Austin-Healey Sprite Mark III User manual

AUSTIN-HEALEY
SPRITE MARK III

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the magazine for those
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• DRIVING TECHNIQUE
• TONING FOR PERFORMANCE
•SPORTS CAR HISTORY
• CLUB NEWS
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i To 'make the most 1
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AUSTIN-HEALEY
SPRITE
(Mark ill)
(Including Supplement for Mark II)
DRIVER'S HANDBOOK
Published by
THE AUSTIN MOTOR CO. LTD.
L ONG B RIDGE, B~ G HAM
BOX 41 G.P.O.

2

FOREWORD
IN producing this book the object has been to confine the contents to infer-
. mation essential to the proper running and operation of the vehicle. Never-
theless, the oper
ator will find all the guidance necessary to maintain the vehicle in
first-class condition
and ensure trouble-free service. Every vehicle leaving the
Factory is capable of giving absolute satisfaction if the maintenance instructions
detailed in the following pages are carefully carried out. Remember that an
authorized Distributor
/D ealer is better equipped to provide routine and repair
service than any other opera
tor ; he is at your service and should be consulted
if you encounter trouble. When emergency w
ork has been undertaken by other
than afranchise holder the vehicle should be submitted to an authorized
Distributor
/De aler for checking.
All War r ant y work must be carried out by an authorized Distributor /D ealer.
When communicating with your Distributor/Dealer always quote the
car and
engine numbers; the registration number is of no use and is not required.
For those wanting information of a more detailed and technical nature than is
contained in this
Handbo ok a Workshop Manual is available at a reasonable
price from your Distributor/Dealer.
IDE NTIFICA TIO
Car number. Stamped on a plate secured to the left-hand inner wheel arch,
under the bonnet.
Engine number. Stamped on a plate secured to the right-hand side
of the
cylinder block.
Gearbox number. Stamped on the left-hand side
of the gearbox casing.
Rear axle number. Stamped on the front of the left-h
and rear axle tube near
the spring seating.
Ignition key number. To reduce the possibility of theft ignition switches on
later cars are not marked with a number. Owners are advised to make a note of
the number stamped on their ignition key in case of future loss.
NOTE.- References to right- or left-hand in this Handbook are made when
viewing the car from the rear.
3

GENERAL DATA
Engine
Engine t
1J:>e
Bore
Stroke
Cubic capacity
Compr ession ratio
Firing order
Valve rocker clearance (cold)
Idling setting
Oil pressure :
Norm al (approx.)
Idling (approx.)
Ignition
Sparking plugs
Sparking plug gap
Static ignition timing
Cont act bre aker gap
Fuel System
Carburetters
Carbu rett er needles
Spring
Pump
Wheels and Tyres
Wheel size
Tyre size . .
Tyre pressures :
All conditions :
Fro nt
Rear . .
For sustained speeds in excess
of 80-85 m.p.h.(129-137
km.p.h.):
F
ron t
Rear . .
Transmission
Rear axle ratio
Overall gear ratios: First
With
{iC: ~d
synchromesh Fourth
Reverse
4
WCC (4-cylinder overhead-valve)
2·543 in. (64'58 mm.)
3·296 in. (83'72 mm.)
67 cu. in. (1098 c.c.)
8·9 : I or 8·1 : 1
1
,3 ,4 , 2
·012 in. ('305 mm.)
1,000
r.p .m. (hot)
30 to 60 Ib.jsq. in. (2'1 to 4·2 kg.jcm.")
10 to 25 Ib.jsq. in. ('7 to 1·7 kg.jcrn.")
Champion N5 (14 mm.)
·024 to ·026 in. ('625 to ·660 mm.)
(H.C.) 5° B.T.D.C.
(L.C.) 3° to 5°
B.T .D.C.
·014 to ·016 in. ('35 to ·40 mm.)
HS2
St and ard AN, Weak GG, Rich H6
Blue
S.U. (Electric) type
AUF
3·5D x13
5'2
0- 13
18 lb.jsq, in. (1'27 kg.jcm.")
20 lb.jsq, in. (1'41 kg.jcrn.")
22 Ib./sq. in. (155 kg.jcm.")
24 lb.jsq. in. (1,69 kg.jcrn.")
4·22 : 1
13-504 : 1
8·085 : I
5·726 : 1
4·22 : 1
17·395 : 1

3 ft. 9* in. (1'16 m.) 3 ft. 9* in. (1'16 m.)
3 ft. 9i in. (1'15 m.) 3ft. 81 in. (1,14 m.)
32 ft. It in. (9'79 m.)
31 ft. 2t in. (9'51 m.)
Parallel to tin. toe-in (0 to 3·2 mm .)
6ft. 8in. (2'03 m.)
11 ft. 5f in. (3'49m.)
4 ft. 5 in. (1'35 m.)
4ft. Ii in. (1'25 m.)
5 in. (12'7 em.)
Dimensions
Track : Front
Rear
Tur ning circle: Left lock
Right lock
Fr ont wheel ali gnm e nt
Wheelbase
Overall length
Overall width
Overall height
G
round clearance
Wire wheels
GENERAL D AT A
Disc wheels
Weight
Dry weight 1,490 lb. (676 kg.)
Capacities
Fuel t
ank
Engine sump (including filter)
Gearbox . .
Rear axle . .
Cooling system (without
hea ter)
Heater
6 gallons (
7'2 U.S. gallons, 27·3 litres)
6!
pint s (7'8 U.S. pints,3-7 litres)
2i pints (2'7 U.S. pint s, 1·3 litres)
It pint s (1'8 U.S. pints, ·85 litre)
10
pin ts (12 U.S. pint s, 5·68 litres)
!pint ('6 U.S. pint, ·253 litre)
5

CONTROLS AND INSTRUMENTS
Hand brake
The hand-brake is of the pull-up lever type, operating mechanically on the
rear wheels only. To release the h
and brake, pull it upwards to take the load,
press the ratchet release button located in the end of the lever with the thumb and
push the lever down into the 'off' position. The hand brake is automatically
adjusted at the same time as the foot brake and requires no separate adjustment.
Pedals
The left-hand pedal operates the clutch, the centre pedal the brakes, and the
right-hand pedal the accelerator. Keep the foot clear of the clutch pedal except
when engagement or disengagement of any gear is intended, or when in heavy
traffic.
Dr iving with the foot resting on the peda l will lead to rapid clutch wear.
Driving controls- right-hand drive
I. Hand brake.
2. Headlight dip switch.
3.
Horn switch.
4. Clutch pedal.
5. Brake pedal.
6. Accelerator pedal.
7. Direction indicator.
8.
Gear lever.
Gear lever
The gear positions are indicated on the lever knob; make certain that the lever
is in the neutral position before starting the engine. First
and second gears are
selected by moving the lever to the left, and engaged by moving it forward into
first gear and backwards into second gear. Third and
fourth gears are selected
by moving the lever to the right through the neutral position until resistance is
felt, then forward into third gear and backwards into fourth gear.
To engage reverse gear move the lever to the right in the neutral position until
resistance is felt, apply further side pressure to overcome the resistance and then
move it backwards to engage the gear. Synchromesh is provided on second,
third, and fourth gears.
Horn switch
The horn is sounded by pressing the centre disc of the steering-wheel.
6

CONTROLS AND INSTRUMENTS
Ignition and starter switch
The ignition and
starter are both contro lled by a single switch operate d by
aremovable key. To switch on
the ignition insert the key and tu rn it in a clock-
wise direction until a slight resistance is felt.
Further movement in the same
direction will opera te the starter motor. Release the key immediately the engine
starts.
If the engine fails to s tart first time wait until it has come to rest before
using the starter again.
Headlight beam dipping switch
The headlight main beam dipping switch is located on the toeboard to the
left
of the clutch pedal. It is of the single-acting repeating type, lowering the
be
ams on one application and raising them on the next. Awarning light on
the face
of the speedometer will glow when the beams are in the ra ised position.
Driving controls- left-hand drive
I. Hand brake. 5. Brake pedal.
2. Headlight dip switch. 6. Accelerator pedal.
3. Hom switch. 7. Direction indicator.
4. Clutch pedal. 8. Gear lever.
Mixturecontrol
To enrich the mixture and assist star ting when the engine is cold pull out
the kno b marked 'C'.
Th e con trol, when t urne d half a t urn clockwise, will hold
in any position, giving a progressively richer mixt
ure as it is pulled out.
On no account should the engine run for any length of time with the knob
pulled fully out.
It should be returne d to the 'off' posit ion (pushed in) as soon as
possible as
the engine warms up.
Th e fi rst tin . (6 mm .) minimum of movem ent op era tes only the throttl e
c
ontrol. This initial movement can be used to give a fast engineidling speed and
prevent stalling when driving at low speeds before the engine has fully warmed up.
Heater and demister control
Tills
control pro vides a m eans of regulating the heating and demisting
system. Full operating instructions are given on page 11.
7

CONTROLS AND INSTRUMENTS
Ignition and lubrication warning lights
The ignition warning light serves the dual purpose of reminding the driver to
switch off the ignition, and
of acting as a no-charge indicator. With the ignition
switched on the warning light should only be illuminated when the engine is
not
running, or is running at a very low speed. As the engine speed increases the
light should dim and th en go out at a fairly low engine speed.
Directly above the oil pressure/water temperature gauge is the lubrication
warning light. See page 51 for details.
Instruments and switches- right-hand drive
9. Windshield washer.
10. Mixture control.
11. Fuel gauge.
12. Panel light switch.
13. Headlight main-beam warning light.
14. Trip mileage resetting knob.
15. Ignition warning light.
16. Windshield wiper switch.
17. Lighting switch.
18. Lubrication warning light.
1. Speedometer.
2. Trip mileageindicator.
3. Total mileageindicator.
4. Direction indicator warning lights.
5. Tachometer.
6. Ignition and starter switch.
7. Oil pressure and water temperature
gauge.
8. Heater switch.
If the light fails to go out until higher engine speeds are reached or remains
alight at all times, inspect the dynamo driving belt for correct tension or breakage.
If the belt is in order the charging system must be overhauled by a Distributor
or Deal er.
Lighting switch
A lever-type switch. Move the lever downward to the half-way position for
the side and
taillig hts, and into the fully down positi on for the headlights.
Panel light switch
This is a lever-type switch. The panel lights will only function when the
sidelights
ar e switched on.
Fuel gauge
When the ignition is switched on the fuel gauge will indicate the quantity
(a ppro x.) of fuel in the tank. An impor tan t note on filling up with fuel is given
on page 19.
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