[TR] Triumphs Digest, Vol 19, Issue 88

Jim Wallace grandfatherjim at gmail.com
Sun May 10 12:39:30 MDT 2026 

Jonmac wrote:
=============
Sorry. What did I do wrong?

Jonmac
==================
- you couched it in a plethora of phraseology, but I read between the
lines: you dissed my Toyota.


On Sun, May 10, 2026, 2:11 p.m. <triumphs-request at autox.team.net> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Speedometer cable repair kits -- any experience?
>       (dave northrup)
>    2. Re: Rear axle oil - overall lubricants and new designs
>       (John Macartney)
>    3. Re: Rear axle oil - overall lubricants and new designs
>       (Mark Bradakis)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 9 May 2026 19:24:38 +0000
> From: dave northrup <dave at ranteer.com>
> To: Frank Fisher <yellowtr3 at yahoo.com>, Triumphs list
>         <triumphs at autox.team.net>, Don Hiscock <don.hiscock at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [TR] Speedometer cable repair kits -- any experience?
> Message-ID: <07659a3ab1dc4a77b05bcc33986575ab at ranteer.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> West valley will do that.  They made a cable for me connecting a British
> Ford 5 speed transmission to an MGA speedo.  Custom length and everything!
>
> From: Triumphs <triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Frank Fisher
> Sent: Saturday, May 9, 2026 10:23 AM
> To: Triumphs list <triumphs at autox.team.net>; Don Hiscock <
> don.hiscock at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [TR] Speedometer cable repair kits -- any experience?
>
> there is a guy, or was some time ago who would make custom cables.
> for me he built a toyota to triumph cable.
> do i need to try and find him again for you?
>
> Frank
> southern california
>
>
> On Friday, May 8, 2026 at 08:40:33 PM PDT, Don Hiscock <
> don.hiscock at gmail.com<mailto:don.hiscock at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>
> The 8' overdrive speedometer cable on my TR3B broke at the drive end a few
> months ago and I'm looking at replacement/repair options.
>
>
> https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-gHQ6r2K/0/Kw43kwPvCn3hvxVCzrPkczV9fbgmfGBnXBfxprNXV/X5/i-gHQ6r2K-X5.jpg
>
> The silver-sheathed cables (the most authentic to the Smiths originals)
> formerly sold by TRF are out of stock and Albert reports his UK supplier
> went out of business unexpectedly, so with no alternative supplier they're
> not likely to come back anytime soon.
>
> Moss sell a 96" cable, but the housing is black.  Certainly an option.
>
> Napa sell speedometer cable repair kits, with various length universal-fit
> inner cables and a simple sort of staking tool to attach a fitting to one
> end.  The end fitting and staking tool are sold without the drive cable, as
> well.
>
> https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6151798
> https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6151823
>
> Has anyone used one of these?  How to they work?  It sorta looks like one
> cuts the cable to the right length and attaches the fitting, I'm guessing
> to the instrument end on our cars.  Is that right?  Are these a realistic
> repair option?
>
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> ------------------------------
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> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 9 May 2026 21:31:52 +0100
> From: John Macartney <johnbmacartney at gmx.com>
> To: Mark Bradakis <mark at bradakis.com>
> Cc: triumphs at autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [TR] Rear axle oil - overall lubricants and new designs
> Message-ID: <A0C26FD1-9DF0-46E8-8B2B-FD93A452C1F9 at gmx.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=utf-8
>
> Sorry. What did I do wrong?
>
> Jonmac
>
> > On 9 May 2026, at 07:49, Mark Bradakis <mark at bradakis.com> wrote:
> >
> > For some reason this was flagged by Mailman.  No idea why.
> >
> > mjb.
> >
> > =========
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> > From: Triumphs <triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of John
> Macartney
> > Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2026 3:30 PM
> > Cc: triumphs at autox.team.net
> > Subject: [TR] Rear axle oil
> >
> > Had an early night after spending the day sorting old Standard-Triumph
> handbooks (among lots of other stuff) and have just checked the grade for
> Standard Vanguard and TR3/3A as both used the same axle. Factory
> recommended an 85W90 GL4 type Hypoy as offered by Shell, BP, Castrol,
> Duckhams, Texaco. IOW, a hyper lube type with an ultra high resistance to
> shear. Does the stuff you have offer the same lubricity properties? Never
> heard of it myself but most modern oils are a complete mystery to me
> anyway. Still can?t get used to the family daily driver only being allowed
> a 0w20 full synthetic. Pours like water!
> >
> > Jonmac
> >
> > =========
> >
> > Regarding the 0w20, I'd like to have a bit of a rant on today's
> mechanical designs.
> >
> > When we take a look at the longevity of the supposed "high technology"
> direct injection engines of today and over the past say 10-15 years, it is
> woefully clear that these driveline designs are not lasting.  Sure, they
> provide performance and a lot of mpg per BHP per cc/cid, but all that tech
> designs have all sorts of problems.
> > Might that be from too thin oil?  As a long time cross-discipline
> control system professional,  the lubricants  or use of improper spec
> lubricants may be a cause, but not entirely, as when you tear into these
> new tech engines, they are yes, mechanical marvels controlled by complex
> computer management, but also, mechanical nightmares more likely to
> self-destruct if a microparticle of contaminate invades the wrong internal
> spot, a sensor allows the wrong stuff to enter the engine somewhere or the
> coolant level drops because some plastic coolant manifold or connection has
> a weak spot and suddenly dumped all the coolant creating a high temp spike
> on the close tolerance components.
> >
> > We love the new tech performance, but at what cost?
> >
> > People slammed the Triumph Stag 2997 CC OHC V8 for its design "flaws"
> but when I dive into some of these newer engines there are strikingly
> similar designs copied, I have seen across many other engine manufacturers
> including GM, Mercedes, Toyota, Ford, JLR and others.  One example is
> timing chains, OHC design, etc.  Today's OHC engines, all of them, have
> issues with timing chain tensioners, guides, oil pumps which are manifested
> from engine designs over 75 years ago but cost cut even more and designed
> to very narrow performance limits and very close tolerance requirements.
> >
> > When I look at these newer high-performance engines, they all appear to
> have the same old issues: multiple simplex roller timing chains (some use
> internal rubber belts!!!)  held in place by insufficiently designed guides
> and tensioners driving all sorts of internal components like oil/fuel/water
> pumps buried deep internally into the engine, variable valve timing,
> variable stroke, very high-pressure requirements for oil and fuel with
> electronics like solenoids and sensors operating in the component
> lubricants, and they all have significant design structural problems from
> material and cost scrimping and lack of real longevity whether they are
> petrol/gas or diesel.
> >
> > I have been looking at the various JLR newer models, and what incredible
> value can be had in say a Range Rover autobiography /SV/Dynamic/ that had
> cost 180k USD or far more, yet with a blown 5.0 liter engine, they are
> relatively worthless.  To rebuild one of those 3.0 or 5.0 engines, have a
> look at some of the teardown and rebuilds of any modern direct injection
> engine and you will quickly see the engines are all completely disposable
> designs; materials are skimped in the blocks to save manufacturing time,
> weight and maximize cooling, but when they break, they self-destruct. Labor
> alone to tear down and reassemble is often more that the OEM cost of the
> entire engine, and the factory does not provide rebuild kits.  What is a
> pound of engine webbing structural aluminum removed from a 600 bhp
> supercharged engine as an assembly or weight saving design on a 6000#
> weight vehicle?  Maybe if designed for the track that amounts to a fraction
> of a second of speed, but a road vehicle?!?
> >
> > Lubricants:
> > Historically, the fact was, API / SAE lubricants designed for components
> were once supposed to increase the range of mechanical protections with new
> specifications as time went on, where today, a mechanical component may be
> designed only for one very narrow type of lubricant that was designed only
> for that unique application.
> >
> > The API/ SAE "meets or exceeds" statements must be carefully dissected
> to understand exactly what the lubricant use range and components
> lubricants are approved, which may take significant research.
> >
> > If you decide to use your "favorite brand" oil or coolant in a modern
> driveline component not certified for use in that narrow design, you might
> be unknowingly starting the self-destruction timer.
> >
> > So, to answer the question for our old and very reliable vehicles, BEGIN
> with the Owner's Manual / Factory Manual specification for your lubricants
> in and on your components as they were designed by the manufacturer, and if
> that type of lubricant is not available, look and understand what and why
> it was replaced with a later API/SAE tested lubricant that "should" add
> increased protection in that application.
> > AVOID AT ALL COSTS, "my buddies or I uses this and swears by it..."  I
> typically do not trust my local parts shoppe counter person for lubricant
> recommendation unless that counter person was once a master mechanic or
> factory trained tech, that being rare.  There are reams of Technical
> Service Bulletins where the factory engineers got it wrong too, only
> discovered during or after warranty periods.
> > Lubrication is its own science, but if you read the specs, you will get
> the limitations and also the mechanics tales for snake oil.
> >
> > Caveat Emptor ya'll.
> >
> > Glenn a.k.a. StagByTriumph
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 9 May 2026 15:14:12 -0600
> From: Mark Bradakis <mark at bradakis.com>
> To: triumphs at autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [TR] Rear axle oil - overall lubricants and new designs
> Message-ID: <e8e347f3-7274-46b9-83bf-01e8a76849d6 at bradakis.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
> On 5/9/26 2:31 PM, John Macartney wrote:
> > Sorry. What did I do wrong?
> >
>
> Your message went through just fine.  It was Glenn's reply that got hung
> up for some unknown reason.
>
> mjb.
>
>
>
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> End of Triumphs Digest, Vol 19, Issue 88
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