Selection of front springs 
£40 each plus postage 

Suit standard or special

   

           

Enclosed is a very original RL saloon pulled out of a shed recently after 70 years of slumber.
Further enclosed is the RL tunnel stamping together with the same number painted on the underside of the bonnet - looking as fresh as the day it was done.
Both Jon Edgar and myself would be interested if anyone has a similar painted number in that position...or elsewhere. The chassis cross member was a favourite place.

Hi all,

Whilst my front axle was away being overhauled by Alba Austins I decided to overhaul the steering box as it was rather notchy and stiff feeling.  I used the grinding paste method and after about 4 to 5 hrs I managed to grind away most of the high spots but you can still feel them there.  Worried that I was going to 'overwear' the gears I decided to leave it at that.  After thoroughly cleaning, greasing and reassembling the box felt much nicer although slightly tight spots were still evident, I could adjust the box with next to no play and be able to swing it lock to lock without any real issue.
Whilst I had the box apart I adjusted the end float by inserting a shim behind the little button, aiming to have 'barely perceptible play' as described in the manual.

Problem 1

On reassembly I found that the steering became very very tight once everything was bolted in and tightened up.  Eventually I realised this was being caused by the clamp on the dashboard, once I had tightened up the 2 bolts securing the box to the chassis, the steering column would sit a good inch or so below this clamp. Initially I had just pushed it up to meet the clamp and then tightened it, but this seems to be putting enough force on the steering column to tighten on the inner shaft and make the steering horribly tight.  
The only solution I've found to this is to insert a large washer under the rearward bolt of the steering box to angle it slightly upwards, and this puts the steering column in the right place.  I've used a digital inclinometer to measure the chassis, and the part of the chassis underneath the steering box and engine bends upwards about 1.5 - 2 degrees compared to the chassis rearwards, is this normal?  

Problem 2

As I mentioned before, whilst the box was on the bench I adjusted the end float to have 'just barely perceptible play' and all seemed well.  However after fitting the box and connecting everything up etc.  the endfloat now seems excessive...I think I can feel the arm moving in and out at the point when I change direction on the steering wheel and I can see it visibly moving when I rock the offside wheel left to right.
  I'm not sure if I just misjudged the endfloat when checking it on the bench, or if the button wasn't fully seated when I was checking.  Either way I've cocked it up and it will have to come back out again.  
I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for setting it up properly and getting the best of out the box.  

I should also mention that Ruairidh at Alba Austins is a proper legend.  Does great work and sends you pictures and updates throughout the process (unprompted) and offers brilliant customer support afterwards.  100% would recommend.

I'm still on the search for a pair of good, repairable if necessary, rear wings for an RL saloon. It may be the RK and RM saloons had similar wings, I don't know.
If anyone can assist, please drop me a line on ulster29@hormail.co.uk or 07774 780293.
Thank you.
Chris.

1.  Pair of Ulster dashboard support brackets. New.                     ££20.00 SOLD

2.  Pair of Brooklands aero screens with all fittings. Square topped glass.  Excellent condition.   £190.00

3.  Pair of NEW 7" x 1 1/4" Austin Seven brake drums. Never fitted.         £170.00

Shipping at cost. Photos on request

Chris Garner. ulster29@hotmail.co.uk. 07774 780293

Just drawing attention to the ad in the For Sale section. NOW SOLD.

   

SOLD - 2020 Woodford LWT-021 braked trailer in excellent condition. Suitable for Austin Sevens. 1300kg max weight inc load. Overall measurements: 3.835m length, 2.175m width. Has winch, spare wheel and tow ball lock + Certificate of Conformity. Located in North Herts. Nick Salmon 07831 805455 or email nicksalmon@splinta.co.uk


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No connection with the seller or any knowledge of the car but it does look like a fun project that would get you noticed in a field of Austin 7s. Also for a change a description that clearly hasn't been anywhere near AI, straight and honest:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235825207216?...R4ySu7DjZA

The coolant seemed to be requiring to be topped up rather more often than usual and I just assumed it was caused by the hotter weather as summer here is on the way. So I noticed the drain out cock looked a bit grotty and it’s hard to clean and service it while the radiator is in place, so I pulled the radiator out and found that there was nothing wrong with the cock and no radiator leaks. Reinstalled the radiator and refilled with coolant and then noticed a green flood heading towards the garage door. Turns out the thread in the block for the smaller bolt for the coolant inlet had failed so there was only one bolt holding the outlet on. There is enough metal to thread the hole out to 3/8 whitworth but questionable as to how long it might last. My question is how any member who has had this problem has carried out a repair and whether anyone has used the Metalock process as a solution?

4th April 2025 marks the centenary of the last of the Hereford Speed Trials, and therefore demands a celebration. The previous weekend saw an accident at the Kop hillclimb, and the agreement between the ACU and the RAC that all speed competition on public roads was now banned. Hereford’s Lord Mayor W.G. Britten, on receiving this news on the Tuesday of that week summoned the Chief Constables of the County and the City to a meeting with the Watch Committee. It was decided that whatever London might think, Hereford was going to proceed with the long planned and well organised event. So on Friday 4th April 2025, a centenary tour will visit the two venues for the speed trials in the city, and then venture out into the countryside to climb Dinmore and Fromes Hills.  It might come as no surprise to learn that the journey home will include Stoke Lacy church to inspect a memorial in the churchyard and see some stained glass.

In 1925 FTD went to Riddoch on his Zenith with 24 secs, George Goodall’s Morgan making 24 4/10th secs. The only Austin recorded a time of  32 1/5th  secs, driven by C.F. Townley. Of Townley, this writer can find no other mentions, certainly no photographs. Do any of the historians who might read this have any info that can be included in the historical booklet that will accompany the Centenary Tour?

Nicholson in reporting the 1924 Hereford Speed Trial on 31st May does not mention Dudley Beck, Canning Brown does not mention the event at all. At Angel Bank, a little further North close to Ludlow, Beck had come 2nd in class to Raymond Mays, who was for once driving a Seven. Subsequently in July, Beck won his class at Madresfield, then coming 2nd to Louis Kings at Shelsley. Many thanks to Austin Harris and his cabinet of historical gems for the image of Beck in MB 5088 at Shelsley, listed as a3457. For some reason my computer and the forum fail to cooperate with attaching this image, can a computer wizard manage this? Was this “Works Special” Beck’s own car or allocated to him for individual events?


For further information about the event; stevekaytwo@btinternet.com