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Triumph TR3 - Oil Spin On Adaptor

BEWARE!
If you are thinking of upgrading to a spin on oil filter on your TR2, TR3 or TR4 you might want to reconsider. Here is my experience: This winter while the TR3 was inside, I did some upgrades. One of the items I did was to ad a spin on oil adapter to make changing oil easier. It is a nice kit, fairly simple and comes with two different threaded pieces, depending if you are using a Purolator or a Telecamit system. It is all bolt on and instructions are supplied. I did mine, took me no more time than changing a tire. Today was my first time out to test drive now that the Snow and Salt has been washed away by the rain. I pulled over to reset my distributor when I heard a clunck and a sound of some metal hitting the pavement. My engine was still running. In a flash I looked under the car to see oil gushing on to the pavement. I shut off the engine immediately. The oil filter and the spin on housing where on the road along with much oil. Once I took a good look at the attachment piece, I saw the issue. One of the two ends which are threaded, had broken away, right at the neck where the oil holes are drilled to let oil go through to the filter. With so many holes there is very little metal to hold the threaded stems. Simply a very poor design and no strength. I will be forwarding moss my comments and disappointment. I am sure they are going to say that they have sold hundreds of them and it has never happened to them before. Yeah Yeah, the usual BS from them. Been there, done that, got the T Shirt to prove it!
So buyer beware, this piece is not worth it. I prefer to put up with the old system and get some oil on me, than risking the opportunity to have the unit blow at speed and not know why the engine just froze up! I got lucky, the next person might not. For a picture of the damaged piece, request through e-mailing me direct.
Robert

This is why there are very specific and low torque settings for installation. The same thing happens for the MGB conversion if you exceed the torque value. One of my customers dropped his MGB oil filter in much the same way.
chris

Robert; Sorry for your misfortune on the spin-on oil filter adapter, having installed the adapter on two of my TR3’s and an MG I do not have a problem with the adapter. I have belonged to or followed the Triumph BBS, the old Triumph List Serve, The TR Registry UK and the British Car Forum just to name few and have not heard any problems from the spin on oil filer adapters. I also did a search within the archives of this forum and found nothing concerning failure of the spin on oil filter adapter.
Russ Austin

Glad it works for you. I am still not convinced that the design and the metal used meets the punishment of 50-70 lbs of oil pressure. I torqued it to spec and only finger tightened the oil canister.
Robert

A while back, there was a lot on several BBS sites about spin-on filters and the problems everybody had with them. MOst were by TR6 owners. I still have the original one that came with my TR3A. I shortened the long threaded central rod by about 3/8" and put a chamfer on the end of it like a not so sharp point for easier re-assembly. BY being shorter, I can get it off in seconds with mu closed end ratchet spanner and it doesnt come close to - or touch - the crankcase vent pipe.

I can't believe that so many TR owners don't know about the first law of Triumph engineering - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" !

Don Elliott, Original Owner, 1958 TR3A

http://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1920
Don Elliott

This thread was discussed between 25/03/2007 and 30/03/2007

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