Triumph Repair: Temperature Compensators for TR7 on Stromberg CD 175SEV carbs, vintage triumph registry, scribd

Question
QUESTION: Howard,

  I've asked you questions before, here we go again !  I have 2 Stromberg 175CD SEV carbs on my 76 TR7.  One of the bi metallic strips had the adjusting nut replaced by a screw by a PO and forced down to bend the strip all out of shape.  I'd like to straighten it then adjust it to open at the proper temp.  I found articles for TR6: http://www.vtr.org/maintain/temp-compensators.shtml  and Volvo: http://www.scribd.com/doc/3851767/stromberg-175 but they recommend different temperatures to set the strips to open.  Do you know what temperature they should open for a 76 TR7 ?

 Thanks,

 Steve.

ANSWER: Hi Steve,
I worked for many years in MG, Triumph & Jaguar dealerships and in every one, we were told to never try to adjust the temp compensators. If they were damaged in any way we would just replace them. I had on several occasions got a broken or damaged ones and the replacement was not available from our parts dept. So standard procedure was to just wedge the valve closed until one would come in. Each factory said it was a non-serviceable item meaning no adjustment was to be made.
It is good to see someone work out an adjustment procedure as in the link you sent from the Vintage Triumph Registry. This gives restorers a method to adjust them.
However, any mechanic working in a shop or in a dealership would starve to death if he or she went to all that trouble on an item that I found to be of little to no use. If a mechanic were to charge for that kind of work the customer could buy a new carburetor for what the labor would cost.
We were told to lock down the trimmer screw next to it on PDI as it was only used at the factory. Probably for emissions only as the Strombergs were installed to try to meet standards here. Which needed to be done but the factories didn't have the technology to get the cars (all of them) to run and meet emissions. The 67 "E" type Jag was a fast car off of the showroom floor with three SUs and the 68 "E" type was slug that a Fiat Abarth could out run any way it wanted to run. I know it was not the Strombergs' fault but that is the first thing we seen when we opened the hood (bonnet).
I looked in the Haynes Stromberg manual and in the Bentely TR-7 manual and they say the same thing. "Non serviceable item"
I don't believe you can get a bent up "Bymetal" strip of any kind to operate as the factory meant it to work by hammering it straight.
I was certified in 2000 by ASE as a Master Tech and had the "L-1" certification and even though I never seen a car with Strombergs put on the dyno and run a trace in "L-1", I doubt the temp[ compensators working or not would have shown up in the tests.
My suggestion is to try the "Vintage Triumph Registry" method and if that don't work get a new or used replacement or just put a wedge under the plastic cover and forget it.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Howard,

   I straightened the bi metallic strip of the damaged one, and tested it against the unmolested one.  I set it to match the good one to start to open at 125 degrees, and full open at 155 degrees.  A little higher than specified in the VTR article but then it also mentioned it's better to get them to sync than to match an exact temperature.  I'll put the carbs back and give it a try !  Another question - do you know where I can find out the exact placement of the car's decals ?  The PO painted the car but I have a set of decals without instructions as to the correct placement.
 
  Thanks,

  Steve.

Answer
Hi Steve,
I did a lot of work on TR-7s but I never paid any attention to the sticker placement. Only a restoration expert who does TR-7s would know that as I never seen it quoted in any manual.
I think your best chance would be with the Vintage Triumph Registry people. Unless any one reading this will write in and let us know.
Howard