Hi

When I open the scuttle it stays open until I hit a slight bump while driving at which point it slams closed. Any ideas to adjust this setting?

 

I had no idea it is a vacuum operated vent until recently when a painter showed me why mine wont work. I have the climate control systems removed...

Get a handheld vacuum pump and apply a vacuum to the line running into the disk shaped metal piece inside the engine bay on the firewall. If the vacuum wont hold then you have a slow leak in one of the lines. (probably where it attaches to the switches in the dashboard)

 

My vacuum unit does not work perfectly but we can make it work with an external source but the problem I found is that so far I cannot find anyone on the internet whom sells a new vacuum unit for the Jaguar. If anyone knows of a source please post it.

 

My 1961 mk2's skuttle vent is operated by a lever under the instrument panel. The lever is torsional, no vacuum . When did the vacuum operation come into effect?
barry

 

The Mark 2 scuttle cover was never vacuum operated, that was the S-type and 420 saloon, and the Mark 10. There is a second flap on the bulkhead that has an over-centre spring on it that the ventilation lever operates. The outer cover is operated from this flap. If you take off the scuttle cover, you'll see this flap. It is hinged from the top, and notorious for the hinge rusting up. You can get it to release with a bit of engenuity by spraying WD40 or similar to free it, then apply light engine oil. It is probably the hinge rusting that is causing your problems. If this service action fails, it is a real PITA as the centre console has to come out to get at it. I sometimes think the car was constructed around this flap !

 

Hi Fraser, Thanks for your reply....it is torsional, there is no rust and the lever opens the flap no problem and the flap stays open......providing the car is stationary. As soon as there is normal road vibration...bang...it closes all by itself! I presume the torsion is not adjustable. Does the lever go over centre maybe.....any ideas????

 

Yeah, you reminded me. If you move the air lever, one way or the other, it should have resistance then go "over centre" The inlet flap mechanism should be either open or shut. If it doesn't there is something wrong somewhere. I suggest you investigate the lever connection to the flap. Anticipate some swearing etc, as this is not an area that is comfortable for the home mechanic to fiddle around in.

 

I've had mine apart a number of times recently. Here's what I'd do.

Lift the vent and remove the screen. There are three screws to accomplish this. One in the front and one on either end. Then take off the skuttle door by removing the two nuts on the bottom of the door.

Now you can see a wire "bail" connected to the floor of the compartment and to the two arms that the skuttle vent door was attached to. This bail is what goes "over center" both in the lowered and raised positions to hold the skuttle door in the selected position. Insure the bail is connected correctly and does what it is supposed to do when the inner operating lever is moved between the open and closed positions. If not, you may need a new bail assembly.

 

If you look in the opening behind the drop down center panel, there's a bolt that come down from directly in the center of the scuttle. Turning it adjusts the "over center".

I'm in the process of stripping my '61 for welding & paint, and came across it while trying to remove the scuttle door.

George Richardson
1961 Jaguar MK 2
3.8, PS, autotrans

 

George,
Could you be a little clearer? Are you talking about looking into the scuttle opening from outside the car? Or, alternatively, from inside the car?

I am not sure what you mean by "over-center" Could you offer some more explanation?

Are you referring to the flat head bolt that is double nutted?

Thanks so much!

Lin

 

The "over center" is the point at which the scuttle snaps open or closed when moving the lever. Yes, the double nutted bolt you see inside the car behind the drop down center dash section.

It's interesting that the manual doesn't even have a drawing of the scuttle vent, let alone any instructions on it.

 

Thanks George, I have the dash off right now so will have a look and feed back

Roger

 

still not solved!!