Headlamp Surrounds

[Pete]

When I bought this TR7 just over 12 months ago I was given some spare with it. However, some of these spares turned out to be bits that had not been re-fitted to the car after it's respray.

Amongst these bits are the big rubber headlamp surrounds. Is it fair to assume that my nearside headlamp motor keeps filling up with water because this big lump of rubber is no longer a part of the headlamp assembly ? Or is there maybe something else missing ?

Thanking you...

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Water in the headlight motor? Boy, that is a new one!!

I don't believe that we have ever had that problem before. I don't think the surrounds would have any effect on the motor unless they are loose and wedge themselves between the openings.

You don't drive across a stream to get home, do you?

jclay

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[Pete]

I do cross two rivers on the to and fro to work but sensibly I use the bridge. I do however live a semi aquatic existence under the persistently grey rainy skies of Lancashire, NW England, which provide ample puddles on the nearside of the road, and it’s just the nearside motor that’s swimming.

I thought this problem might be a bit of an old chestnut, apparently not hey.

I know the splash cover that fits under the bonnet along the bulkhead is missing, but should there be any other splash covers, around the nose maybe ?

Thanks

[Beans]

Early TR7's had a habit of getting water in the head-lamp-lift-motors. Was cured later on in the TR7's life by better sealing.
Headlamp surround is purely there for cosmetics.

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car currently being restored)
In parts a 1980 TR7 PI DHC, 1981 TR7 DHC, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>

[Jolyon39]

Hi Pete and welcome to this forum.

I think the thing you call a splash cover on the bulkhead is actually the fresh Air intake for the heater and cabin. These are easy to fit and stop fumes comming into the car, you might like to refit it.

Great one about the headlamp motor though, I have not read that here before. Rimmers catalogue lists an early motor with round plug or a later (Change in 1978) square plug version. Perhaps you could get a later motor off a wreck and fit it to your car for a better seal. The headlight motor is often left on a wreck, just yesterday I just saw that a shell I brought actually still had the headlamp lifters.

If you do not have it telephone Rimmers and ask for a free copy of their TR7 catalogue, it is a very useful tool as it has a pretty much complete parts break down. Telephone 0152 568000

Jolyon

[Pete]

Thanks for the replies, I've and '81 rag top so would have thought that the motor would be of the later type, however, it could have been replaced with the earlier type at some point.

The motor got stuck 'half lifted' the other night but as the lamp was not on I didn't notice it. The result was a very flat battery and a hot motor the following morning !

I'm now looking for a replacement in the spares section. Anyone know the life expectancy of these motors ?

[Beans]

In 21 years of TR7 motoring I haven't had a failure with these, so presume that makes it a pretty long life expectancy ...

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car currently being restored)
In parts a 1980 TR7 PI DHC, 1981 TR7 DHC, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>

[Odd]

Mine are soon to be 30 years old - and work flawlessly still.

<font color="red"><b>My two 1980 Wedges...</b></font id="red">

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Roger Williams has a discussion on headlight starting on page 131 of his book,
"How to restore Triumph TR7&8".

Also, you can get the service manual from my Download Page, "TR7man.pdf" from the link below.

jclay

[url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Technical/Intro.html"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="http://homepage.mac.com/WebObjects/FileSharing.woa/53/wo/HJMTK8gsojtwKleP.1/0.2.1.2.26.31.97.0.35.0.1.1.1?user=jclaythompson&fpath=Triumph_Articles&templatefn=FileSharing4.html"]Download Page[/url]

[John Clancy]

All TR7's were recalled here in the UK for this very problem. I can't remember what year the recall was made but was largely down to headlamp motors catching fire in North America.

About 25 years ago I met a chap who had the job of carrying out the remedial work on all the TR7's in his area. He was well paid for this work by British Leyland... particularly so when you consider all that was involved was removing the motor cover, covering the edge with mastic sealant and replacing the cover. I can't remember how much he was paid but it wasn't a trivial amount per car.

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[Jolyon39]

Over the last 15 months Rimmers have been regularly selling off new headlight lift assemblies for just 5 pounds, this is the steel and alloy hinged frame complete with springs.

I am not sure what stopped your unit but for 5 bucks I would get one and install it as part of your repair.

Jolyon

[Pete]

Thanks all, we seem to have got to the bottom of it, new motor and for a fiver may as well get the assembly.

Any pifalls to avoid in re-fitting the rubber surrounds or is it really easy ?

Cheers

[Underdog]

The brass inserts sometimes pull free of the rubber. I used some epoxy type adhesive on mine and they have been fine. Other than that it's a simple matter of some screws.

BTW, you fellas braging about your trouble free HL lifts are brave.[;)] I'm not talking about mine!![:D]

Jim Underwood
72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Site/Head%20Light%20Surround.html

jclay

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[Beans]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Underdog</i>

...BTW, you fellas braging about your trouble free HL lifts are brave.[;)] I'm not talking about mine!![:D]... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I know, knock on wood [:p]

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car currently being restored)
In parts a 1980 TR7 PI DHC, 1981 TR7 DHC, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>