Otter switch problem
Discussion
Hi there,if anyone can help it would be much appreciated. ive a problem with the otter switch on my 1977 taimar :furious: well the thing is leaking. On closer inspection its very loose in the radiator and is not screwed in but just slides in wth nothing to secure it tightly.
Please help :rotate:
Please help :rotate:
Correct, not very clever are they.
My advice would be to remove otter switch, plug the hole and get it welded up. Then buy a Kenlowe adjustable unit with probe. Insert this into the top hose line, wire up with your fans and then you can set the required fan cut in temperature.
Sorry for such a brutal reply, but the otter switch is just useless, as a) it leaks and b) it comes on too late IMHO for a M series car in hot weather.
davidy
My advice would be to remove otter switch, plug the hole and get it welded up. Then buy a Kenlowe adjustable unit with probe. Insert this into the top hose line, wire up with your fans and then you can set the required fan cut in temperature.
Sorry for such a brutal reply, but the otter switch is just useless, as a) it leaks and b) it comes on too late IMHO for a M series car in hot weather.
davidy
Depends on which radiator you have, I have the large one (oh er) and found that to keep the temp happy put 2 eight inch fans on the rad from these people www.nfauto.co.uk/cooling_fans.htm with a switch in the car and have had no problems even on the hottest day.
Drifting
Drifting
I fitted twin Kenlowe 8" [or 9"] fans to my '77 3000M which are switched by the 'original' otter switch.
The kit I bought came c/w plastic ties to fix the fans directly to the face of the radiator - I remember being slightly worried about damaging the radiator core but 2yrs on and all is well.
The otter switch seems very reliable on my car, turns the fans on at about 90 deg [reading from the temp gauge in the car]. I did get an adjustable control unit with the kit, at the time I didn't have the time to fit it [hence using the otter switch] and I've never bothered re-visiting the job because the switch seems to work so well - of course, sod's law says it will pack up now!
My fans are mounted on the 'cool air side' of the rad - as recommended in the kit, the car has the low / wide radiator in the front of the nose [as opposed to the more traditional style mounted closer to the engine].
The kit I bought came c/w plastic ties to fix the fans directly to the face of the radiator - I remember being slightly worried about damaging the radiator core but 2yrs on and all is well.
The otter switch seems very reliable on my car, turns the fans on at about 90 deg [reading from the temp gauge in the car]. I did get an adjustable control unit with the kit, at the time I didn't have the time to fit it [hence using the otter switch] and I've never bothered re-visiting the job because the switch seems to work so well - of course, sod's law says it will pack up now!
My fans are mounted on the 'cool air side' of the rad - as recommended in the kit, the car has the low / wide radiator in the front of the nose [as opposed to the more traditional style mounted closer to the engine].
Buy a new otter switch and rubber plug for the usual suspects...fit into hole...strip some copper wire (2.5mm), wrap tightly around base of otter switch feed one end through rad finns and the other around outside of rad, twist together until snug but not overtight!
Otter switch sorted forever!
Otter switch sorted forever!
Supaspark
Yes some days I do miss the car, other days I miss my Impreza Turbo and the Griff500.
My wife (then girlfriend) were lucky enough to have 6 cars between us at one stage, including 3 TVRs (Griff500, Taimar, Vixen) and an Impreza Turbo.
BUT... we were both doing mad jobs and living in a grotty house in the crowded the south-east. So we deceided to start a family, now have a 6yo daughter and 4yo son, I left the business that I co-founded, we sold many of our assets and moved to a great Victorian Farmhouse in Mid-Wales. I have 20 mile views from my home office window and we have 10 mile views also from the other side of the house.
I have since started another company, but this one stays small and managable, I'm not working like a complete madman anymore!
Family life is not condusive to spending a lot of time with 2 seater cars, I'd miss my children more, than I miss the cars.
One day I may return, but I think I'm more likely to buy a Hillclimb special since I only live 15 miles from Loton Park. I could then do a championship based just there.
I had a fabulous time with the Taimar owning it and modding it over 12 years and without the TVRCC I wouldn't have met my wife (now not many people can say that!), but at present I feel that I've done that part of my life and I'm in a new chapter.
I still visit these forums as I have knowledge of M cars that I'm happy to pass on at any opportunity.
And everytime I see a picture of a fabulous M it jogs some great memories.
davidy
PS agree about the fan override, at 92 degrees my bum would be in squirm overload if I couldn't hear the fans!
Yes some days I do miss the car, other days I miss my Impreza Turbo and the Griff500.
My wife (then girlfriend) were lucky enough to have 6 cars between us at one stage, including 3 TVRs (Griff500, Taimar, Vixen) and an Impreza Turbo.
BUT... we were both doing mad jobs and living in a grotty house in the crowded the south-east. So we deceided to start a family, now have a 6yo daughter and 4yo son, I left the business that I co-founded, we sold many of our assets and moved to a great Victorian Farmhouse in Mid-Wales. I have 20 mile views from my home office window and we have 10 mile views also from the other side of the house.
I have since started another company, but this one stays small and managable, I'm not working like a complete madman anymore!
Family life is not condusive to spending a lot of time with 2 seater cars, I'd miss my children more, than I miss the cars.
One day I may return, but I think I'm more likely to buy a Hillclimb special since I only live 15 miles from Loton Park. I could then do a championship based just there.
I had a fabulous time with the Taimar owning it and modding it over 12 years and without the TVRCC I wouldn't have met my wife (now not many people can say that!), but at present I feel that I've done that part of my life and I'm in a new chapter.
I still visit these forums as I have knowledge of M cars that I'm happy to pass on at any opportunity.
And everytime I see a picture of a fabulous M it jogs some great memories.
davidy
PS agree about the fan override, at 92 degrees my bum would be in squirm overload if I couldn't hear the fans!
Sorry to go totally off the original subject. Interesting to read davidy comments on relocating. I've recently done a very similar thing; work tends to take me all over the place and I've moved from SE London to Monmouthshire (S Wales).
I look back at those times when I regularly spent upwards of two to three hours driving half a "lap" of the M25 every evening after working a good 11 hours or so and have no idea how I kept my sanity.
I now live somewhere where I can get in the car and actually cover some distance in a reasonable time - the change in quality of life for me is amazing.
'Horses for courses' I guess, but I know where I'd rather be!
I look back at those times when I regularly spent upwards of two to three hours driving half a "lap" of the M25 every evening after working a good 11 hours or so and have no idea how I kept my sanity.
I now live somewhere where I can get in the car and actually cover some distance in a reasonable time - the change in quality of life for me is amazing.
'Horses for courses' I guess, but I know where I'd rather be!
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