Questionhi,
I've just recently bought a triumph spit 1500 1981. after only three weeks problems have started, not that im down hearted!
As i was pulling away in full lock the car sudenley hit the deck. After inspection i realised that the kingpin had snapped in the trunnion, RH.
As i have never worked on cars before have you any tips for me when i come to change the kingpin, anything worth replacing whilst im doing this work or worth checking. i've already bought the kingpin trunnion and break disks for spares.
Also when i've been driving i've noticed that the car has started to misfire a little, and ive noticed that the pressure in the engine is increasing and decreasing quite often, is this normal? I've noticed that the oil in the cylinder head is a bit crusty as if the head is not getting a good syply of oil, i've thought of flushing the engine because i think that the oil strainer gauze may be blocked?
AnswerIan,
If the vertical link snapped in the trunnion then it's definitely worth taking a good look at all the hardware in the suspension, front and rear. Typically the vertical links snap because the vertical link is bent, most likely from a pot hole or brushing the curb. So look for bent A-arms... and any signs of rippling in the frame metal, especially at the suspension mounting points.
The rubber bushings may be quite worn too. They're not expensive, and not too hard to replace but it does mean pulling everything apart. The same applies to the trunnion bushings.
And unless you know the previous owner and what shape they kept the car in, it'd be a good idea to go through and change the major fluids (oil, radiator, brake fluid) as it may not have been done in quite a while. Check/replace the alternator belt.
As to the misfire.... it could be many things. Old gas can cause problems. It could also be one of the vacuum lines has worked loose or dry rotted, allowing the timing to change. Too hard to tell from this computer.
Cheers,
Jim
