[TR] TR4 road draft tube plug

[Dave]

Well, of course the upper part isn't sealed from the lower.  The oil pumped to the rockers has to drain back down somehow.  As was mentioned previously, it goes through the push rod tubes.

My guess is that the cover is used in other applications (Vanguard?) and whatever it was for was not implemented on the TR.  Not enough space under the hood.

 

Dave Massey


-----Original Message-----
From: Brad Kahler <bkahler1 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [TR] TR4 road draft tube plug


 
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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