[Sunbeam Talbot Email List] 55 Alpine Restoration

[CotaLymepond at aol.com]

HMG is correct about the Gaiters, they were intended to keep the springs  
bathed in grease.
The hood louvers were to increase airflow during racing. Normal driving did 
 not require them and the block-off plates kept the rain out when not in 
race  mode. I believe the owners manual included the tip that you could remove 
just  the two small rear plates in the winter and the escaping engine heat 
would aid  in keeping the windshield defrosted.
<>Steve Cota<>
 
 
In a message dated 1/30/2010 5:18:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
gillardh at hotmail.com writes:

Don
The purpose of the "boots" aka "gaiters"  is to  keep the springs 
lubricated, so they don't rust and so they flex easily  - ie the leaves don't stick 
to each other.

On Scumbag (my  1950 Humber SuperSnipe MkII) the gaiters were full length - 
they covered all  of the springs, not just part.   Fitted to the rear 
springs.   (I don't think that the big transverse leaf spring at the front had 
one,  though there is no reason why it should not have had one.)     The 
gaiters each had two grease nipples, into which the owner was  supposed to pump 
thick grease (can't remember the spec and don't have the  workshop manual 
with me)    

On my Snipe,  fifty-five years took their tool and the gaiters fell apart 
when I tried to  remove them during  restoration

HMG


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