The restoration team here at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ have turned their expert attention towards the 1956 Jensen 541. Going through the list of items the cars owner had supplied, Jon could start off with us appraisal and check overs.
”Look into customer reported faults and note anything else whilst looking over. Steering seems OK when turned using steering wheel. But when you try to go lock to lock turning via the road wheel steering tightens up in the straight ahead position. To overcome you have to go full right hand lock and turn steering through to left hand lock and it will pass the tight spot. Disconnect dragging ball joint and try again. Steering now easier to turn using road wheels so suspect steering g box at fault. Check and top up steering box oil and reconnect drag link, steering tight again. Check gearbox level and top up accordingly. Raise car on ramp and have a quick look underneath. Seems OK. Take off ramp and carry out road test. Steering seems OK when turning left. Steering tries to self centre, but to the right the steering stays where it’s turned to and doesn’t self centre. Gears a bit tight maybe but when engine speed matched it slips into gear fine. From a stop when car is hot sometimes won’t go into 1st gear. Either slip into second and then it will go into 1st or raise the clutch slightly so gearbox turns gently and you can select 1st OK. I’ve come across this before with Jensens and I would say it’s not unusual because 1st gear has no synchromesh. Also from road test: Cuts out at junctions, indicators not working, switch fault, pops and bangs on over run, handbrake poor.”
