Welcome to the new SAOCA website. Already a member? Simply click Log In/Sign Up up and to the right and use your same username and password from the old site. If you've forgotten your password, please send an email to membership@sunbeamalpine.org for assistance.
If you're new here, click Log In/Sign Up and enter your information. We'll approve your account as quickly as possible, typically in about 24 hours. If it takes longer, you were probably caught in our spam/scam filter.
Enjoy.
What age we talking?Todays generation can't drive a manual transmission or change a flat tire.
Hmm. I'm not really sure that's true, Bill. I don't think one could just give a list of maintenance things to be done, even back then - you'd need to specifically call out the specifications, measurements, and specific steps for this particular vehicle... since every vehicle is different. As such, if you read that manual you'll see there's an expected level of mechanical expertise which is revealed by the fact that they don't go into great detail on things, expecting the owner to already have a certain general mastery of mechanical skills.Evidently the 1949 owner did not know how to drive and maintain the 1949 Triumph or the "how to" info would not have been in the manual. A simple chart of required maintainance would have been more than sufficient.
Bill
Well, among my students, I'd say 1 out of 50 to 70 knows how to drive a stick (and that's probably being generous). As to changing a tire, I've not asked lately, but when I was teaching Automotive Design & Engineering the students found things like understanding how a shock absorber worked as challenging.... so.... yeah... actually doing all the things necessary to change the tire I'd say would be a wee bit of a challenge. I daresay they'd probably find a YouTube and manage a way to handle it, but it's certainly not something the great majority 'know' how to do.What age we talking?
Kevin,"What age we talking?"
Well, among my students, I'd say 1 out of 50 to 70 knows how to drive a stick (and that's probably being generous). As to changing a tire, I've not asked lately, but when I was teaching Automotive Design & Engineering the students found things like understanding how a shock absorber worked as challenging.... so.... yeah... actually doing all the things necessary to change the tire I'd say would be a wee bit of a challenge. I daresay they'd probably find a YouTube and manage a way to handle it, but it's certainly not something the great majority 'know' how to do.
High school, mostly juniors and seniors.Kevin,
I don't know what age your students are....
I’ve seen a steady, and sad, decline in the mechanical talent of youth, and even more sadly, the desire to develop it.
My 1949 Triumph Renown owner's handbook shows how to decarbonize the engine & grind in the valves (after the first 5,000 miles, then every 20,000 thereafter), adjusting the front wheel alignment, adjusting headlamp alignment, bleeding & adjusting the brakes, lubricating the chassis, checking the specific gravity of the battery, adjusting the clutch & brakes, checking the valve timing and adjusting the carburettor mixture.
Yeah, today's generation would NOT know how to drive or maintain my Renown!
Have a look at the 1949 Triumph Renown Owner's Handbook.
The remnants of the generation that "knew" how to own a vintage Triumph or drive a stick shift, do not know how to tune a radio in today's car.One reason to teach kids to drive a stick, is if they travel to other countries, those folks assume you can drive a stick at the rental car agency....
My 1949 Triumph Renown owner's handbook shows how to decarbonize the engine & grind in the valves (after the first 5,000 miles, then every 20,000 thereafter), adjusting the front wheel alignment, adjusting headlamp alignment, bleeding & adjusting the brakes, lubricating the chassis, checking the specific gravity of the battery, adjusting the clutch & brakes, checking the valve timing and adjusting the carburettor mixture.
Yeah, today's generation would NOT know how to drive or maintain my Renown!
Have a look at the 1949 Triumph Renown Owner's Handbook.