Steering Column Seal

[Steve Berry]

Hi- does anyone know what Putty was used by Triumph to seal the Steering Column through the Bulkhead? Both my original steering column and the one I purchased as a spare have evidence of it and the rubber bulkhead grommet was clearly never designed to keep out water. This leads me to believe it was a factory addition and not a bodge. Any advice would be welcomed.

[DJT]

Moved to its own topic for clarity.

[wilf]

Try a search on google for "dum dum selant", aka butyl rubber sealant. I got some to seal my new roller strut top mounts to the underside of the turrets.

[Philip Wardle]

Hi Steve, the various Triumphs I've worked on seem to have had a black sticky compound applied at the factory in addition to the grommet - I agree the grommet on its own can't realistically keep water out because the steering column penetrates the bulkhead at an angle and distorts the grommet, When I looked into this for my project I found three sources of info - these are the Triumph 2000-2500 ROM section on dust and water sealing, the Leyland Cars training workbook on weatherproofing, and a Jaguar service bulletin. Based on these sources I'm about 90% sure the compund was a mastic called Seelastic SR.51 made by Expandite Limited, London NW10.

Seelastic SR.51 appears to be obsolete, but on page 5-302 of the ROM there is a table called "trim and finish" which lists applications of this including "windscreen sealers, rubber weatherstrips, plugs and grommets" etc. So I reckon that if we use a modern mastic type product intended for use as a windscreen sealer for grommets like the steering column that would be a good bet.

I agree with Wilf is right that Dum Dum is ideal for the strut top mounts.

[jbuckl]

I found the original body mastic to be very similar to blue-tac.

[trunt]

I bought this VW Butyl tape..AKL45000505 Its lasting me years!

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/AKL45000505.htm?pn=AKL-450-005-05-VAG&srsltid=AfmBOopf3vxVEkSf8sX7DZrzhVJTuPNOXVRv4IsA_bWZ6rOLb4S6B0-O

[Steve Berry]

Thanks everyone- I went for Butyl tape as it seems to best replicate the putty-like compound removed. Not sure how well it will seal given the very loose bulkhead grommet but I’ll give it a go and let you know how I get on.

[Steve Berry]

When removing the Steering Column I had to disconnect three multi-Pin connectors. They didn’t take well to being disturbed and I now have some broken connections to either reinstate or more likely bypass. I would like to keep original type connectors to maintain originality where possible. Does anybody know if these are still available?

[Philip Wardle]

Hi Steve, I haven't had to deal with this problem myself but my first port of call would be https://www.autosparks.co.uk/ on the basis that they make replacement wiring looms, which I have used for my car, I they may be able to supply original components within the connectors. If its the existing connector housings that have broken, e.g. thay have become brittle, you might need to acquire a tool to release the conector pins from the existing housing before re-inserting to a new housing. If you can explain to Autosparks which connectors are involved on what harness I'm sure that would help.

I think the butyl tape is a good call as this will be easier to apply in a confined space than mastic in a gun.

[Steve Berry]

Thanks Phillip - I will reach out to them.

[jbuckl]

When removing the Steering Column I had to disconnect three multi-Pin connectors. They didnât take well to being disturbed and I now have some broken connections to either reinstate or more likely bypass. I would like to keep original type connectors to maintain originality where possible. Does anybody know if these are still available?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141376181875?_skw=lucas+9+way+connectors&itmmeta=01K36Y40EPFT2MJZ11RCBK2BDK&hash=item20eaad5673:g:O0EAAOSwYh9b8uPI&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1frfkU2Fqtp9jHvc3ivyMyNGOjdOhOs0oZxb6iJMO0fhUEtSlrg3%2FNcUB3JyKb%2BbnvRoJaTfuwr3oYHTF2pKdmuzJcLlJsfXOrDgPcsYnFLM6WImJLhEzcUX%2BUPQlQ6Qr5p7iQoBAVKuA7yVJrbS3my4skF3XzuYVnfgtk0nWPQjv93cN%2FjjAw73AlesiCYNTNoPXw%2B%2FaoGo%2FhrZ36PH7qDXHMPXeSyjAsfbDkyjIQs6VCVxQJrI4Iuqg%2F%2B4txsyMyiD1TZTrioDEnOqOrX%2FOMK0Bg9K5OXX584uTpY8gLA9g%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR76HkN6ZZg