L
> amfoto1 at aol.com
> http://www.triumphowners.com/to-car/tr4-14/
>
>
>
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