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HUMBER RAMBLINGS Adrian Grant

Humber Ramblings
Autumn 2022

Well we seem to have survived the Along those same lines, after a lot of work
predicted wave and I can only hope that this to line up the alternator pulley since the
continues into the future. So far our members engine was reconditioned in the grey
have been fortunate and I haven’t heard any Fairlane I was very disappointed to find that
bad reports for anyone and perhaps our the belt was still screaming. Rechecking
vaccinations and precautions have contributed everything I came to the conclusion that it
to lessening the severity. Let’s hope it continues must be the width of the belt as one of the
in this vein for us all. It is a great time of the pulleys was shiny on the bottom. This was a
year to be out and about and Nola and I have new belt so it was a bit disappointing but
been doing that and found lots of good picnic closer inspection showed that this belt was
spots and a couple of pubs which might be good only11mm wide whereas the others were
13mm. Trotted off to Repco and bought a
to be included in a run. The best part of this at replacement belt but didn’t quite allow
the moment is that you can keep away from enough for the extra length so had to go
everybody if you so wish. I think after the last back again – such fun. All good the second
two years we have been conditioned to stay at time and fitted the belt and peace at last!
home and we need to change our way of After about 20 minutes of driving time I
thinking. With that in mind, at the last rechecked the tension and was surprised to
Committee meeting, kindly held at Simon and see how much it had bedded in. So far it has
Julie Pierce’s house, a full year of events has been all quiet on the western front and I’m
been mapped out which I hope will see us all as keeping my fingers crossed. Time to reach
a Club getting out and about, showing the flag, this outcome was about 10 1/2 hours all told
enjoying our cars and best of all enjoying each which includes repeated trips to the bolt
other’s company. shop because the bolt head indicated one
size but the shaft was actually bigger .!!!
I decided to take the Super Snipe to the This was the main bolt to allow the
Committee meeting as it has not had a good run alternator to pivot. Why do they do that??
I’m not sure how many times I undid and
since last year and I needed to test my skill at retightened bolts to get the angle correct!
setting the points. The last couple of times that I
had her out I noticed she was down on power so Our cars are usually pretty faithful and
I decided to check the points gap. These had get you home and the TR7 did. I drove it home,
reduced to about 6 thou. and were obviously the stopped in front of the garage to open the doors
cause as they should officially be at 12 thou. For and attempted to restart - there was nothing but
some reason I have great difficulty in getting a very mushy feeling ignition key. Checked the
the setting right in this car and it is not for want fuses, tried the lights, everything worked except
of previous practice with my other cars over the she wouldn’t even turn over. RACQ diagnosed
years. So with some trepidation I set them at 14 the problem quickly; he was an old Stag owner,
which she seems to like and started it up and it that the electrical side of the ignition switch had
was awful. Measured again and it was 21thou., died. He kindly took it out and it was just worn
no wonder. I then improved my lighting and out after 40 years. I looked up the parts
repeated the process and this time on supplier Rimmers in England and yes they had
remeasuring it was 16thou. Better, but not 14 so the whole piece complete with wiring and
remeasured again and once again it somehow connector. I ordered it at 10 pm on Thursday
night and it was delivered to me on Sunday
changed back to 16. I thought maybe it is telling afternoon – amazing! After a little fiddling I
me something so I left it at that and hoped for was able to plug it in and yes it works much
the best. I then took it for a test run and it went more smoothly than the old one. It was nice to
like an absolute rocket, quite amazing. Why it is
such a challenge I have no idea and all I can say (Continued on page 7)
is that it is a car!!!

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