Project I can haz Umm - it's a little broken

[messerschmitt owner]

Chris

the running gear is primarily Jeep CJ5 so I would guess it is a jeep spring. Leafspring would be my first call too, though. Is your spring broken (cracked leaf) or does it need re-tempered to give it some spring again? You do know there are blacksmithing companies out there who do retempering for veteran and vintage cars and can make good old springs.

 

This lot, for example.

 

http://www.fenixcarriages.co.uk/spring-making.html

 

Have had contact with the spares in Worcester and Jim is away till Tuesday so will chase then and let you know what they have.

[alf892]

Go to a blacksmith who does not do old cars and tell him it is off a farm trailer (near enough true anyway!)....... Will be lots cheaper.

[messerschmitt owner]

and the  shock absorber/damper part numbers are

 

Monroe

Front M4460

Rear M4461

 

 

or Rancho

front and rear

RS 5000 5113

or RS 9000 9113

[skattrd]

Cheers Campbell, it's a broken spring, so I'd be looking for a replacement.

I've just priced them up from ebay US and it's $250 shipped for a pair, so around £180. If I'm replacing one broken old spring I think I may do the pair at the same time.

 

I think the Umm might be a keeper, so I want to do things properly

[messerschmitt owner]

try this lot too

 

http://www.vintagejeepparts.com

 

They're a pretty big dealer in the States and a little cheaper than $125 a spring.

[skattrd]

I fixed the lights this morning, now all working and new fog light fitted more than 100mm away from the stop light.

There are now 3 things needed for a new MOT, none of which I can do at present.

 

1. OSR leaf spring - will contact leafsprings.co.uk on Monday, otherwise, probably ship a new one from USA, second-hand one possibly found in Portugal.

2. NS TRE, currently cannot find outside USA, the search continues ... it looks like this if you're bored and fancy helping me find one.

3. Small patch of welding on chassis near steering box

[messerschmitt owner]

have you tried the two Portugeuse UMM parts specialists?

 

Also another Jeep specialist

 

http://midwestjeepwillys.com/parts-illustrations.html

[skattrd]

So far the Portugese can only offer a second-hand spring, the TRE isn't listed on either website, but I haven't asked them.

My thinking is that if I'm going to have to get a spring from abroad I'd rather get a new pair than one secondhand one. Certain things, springs/shocks/tyres, I like to replace in pairs if possible.

[messerschmitt owner]

http://www.pecas-umm.com/

 

€40

[messerschmitt owner]

Give brian at countryvehicle.co.uk a call- number on his website

[FiatPhil]

Seeing this splendiferous motor, I thought of this:

https://youtu.be/69mgR66-QXU

[skattrd]

MO - the TRE is like this one with a hole in it

 

 

I couldn't see them on Pecas or Umm-online

[messerschmitt owner]

yes, I realised after I posted - my near side TRE is missing whatever goes in the hole and connects to the long bar heading to the steering bar - hence no steering.

[skattrd]

Do you want me to get pics of the set-up on mine to see what's missing from yours?

I've got a feeling rhd Umms have a different steering set-up to lhd ones.

[skattrd]

This is the one I took so I knew what I was after for myself:

 

[messerschmitt owner]

Ah, I need that €40 TRE!

[skattrd]

I phoned leafsprings.co.uk today and they have said they can possibly repair the broken spring.

If a repair is not possible they can make a new one, if it is the same as a CJ5 they can make those up for about £120 each, or custom make springs for around £150 each, depending on number of leafs and size.

 

I now need to remove the offending spring and get it to Birmingham.

[messerschmitt owner]

Chris

would you like me to send you the relevent part of the UMM BOL?

[Vin]

FYI Skattrd, if it's any use, there is a place in Brigg near the Leisure centre that make new leaf springs.

 

Brigg Motor Springs. 01652 653280

[skattrd]

Cheers Vin, I'll give them a call tomorrow, hopefully if they make springs they can repair them as well, plus it might be easier to get the spring up to Brigg than Brum

[skattrd]

Chris

would you like me to send you the relevent part of the UMM BOL?

 

Umm BOL - is this from the owners club?

 

Oh, and yes please.

[twosmoke300]

Can you lot explain to me why I'm now looking for umm's for sale?

[skattrd]

Can you lot explain to me why I'm now looking for umm's for sale?

 

Because if you have an Umm the ladies will be all over you ... These things are more of a clunge magnet than a beige Marina.

I shall soon be investing in a bigger stick to beat them away with.

[messerschmitt owner]

I had a farm jack doing nothing so realised I needed a vehicle suitable for it!

 

and i's also useful for beating off those ladies! Imagine what an UMM rally is like?

[skattrd]

Umm spring removal time, so I've found a place in Rotherham that can  make/repair springs, and as I catch the train to work from Sheffield most mornings so it's not too much of a diversion on my way in one day.

 

Spring removal ... well, all the nuts were loose enough to remove, but unfortunately the bolts were seized in the bushes meaning a bit of grinder action would be needed to remove them.

 

 

A little while later we had this:

 

 

and this:

 

 

The spring with one snapped leaf is safely in the boot of the car for me to drop off at the menders one day next week, and the 3-legged Umm is left like this until the spring comes back from the spring menders.

 

 

 

 

 

[oldcars]

I would use a softer pad on the machine polisher, that one looks a little harsh.

 

Liking the reliant-umm.

[messerschmitt owner]

looks good - was it easy to get off?

[Asimo]

I would use a softer pad on the machine polisher, that one looks a little harsh.

 

That's a beard trimmer.

[skattrd]

looks good - was it easy to get off?

 

Honestly, it was relatively easy, it could have been a lot worse. It was just the bolts being stuck in the bushes that were the issue.

All 6 nuts, a mix 21,22 & 24mm came off with little trouble. It took about 30 mins and 3 cutting discs to get through one bolt.

[skattrd]

Minor update ... replacement wheels purchased

 

 

NEW:                                                                                  OLD:

 

 

Wheels fitted, but no pics as Umm is still on axle stands between some other motors.

I reckon these new wheels and tyres will massively improve the handling and ride, they are also half the weight of the nobbly ones ... weight saving = faster Umm

 

Also sourced, hopefully the correct TRE

 

 

The broken spring should be back from the menders next week when it will be refitted along with the TRE, and fingers crossed for the MOT re-test.

Not a lot else to report apart from playing with BIL's V8 series 2a Landy that has been off the road for over 20 years. I did try to get a video of it running, but they came out poop, maybe next time.