I think the technical term is "broken"..

[tony]

Many years ago I had a Humber 90. Not relative to a Troumph except they're both English.
I had no end of problems with a leaking screen and had many attempts in fixing it.
In the end I had a new rubber fitted and no problems ever again.

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Tony,

I think you may be right. I washed the Pi this morning, (it was its Birthday) and some water even came in then! Most frustrating as I've put some extra mastic around the bottom part of the seal, but of course I'm guessing really as to where it's actually coming in.

I think, as you suggest, that a new seal is the next stage. That's the easy bit. Then there's the trim! Maybe I'll make the special tool they suggest.

Cheers,
Mike.

[Rob B]

Touch-wood i think the leak has been sealed now. Some water has still appeared but i think its just little pockets of it under the dash from before. No sign of fresh leaks as the paper under the screen is still dry.

Car now seems to be running fine again too. When putting the battery back on I discovered the negative strap was only earth on the engine, not on the body so i've put that right, also Vicki found that the positive strap had a spilt in the plastic sheath which was rubbing on the metal of the battery tray. I have bound it up with gaffer tape as a stop gap but i shall fit a new one asap. Whether it was that causing the poor running or the water leak or just the bad weather or a combination of all of them i dont know but if anything its running smoother and quieter than it was before.............

[tony]

Mike, don't know if they're available in your part of the world, but a 2500 wreck that I recently dismantled had a screen rubber similar to a Claytonrite rubber-with a rubber filler strip ( similar to the back window) instead of the stainless moulding.Would be much easier to fit!

[Mike Stevens]

similar to a Claytonrite rubber-with a rubber filler strip

That sounds interesting. I'm not too worried about fitting the rubber itself, (I did manage a rear screen over the weekend!), but that trim worries me.

I'll look into that Tony - Thanks.

Rob, glad to hear the screen seems sorted. Your poor running could have been caused by the lack of earth strap. If it was the positive, you'd have seen and heard some might zaps if it had shorted to ground!

Cheers,
Mike.

[Rob B]

Rob, glad to hear the screen seems sorted. Your poor running could have been caused by the lack of earth strap. If it was the positive, you'd have seen and heard some might zaps if it had shorted to ground!

Indeed it would have been a bit scary. It was actually Vicki who spotted it. I dont know if its standard on all mk2's or if its a mod the previous owner has made to mine but there is a small hook jutting out of the battery tray which is being used to hold the positive cable and stop it touching on the engine/fan belt. Great idea except the hook itself has worn through the plastic coating over the cable, it has then had a make-do repair by sliding a piece of rubber tube over the damage and gaffer taping it up. But over time the gaffer tape has worn thru and the cable was once again touching on the hook. Difficult to spot without a very close inspection and my eyes are crap anyway so im very lucky that Vicki doesnt mind helping out!

I think it was probably a combination of the cable problems, a slightly low battery, the screen leak and the truly abysmal weather on that day as it all seems happy now. Just as well as we are off to the Bristol Group Camp at Bucklegrove on the 14th.

[Mike Stevens]

small hook jutting out of the battery tray

Hi Rob,

There are a lot of those 'hooks' all over the car, (if they are what I think they are). They would originally have had some black sleeving on them - to stop the fretting that Vicki found!

Have a good trip in a couple of weeks!

Cheers,
Mike.