Item VIF-1  Notice

A REQUEST FROM THE TEAL VEHICLE INFORMATION FORUM (VIF)

Background 

Keith Lidgerwood and the VIF have been looking at the turning circle of Teals, with a view to designing a mod kit to tighten the circle.  On the Teal Discussion Forum page of this website he requests that  each Teal Owner should measure the diameter of their individual Teal's turning circle to the left and to the right expressed in feet and inches, and submit the figures to the discussion Forum page, giving brief details of their type of Teal (no numberplates).  We will then have some statistical data on which to build the proposed improvements.  This seems a most worthwhile project (many will remember the humorous chaos of trying to turn round a stream of Teals in a narrow country lane when we have gone wrong on past rallies!).

Requested Action:

We would be most grateful if Tealers could find the time in the next few months to measure their own turning circles left and right and let the VIF know via the website Forum.  Many thanks to all Tealers.

 

Update:  24th August 2010

 

Item VIF 2 Notice

The VIF is collecting information about the many types of Teal cars on the road, their differing engines,  suspensions, drive trains, steering, bodywork, electrical and fuel systems, body trim, etc  in order to decide what spares are most needed at a time when many Teals are over 20 years old and spare parts  are becoming harder to find.

In order to help the VIF gather this data, we would be most grateful if all Teal owners could download the  blank information form below (right click/print),  fill in all the details that you can and/or are happy to, and post the completed form to Keith Lidgerwood at  The Mount, Kelsall Road, Tarvin Sands, Chester CH3 8JD.  Thanks.

 

T.O.C.------V.I.F.--------QUESTIONAIRE     Please return to Keith Lidgerwood at The Mount,Kelsall Road, Tarvin Sands, Chester CH3 8JD
                                                                       
VEHICLE  REGISTRATION  MARK  .......................................................................
TEAL TYPE                                          ..........................................................................
YEAR BUILT                                       .........................................................................
ENGINE                                               ............................................................................
TRANSMISSION                                  ............................................................................
REAR AXLE                                        .............................................................................
WHEELS                                                   .......................................................................
STEERING RACK ORIGIN                  ..........................................................................
TURNS- lock to lock                            ............................................................................
LEFT HAND CIRCLE                           .........................................................................
RIGHT HAND CIRCLE                        ............................................................................
RACK TRAVEL- full range (mm)       ..............................................................................
KIT PROVIDER / MAKER                  ..........................................................................
BUILDER / FIRST OWNER                .............................................................................
OTHEROWNER / S                               ..............................................................................
RECENTPHOTO please send           .................................................................................                                                                                                 BODY Construction                                               .............................................................
VEHICLEDevelopments/ Improvements ...........................................................................
BODY SCREWS&LACING fitted          ............................................................................
CURRENT OWNER                              ..............................................................................
T.O.C.MEMBERSHIP No.                   ..............................................................................
HEADLIGHTS -make & size                ..............................................................................
WEATHER Equipment--full hood        ..........................................................................
tonneau                            ................................................................................
Screens                            ..............................................................................
BODY COLOUR                                  .................................................................................
INTERIOR & TRIM                              .............................................................................
TOTAL MILEAGE                                .........................................................................
ANNUAL MILES                                   ........................................................................
CRUISING SPEED                            ............................................................................
FUEL CAPACITY                               .............................................................................
LUGGAGE RACK                              ..................................................................................
ENTRANCE STEP                               ............................................................................
FIRE EXTINGUISHER                        ...........................................................................
SPARES ON BOARD                          ..............................................................................
ELECTRICFUELPUMP                    ..................................................................................
AUX . COOLING FAN                         ..............................................................................
COCKPIT HEATING                            ...............................................................................
FUEL  OFF SWITCH                    ................................................................................
BATTERY OFF  SWITCH                  .................................................................................
TOWING POINT                        ......................................................................................
REAR FOG LIGHT     ........................................................................................................

OTHER INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD:

 

 

 

 

 

 
Thank you for your assistance to the Teal Owners' Club Vehicle Information Forum

Please post to Keith Lidgerwood, The Mount, Kelsall Road, Tarvin Sands, Chester CH3 8JD

 

 ITEM VIF 3 - IMPORTANT

TEAL FRONT SUSPENSION CHECK

 

 

We have received  notification from the Teal Owners' Club Vehicle Information Forum (VIF) that one Tealer  has experienced a serious failure in his Teal  front suspension.    A  safety check is recommended by all Teal owners.  The notification from the VIF reads:

 

'

MEMBER Graham Elsam reports failure of the front suspension on his "TEAL " CAR .

While investigations continue , it is advised by VIF to all members with cars employing Marina front suspension to satisfy themselves about two critical safety items :

 

 1.     that the lower suspension arm is properly assisted by a serviceable tie-bar connecting the chassis to the outer end of the lower suspension arm , and that end connections are sound .

 

 2.     that the inboard connection of lower suspension arm and torsion bar utilizes the correct MARINA designed forged steel eye bolt coupling through the chassis as per TEAL DESIGN  , which is non welded and identical to MARINA CAR fixing .

 

Graham Elsam has provided photos of the failed suspension in the vicinity of the above referred  EYEBOLT .

 

Initial examination of these photos suggests substitution of the UNIPART eyebolt with a weld fabricated alternative which has failed dramatically . This failure has probably been accelerated by the absence of the essential tie-bar installation .

 

Teal kit cars , not strictly assembled with the CORRECT design components may be at risk .

It is unlikely that many such cars exist , but we must check .

Keith Lidgerwood , VIF 

 

 

 

We are pleased that no person was harmed by this failure and thank Graham for alerting us promptly .. '

 

Keith can advise Tealers on  lidgerwood@btinternet.com    22nd July 2010

 

 

 

 Teal  Item VIF 3  - Second  Bulletin    (9 August 2010)    on Front Suspension:

 

'VIF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION : CATASTROPHIC FAILURE reported by Graham Elsam .

It is now conclusive beyond doubt , that this failure resulted from a build defect , namely , the absence of tie-bars from the lower suspension arm to the chassis to provide the triangulation required by design .

The welded connection which failed was never intended to work without tie-bar support , and accordingly  was not defective or contributively to failure

VIF research and wide support from owner / members , has established that a considerable number of late production  FOSTER Mk. 1 type chassis by Bob Jones , incorporated welded fixings for the lower suspension arm instead of  the Leyland / Unipart forged eyebolt . This modification was one of several changes to the front section of the chassis and suspension anchoring . The consensus of members views suggests that kit purchasers of this era were not enamoured with the very heavy front cross members and redundant bracing elements of the Mk 1 chassis .

The changes adopted , introduced dumb irons to leading chassis rails , reduction of structural cross member sizes ,  and fitting the tie-bars to trail to a fixing behind the lower suspension arm  , instead of leading forward to the forward extremity of the heavy early chassis side rails .

Mike Astill , Ron Stamp  , Ron Jamieson ,and Jeff Turner were building TEALS about this time and their experiences and preferences were helpful to Bob Jones . Their recent recollections and understanding of

these changes has informed the VIF , and been very beneficial to all member/owners .

 

On reflection , the mishap reported promptly by Graham Elsam has been a catalyst to information gathering and sharing about TEALS , and the variations in build details '

 

 

  Further information available from Keith Lidgerwood on lidgerwood@btinternet.com or 07703200537

 

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WIRE WHEEL SAFETY

Recently Tealers who have taken their cars to Longstones, the classic car tyre specialists, to be fitted with new inner tubes or new tyres have been advised that the spokes of their wire wheels require urgent attention.  It seems that over the years of hard pounding, spokes can lose their tension, or come loose at the internal attachment point, or corrode badly, making them less than safe on the road.  The wheels have been sent away for re-spoking and returned in much improved condition - Glen praises the performance in France this month of his newly-reconditioned wheels.  Tealers may wish to consider a close look at each spoked wheel and possible remedial action.  Keith  Lidgerwood (TOC  Vehicle Information Forum/Technical Adviser)  and Glen  Ibbotson  would be pleased to advise.

21.9.2011

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31October 2011:  Brake Servo

 

Tealer Neil Ramsay, owner of the lovely 'Vital Spark'  writes from Scotland:

Good Evening Keith,

I promised to let you know the outcome of my Teal's brake problem - the
engine lost 200 rpm every time the brakes were applied when stationery and braking was not good. You suspected the brake servo was faulty.

 

In the absence of a suitable replacement unit after some weeks of
searching, the brake servo has now been reconditioned by J&L Spares of Trows Mill, Trows Lane, Castleton, Rochdale OL11 2UF. Tel 01706 644210.

J&L recondition your existing unit, in my case a Lockheed servo,
replacing all internal parts for £140 + p&p. Their service extends to all
clutch and brake parts, including callipers.

 

An associated pleasure resulting from my brake overhaul comes from the
fitting of Green Stuff pads. They do not give the easy touch stopping I expected but with a firmer push the car really anchors to the road. Thought you should know in case you find yourself steaming along behind me anytime soon.

Yours,

Neil Ramsay

 

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If you have any helpful info like the message above which could assist the safety or performance of our Teals, Keith Lidgerwood would be most grateful if you could drop him a note at Lidgerwood@btinternet.com .  Thanks.

 

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