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Triumph TR6 - Eyeball Vent restoration

I thought I'd start a new thread for the restoration of eye ball vents in order that it may be more accessible through the archives in the future.... here is the procedure I found to work:

equipment needed:
low speed buffer with loose sewn buff
plastic polish (Mequires)
ABS/PVC cement
cotton rag strips
metal lathe.8-14 inch swing
spay contact cement
black felt
aluminum pipe...2 1/2"? sch. 80 about 2-3" long
5-minute epoxy


1. mount the narrow stem of vent in 3 jaw chuck and part off ( about 300-450rpm) using a 1/32" parting blade just at the wide edge of the conical section... for the parting blade grind a piece of HSS tool bit to form a blade. Do this to each vent.

2. remount the severed head (ha-ha) up to the flared boss in a 3 jaw chuck and , using the 1/32" parting blade cut a small groove ,.050" deep, into the outer most lip of the boss.

3. mount the aluminum in a three jaw chuck and turn OD and ID to suit groove in vent face.Part off 'rings'of about .035" wide. Test fit rings into grooves.

4. Rub paraffin wax on the inner and outer portions of the vent face to prevent epoxy adhesion. Mix a small amount of epoxy, 'drool' in place in the groove and glue aluminum ring in place. You may wish to set the vent face down on a flat surface, with wax paper in between, placing a weight on the back edge to hold the ring down evenly/flat.

5. Sand /polish the vent face in the lathe shaping and polishing the aluminum ring simultaneously.

6. disassemble eyeball, polish all surfaces using buffer and /or cotton cloth.... strips slid back and forth through the ball will polish the inside while the buffer will handle the rest. The #4x1/4" round head screws for the closing gates can be replaced and the flat gates can be buffed.

7. replace the felt gluing new felt in place with contact cement.... test fit clearances with ball and face in place.

8. spread a thin layer of ABS/PVC cement on the edges of the front and back sections of the vent. Working quickly now, place ball in back section and evenly lower front section over it contacting the back section squarely and giving it a slight rotation upon contact.
hold it in position for a few minutes and allow at least one hour to solidify the weld before installation.



The above method worked well for me... I know access to a lathe may be somewhat difficult for some... try a local high school or local car club members. The rest is pretty easy.

Cheers, Rob


Rob Gibbs

Can you tell me how these are secured to the dash? I haven't been able to find any diagrams and haven't crawled behind yet to see what's there. I have one that seems to be recessed a bit, about half way into the wood part of the dash, and I'd like to push it out a bit so it's flush.
DW More

Rob
Terrific Lad. Did a copy/paste to my CDII collection. My lathe experience goes back APPROXIMATELY:) 40 years. Putting me in front of a lathe today could be dangerous to my health:) they really do look sharp. Funny I thought I did some stuff to my 6 to the extreme.

Hello DW
The vents are a friction fit into the wood dash. The flex air hose is secured with a ring clamp. Remove ring and hose and vent should come out. The attached .jpg shows this but 2 things are missing in this .jpg
1:The dash eye balls should have a rubber o-ring where the vent contacts the dash. Maybe you are missing this and vent sits a little recessed.
2:The floor vents are attached to the inner metal dash with a bracket.
Rickc

Rick Crawford

So wrong my Ontario friend. There are tabs on the vent that hold it in place. Sometimes these tabs get crushed down and will not hold them anymore. I have been looking for a thin band clamp to help hold mine in place.

Rick I now you know this and just messin wit ya!
DON KELLY

UUMMM...sorry Don I do not recall that. Ya gotta remember I have CRS:) Also I am talking back in 2000.
I do recall tabs in the plastic round part where the tube slides over and these tabs where to help keep the air tube on the vent. I missed half of the restore Don. When I bought my TR6 it literally was in boxes with 2 bare tubs, a frame, and an engine so I never took anything apart. I did reinstall the vent eye-balls and do not recall the tabs. Maybe mine where flattened and did not notice them.
Thanks for correcting me. No point havin' wrong information out there:)
Rickc
Rick Crawford

This thread was discussed between 13/03/2008 and 16/03/2008

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