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Triumph TR6 - Bad Servo?

Getting along nicely on the restoration of my '71. Good news, started up nicely and runs well. Bad news, when I step on the brake the engine nearly stalls. Is this a clear indication of a bad servo? Have searched the archives on this but can find nothing definitive. Have also researched other sources, including the Nelson Riedel article. All explain how it works and how to replace or restore, but none seem to describe various symptoms which indicate the need to replace. All the documentation indicates these things rarely go bad. Am I missing something simple here?

Jim
Jim Vandenberg

Jim,

It does sound like a bad servo, but here's how to make sure: Pull the vacuum line off the servo and plug the line (tightly, so there is no in-leakage). If the symptoms go away, the servo is at fault, if not, something else needs to be looked at.

If need be, you can drive the car quite well without the servo working until you can get the servo fixed or replaced. The difference in braking power is not all that noticable.

If the servo diaphram has split (which, after 34 years, is not at all unreasonable), when you step on the brakes, the split diaphram allows air into the intake, creating a very lean mixture.
Dan Masters

There were posts just a month or so ago that stated a bad booster diaphragm could cause the exact problem you describe. For a "control", disconnect the hose from the servo (plug the end) and see what happens when you hit the brakes.

Brent
Brent B

Thanks for the quick response guys. Based on your input it is clearly a bad servo. I suppose I'll eventually buy a rebuilt unit from Partco, but I'm not in any hurry. In my opinion, the servo really doesn't bring much to the party; I have firm brake pedal response that doesn't require an undue amount of effort at all. Has anybody else decided to run without it connected?

Jim
Jim Vandenberg

Jim- If I remember right the posts referenced by Brent also talks about getting one from another source that if memory serves me was reasonable.I can't remember if there is a company that rebuilds your existing. A link long ago in the past also mentioned a servo from a Toyota or something like that.
What is the body # on your 71?
Don K.
DON KELLY

Don,

Body # is CC63860L, manufactured April, '71.

Not aware of any other sources than Partco. Just left their website, and an exchange (they send you a rebuilt unit and you send back the core) is $85. That's certainly not unreasonable, I'm just wondering if it's really necessary. As I said, the brakes suit me just fine without it. I thought about doing my own by buying a rebuild kit and following Nelson Riedel's directions, but it just doesn't seem worth the aggravation.

Jim

Jim Vandenberg

Jim-I don't believe there is a rebuild kit available with the diaphragm. Probably Partco cuts their own from material. If you don't mind the extra pressure to operate the brakes just block off the vac. line. I drove several years without a servo and never missed it.
Berry Price CC63230L, made in Mar. 71
BTP Price

Berry,

Interesting to look at the numbers here. If, for the sake of argument, you assume that our cars were made within 5 days either way of the 15th of March and April, respectively, it tells us that they were putting out 600-700 cars/month. That would have been fun to see.

Jim
Jim V.

Jim-You might be interested in visiting this site and/or registering your car. The comm. numbers and month of manufacture are given. http://www.trregistry.com/start/registry/html/TR6/index.htm
Berry Price
BTP Price

guys-Mine is 58660 Nov.1970.Sometime I think they didn't know what year they where building and threw on some leftover stuff from the 1970's box of parts.
Don K.
Baby Sh..Brown as my wife says
DON KELLY

Jim V,
If your numbers are correct for Mar/Apr, they must have upped the production a bit by summer. My 71 is CC65881L, Jun 71, and Don Kelly, mine definitely has some 72 stuff.
db
Doug Baker

Well since all of us '71 owners are comparing plates...mine is CC65060L May '71. I also have 72 stuff particularly the horn relay set up.

To sumarize:
Berry:CC63230L,Mar. 71
Jim: CC63860L,April, '71.
Rick: CC65060L May '71...(now with an O at the end:)
Doug: CC65881L, Jun 71

Anyone else to join "CLUB 71"?
Rick C
Rick Crawford

The 1970 and 1971 cars were produced as one run and as a consequence there is not a well documented break at the 70/71 model year. I have CC56209L, produced July 1970, nominally this should have made the car a 1970 model. Yet all the emissions information says 1971 even though this car has some stuff that is supposedly unique to 1970 models. Some time back in looking at VTR registrations I noticed a few cars with lower serial numbers also listed as 1971 cars and a few with higher serial numbers listed as 1970 cars. Kind of a "if you're on the cusp, it's whichever year it was called" type of approach.

SteveP

Hey Rick- What am I, chopped liver? Mine is a 71.
Don K.
DON KELLY

Mr. Kelly
I thought about including you but you say 1970.... "CLUB 71"?
So not to hurt your feelings and now not wishing to leave SteveP out here it is again. Don I was thinking '71 for you just because you where produced so late in the year.


SteveP:CC56209L July 1970
Don K:CC58660 Nov.1970
RickC:CC62645L Sept.'71 Notice the date..(donner car)
Berry:CC63230L,Mar. 71
Jim: CC63860L,April, '71
Rick: CC65060L May '71...(now with an O at the end:)
Doug: CC65881L, Jun 71


Like Berry posted above, go register your vehicles.

Doug, I think the factory played with the numbers to make them look good.... kinda an Enron thing.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Hey Rick- Did you mean "donor". I was wondering if your car was with the Donner party as it crossed over the pass.No wonder they about all died, they were in British cars.
Don

Just funning with ya.
DON KELLY

Hello all. Newbe here. I'm doing a restore on my '71 which I have own since '73. I am the third owner and the car originaly came from Ohio. She has not been registered since '78 when I started a restore, then got involved in other "things". Retired now and working on getting her back in shape! Just wanted to inject her numbers for comparison. CC60628LO Dec. 1970.
Joe S.

Joe
Welcome. Third owner from '71 to '73? Sounds like a summer only car:). Have fun with the restoration!

Don.....OOPS! if only this BBS had spell check.
yes she was a DONOR car. Not sure what happened to her as I traded the body for bumpers and other pieces. Shop who I traded with is now out of business.

Jim..sorry 'bout your thread going off to left field.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

This thread was discussed between 05/02/2005 and 08/02/2005

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