[Staowners] GEARBOX LINKAGE

[George Simpson - Forums]

Malcolm .... I fitted the electric pump as a back-up and for use when 
starting the car after a period of inactivity with the carburettor is 
empty. As the starter motor cranking the engine also activates the 
mechanical pump, it takes a lot of cranking before the engine fires and 
the mechanical pump gets a decent "tickle" from the camshaft.

The electric pump is under the car, plumbed into the fuel line, and 
commanded by a hidden switch under the dashboard. I only use it for cold 
starts and as the circuit is controlled by the ignition switch, it is 
not a problem if I inadvertently leave it on. It certainly makes cold 
starting easier and is always there as a back-up in the unlikely event 
of a failure of the mechanical pump.

I must admit that I have not been under the car to inspect the state of 
the other end of the Bowden cable where it goes into the side of the 
gearbox. In the past I  could do my millimetre adjustment and obtain all 
gears whereas now I cannot, so something else must have changed. Now you 
mention it, I have not checked the movement of the solid rod that is 
activated by my central gear lever so tomorrow is "jack up day".

Cheers

George

Malcolm Brown wrote:
> Hi George
>
> I drive a 53/54 Alpine MK 1, still with the original column change, I found
> that the limited gear selection was due to general wear in linkage (small
> bush's at various pivot points), also the bracket on the steering column was
> not tight, which all added up to not getting the full movement of the gear
> selection mechanism.
>
> It was also interesting to hear that after cleaning out the tank, you still
> fitted a second pump, do you feel that the standard mechanical pump is
> un-reliable ?
> I have also just cleaned out my tank and at the same time, reconditioned the
> pump, but I hope that I don't need a second (electric) pump.
>
> Cheers
>
> Malcolm Brown
>
>
>
>