here we go again

[purplebargeken]

Toyo Proxes TR1 tyres are seemingly the most rated tyres if things like the odd track day appeal.

 

I didn't mind Nexens tbh. They did me fine on the road and track but other tyres are available*. 

[dugong]

They seem well regarded on the 'F but I've inherited something of a dislike of them from trying them on other cars. 
It's probably illogical - so far they've done OK on the MGF. 

 

[purplebargeken]

Can't ask more than that, how is the old girl doing so far? Miss her!

[Taff]

scrubbed the roof clean today, it came up quite well

 

[purplebargeken]

Take the roof off and jet wash it. Much better job. 

 

Are you back yet mate?

[Taff]

well, I met up with Senor Bargeken this afternoon and, after mucho haggling, we arranged a traditional barter which suited both parties. He received a quantity of finest West Country cider & I got some stuff for my rubber fetish.

 

Anyway, I would post more but it's been a long day and I'm very tyred.

 

 

Tyred, get it? like tired, because I drove a long way today, but spelt tyred because they are tyres and there is a lot of them?

 

Fuck me, it's a tough room tonight.

[purplebargeken]

It is better to have more tyres than you need rather than not enough. Citroen haz useful!

 

There wasn't that much haggling folks, honest. 

[Taff]

solve one problem and another appears.

 

do these cars usually have the ability to flash the headlights? mine doesn't seem to have it.

 

dip works fine, as do the mains. just no flash.

 

 

[purplebargeken]

Normally they do. It will have nothing to do with the speedo cable or will it. Certainly nothing to do with a number of spare tyres.

[Taff]

so, courtesy of Herr Bargeken, I now have tyres which have tread and air in them and everything but! the bloody locking wheel nut adaptor decided to spit it's splines out. I have a set of locking wheel nuts that fit and I managed to get the rear ones off but it was totally shagged when I tried it on the front.

so, any suggestions? I don't really want to buy a new one just to shift two nuts. Anyone got one I can borrow? I don't even know how common they are, They can't be that unique can they? 

 

Anyway, it handles better on the new tyres, fingers crossed I don't have to get one of the fronts off any time soon!

[purplebargeken]

They aren't that unique. What about taking it to a tyre depot and bunging them a tenner or somfink. That might be the best option in the long run.

 

I had to twat one of mine off but then decided to look again in the jack bag and found the fucker hiding in a big crease. I was pleased yet annoyed. 

[JohnK]

I drilled the two off the rear of the XJ6 on Monday because I couldn't find the locking key, then typically found it as soon as I had forcibly removed them!

[Pete-M]

The place that fitted part worns to the front of my Merc used a windy gun to put the wheel nuts on. Which meant that when I went to undo them I broke the locknut key.

 

£33.25 for a new one from Mercedes and I'm not even sure it'll work without breaking.

[Taff]

The place that fitted part worns to the front of my Merc used a windy gun to put the wheel nuts on. Which meant that when I went to undo them I broke the locknut key.

 

£33.25 for a new one from Mercedes and I'm not even sure it'll work without breaking.

 

turns out my type aren't that unique, as PG thought.

 

£12 of e-by-gum-bay should see me right.

 

That's 3 pints of Thatchers though. Decisions, decisions

[purplebargeken]

3 pints? 3 pints? Damn, that is some kind of decision. Thatchers, mmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Taff]

no Thatchers for me! as well as the goosed locking wheel nut adaptor and flash not working (despite me getting a replacement unit for it) one of the key fobs isn't working. So, a new battery into it and off I go to synchro it.

 

This is easier than it sounds, simply unlock the door usint the key and then flicl the "unlock" button on the fob 5 times rapidly. simple.

 

Well, it would be if my key fitted the door lock, wouldn't it? Neither of the two keys I have fit the drivers door. Both fit (and operate) the boot & ignition but only go halfway into the door lock. Arse biscuits.

 

She's fighting me, damn her

[purplebargeken]

The key should fit as it is working in the ignition and boot lock. Has some twat jammed something in the door lock? Give it a spray with some wd40 and see if that helps. Might just be clagged up as most folk wouldn't use the key in lock mode. 

[Taff]

The key should fit as it is working in the ignition and boot lock. Has some twat jammed something in the door lock? Give it a spray with some wd40 and see if that helps. Might just be clagged up as most folk wouldn't use the key in lock mode. 

 

Herr Bargeken, he is mechanical jenius! he fix my locks from N London! Great success!

 

Anyway, for all you who laughed at my idea to commute if the MGFlid, the significance of this picture is:-

 

 

it is parked in the car park at work! And it made it home as well, look :-

 

 

I know taking selfies on the M4 is asking for trouble, but I did it anyway:-

 

 

Plus it impressed the milf from Swindon I am attempting to woo at the moment.

 

And so to today when I went to adjust the handbrake. This was achieved with maximum fuss (because adjusting the lever makes no fuggin difference to the handbrake performance at all) so I stopped fannying around and read up on the procedure on line. And this time did it properly Great success! until I put the locking wheel nuts on and snapped both of them. Seems the studs are a touch too long for them. Its not the end of the world, I was able to wind the threaded "coller" I had left off the stud and throw it across the road in fury. I also got the front locking wheel nuts off as well (remember the ones I snapped the locking nut adaptor for?) and it only cost me to old BSF sockets which now have locking wheel nuts well & truly stuck in them. I'll hammer those out at a later date.

 

So, on balance I think I'm up today. I have a few things left to sort (still no flash and I noticed the rear heatshield is attached by prayers and rust when I was under the back earlier) and I've booked an MoT for Friday, so no doubt I will have a proper shitty on next Friday night. Oh well.

[purplebargeken]

Whoohoo! I haz mechanical skillz.

 

Like the wheels too!

[purplebargeken]

Grab a replacement stalk from a breakers and see if that resolves the no flash thing. 

 

Bloody nice looking car BTW.

[Taff]

Grab a replacement stalk from a breakers and see if that resolves the no flash thing. 

 

Bloody nice looking car BTW.

 

I've got a replacement stalk mate and it's not working either. I've managed to find a wiring diagram that shows the multiplug at the stalk, so when the rain stops I'll go fault finding. All the lights are working, it's got to be something trivial. If the switch checks out ok, I might even get really lazy and just run another wire down there.

 

She's a bit of a 25 yarder, mate, up close she has a lot of scratches, deep fuckers too

[purplebargeken]

I was tempted to tackle the scratches on mine with Chipex. I bought some for the i10 but haven't had decent enough weather to tackle it yet. 

[Taff]

in an attempt to prove my miserable neighbour right ("you will be under that bonnet a lot, buying such an old car" he said) I went out to fix something but there is nothing to fix. Not that I have fully restored it, I just don't have the bits I need at the moment. I did swap the wipers over (the driver one is longer, for some reason & I'm a tall chap) plus I adjusted the washer jets. 

While I was in the garage I noticed this:-

 

I also got bored with the freezing cold ally gear knob. As luck would have it, I had this tasteful alternative handy, which I feel really fits in well with the overall theme of the car:-

 

It adds 7 bhp, FACT! I'm just off to post pictures of it on the MGF forums, I'm sure they will love it

[holbeck]

 

That's 3 pints of Thatchers though. Decisions, decisions

 

 

 

I have a friend who even now will not say the 'T' word, he will however drink the product that coincidentally has the same name.

 

Cue hilarious miming and blank looks from bar staff

[Taff]

I HAZ 12 months MOT!!

 

(I also has a semi erection)

[Taff]

the reality of my MoT has dawned on my. Like a lot of us, I make deals with my car. In return for reasonably trouble free motoring, I have promised it regular oil changes. In return for  not leaking when it rains, I promised it I would refit the VVC alloys when I have some spare money.

 

And in return for a trouble free MoT, I promised it a wash and full going over with the colour magic. So that's my Saturday taken care of, then

[purplebargeken]

Whooooohooooo! 

[Taff]

Latest update in a remarkable dull motoring existence.

The F came with no history at all, not even the current MoT. All I got with it was the V5C new owners slip. So, with an indicated 68 thou on the clock and a general air of neglect, combined with my misguided presumption that this should be as reliable as a 4 door turbo-diesel saloon, I booked it in for a new cambelt.

Now, as I fluked my way into VVC ownership (no, I don’t know what VVC stands for, variable valve something would be my guess), this muddy funster actually has two belts  instead of one, a “long†front one and a “short†rear. It’s considered good form (apparently) to change the waterpump when the front belt is done, along with the tensioner. Given that working on the motor is like working through a manhole cover, I bravely took the decision to get a specialist to do it for me.

Stop groaning at the back, I just can’t be arsed spending two days fighting with it plus I havent got special tools or common sense or anything. What I did do was find was a local specalist called Camerton Auto Repairs and I dropped in to see the bloke for a natter. He seemed to talk a good talk, he was happy to quote me a full price along with a labour-only price and we set a date.

I sourced the belt kit via the Bay-of-E, left it on the passenger seat for him and dropped the car off at his place, went back 4 hours later and paid him the previously agreed amount, chatted for a few minutes in a man-talk way, agreed that I had lucked my way into a “good ‘un†& then I  went home for a poo.

And that’s it. Is this the dullest post ever? Nothing interesting happened.

Oh, wait. I saw a kestrel on the way home. No pics though as I was driving.

[Jim Bell]

You r do it rite.

[Taff]

so, then, this k series. Do they leak lots of oil as a rule? Mine is at the moment.

 

A good look around (well, as good as you can manage on one of these) shows that the whole engine appears to be covered in fresh oil (I changed the oil and filter again a few weeks ago). The new filter isn't leaking, btw.

 

Any prone areas to check for? The cambox gasket is alleged to weep a bit on these but my leak appears to start further down, if that makes any sense?

 

cheers, T