[TR] TR3A --- Lever shocks and steering box

[TERRY SMITH]

Hi, Dave.  I use Harley Davidson fork oil with no problems.  Well...other than that the oil will dissipate (leak?) over time.  You can top off with the shocks in the car by removing the top plug and using a clean mustard/ketchup plastic container with pointy top connected to a very small plastic hose.  No reason not to do it, as long as  you keep the plug clean and are pristine in introducing the new oil.


In terms of the steering box, there are no brass components I'm aware of, so quality gear oil has always worked fine for me.  As above, oil seems to (dissipate), so topping off is good idea.  In fact, I'd better go check myself right now!


Terry Smith, '59 TR3A

New HNampshire



> On June 26, 2017 at 3:31 PM Geo Hahn <ahwahneetr at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>     What I am using in the steering box:
> 
>     http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=31234
> 
> 
>     Very thick - top up on a warm day.  Less prone to leaking if your seals are less than perfect.
> 
>     Geo
> 
>     On Mon, Jun 26, 2017 at 8:21 AM, Dave MacKay <dave at mdmackay.ca mailto:dave at mdmackay.ca > wrote:
> 
>         > > Hello:
> > 
> >         After years of having a mechanic service my TR3A, I'm now trying to
> >         maintain it myself. I have a couple of questions that I'd like to pose to
> >         the list.
> > 
> >         1) Steering box fluid
> > 
> >         The TR3A owner's manual ("Practical hints for the maintenance of the
> >         Triumph TR3") instructs that the oil in the steering box should be topped
> >         up (via a rubber plug on the steering column) every 6,000 miles with a
> >         special (Crimson) Armstrong Shock Absorber fluid.
> > 
> >         From searching the archives, I've learned that several listers prefer to
> >         use Valvoline Synpower 75W90 gear oil in the steering box. The same
> >         listers recommended Redline MT-90 for differentials and gearboxes.
> > 
> >         I've just refilled my differential and HVDA transmission with Redline
> >         MT-90 75W90 GL-4 gear oil and have a couple of quarts left over. Is there
> >         a reason not to use Redline MT-90 in the steering box?
> > 
> >         2) Lever shocks
> > 
> >         The same manual recommends that the front shocks don't require maintenance
> >         but that the rear shocks should be topped up every 12,000 miles. Most of
> >         the postings on the list recommend using a 20W (or 30W for a stiffer ride)
> >         heavy duty fork oil (for motorcycles).
> > 
> >         However, when I searched the web, I found a number of cautions to leave
> >         the rear lever shocks alone and not to perform routine maintenance on them
> >         because that often introduces problems. The advice was just to replace the
> >         rear shocks if they leak.
> > 
> >         Is the prevailing wisdom to follow the advice in the owner's manual, or to
> >         leave rear lever shocks alone?
> > 
> >         TIA,
> > 
> >         Dave MacKay
> >         TR3A s/n 68638L
> >         Near Toronto, Canada
> > 
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