Progress with the Restoration of PK2613
Update No 10
(1928 Trojan 3 Door Tourer ex Joe Pidgeon)
This year sadly I can no longer ignore the fact that old age is catching up with me and
I have been obliged to resort to visits to the optician, dentist, doctor and cardiac
specialist on several occasions. Thanks however to the marvels of modern medicine
and a fair amount of luck they have been able to fix most of my problems. As a result
retirement activities have been somewhat curtailed. The Trojan has not made it to the
starting blocks and the MG has been in the garage and in pieces. I am pleased to
report that the MG is now on the road again thanks to assistance from John Hancock.
On the positive side with help from John Wilton I have obtained a six volt reverse
rotation starter motor and a pair of brackets which support it from the engine casing.
As these are “as rare as hen’s teeth” I feel I have been very lucky to have acquired it.
Locating it correctly, drilling fixing holes and flattening out a section of the casing
stiffening rib is difficult and has defeated me at the first attempt. After consultation I
am hoping the second attempt at installation may be successful.
PH Engine and starter motor with temporary supports
Wiring has commenced with installation of a six volt battery on the nearside running
board and heavy duty cabling to a point inside the punt. The battery a traditional
model with exposed cell bars has been secured; I was presented with a magnificent
mahogany cover made by a cycling friend to protect it. A Rotax starter button
appeared on e-bay which is now fitted in the vacant hole in the engine casing and the
cabling extended to suit. I have thought long and hard over how best to incorporate
direction indicators, brake lights, additional rear lights and a flashing warning beacon
with a 6 volt system. Adoption of LEDs (light emitting diodes) offers the advantage
of brighter lights and low power consumption but adds the complication of a 12 volt
supply and positive earthing. The solution has been to use a voltage converter and
dedicated earthing for each circuit. Finally after a visit to see Mick Biffen and his
seven hundred weight van I was able to identify the original cable rotes used by
Trojan Ltd all traces of which had been lost on my vehicle.
The Trojan takes a look outside in December
Just before Christmas a phone call from Letchworth plating announced that the door
handles, escutcheon plates and sleeve nuts were nickel plated and ready for collection.
The Trojans Christmas present!
Christopher Tordoff
Steeple Morden,
January 2018.
