Project Moogs Motahs - sinking the seat

[strangeangel]

Top stuff... not sure why the fork was knackered so quickly, as it was new when the first clutch went in. Well pissed off with the garage for cobbling it up like that though. I'm guessing that, like the first garage, they couldn't find a new one locally and bodged it to save time. You can't fucking trust anyone, can you? 😞

 

[320touring]

Looks great 👍

Good works chaps!

[NorthernMonkey]

2 hours ago, strangeangel said:

Top stuff... not sure why the fork was knackered so quickly, as it was new when the first clutch went in. Well pissed off with the garage for cobbling it up like that though. I'm guessing that, like the first garage, they couldn't find a new one locally and bodged it to save time. You can't fucking trust anyone, can you? 😞

 

To be fair, I’m not too sure how much blame to apportion to your garage.

The problem as I see it is that since Citroen stopped manufacturing the clutch fork, there’s only one company out there making one and it’s not the best of design. I’m not completely happy with how it fits even now...it’d probably be ok for a while but long term, I can see a similar problem occurring.

I’m tempted to pull the box back off and drill the white plastic retainer out but rather than refastening it with self tappers, I’d like to replace the pivot ball with a new one to minimise any future wear then sleeve and bolt the collar into place with locknuts etc which should result in it working how it’s supposed to but lasting longer if anything than the original design.

I’m really starting to bond with the bloody thing and would like to give it every chance to live on as long as possible (just not on my fleet ideally.... 😂)

[strangeangel]

28 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

I’m really starting to bond with the bloody thing and would like to give it every chance to live on as long as possible (just not on my fleet ideally.... 😂)

 

 

It's a grand old thing, I really enjoyed the time I had with it... genuinely pleased to see the great work you've both done to see it on its way back to the road 👍

 

[The Moog]

This morning the bar of delight turned up so back to the workshop to finish off the BX.



First job was to fix the breather on top of the gearbox


Bit of hose and NMonkey engineering created


I checked the coolant sensor - this might be an issue


All cleaned up and refitted
Time to get it back on its wheels


Then wheels back on


Down on the lift


Test run time. Firstly it needed the clutch adjusting more as I couldn't get any gears without switching engine off.


Then another issue made itself clear, the rear wheel bearing was rumbling.

Back on lift and fiddle with the back showed the right rear needs replacing


All sorted....
Except after putting a couple of bikes in the boot, the rear boot catch decided to depart company with the car.

Luckily Engineering Monkey fixed* it



Any idea where to get a new metal catch?

With frostbite setting in, I set off home.

Bumhats


Decided to chance my arm and made it home safe. Left it in the naughty corner now.

[Tickman]

Liked for the massive success, hopefully the little tricky bits will fall in line soon.

[The Moog]

Boot striker ordered.

Hoping the coolant light is just air lock.

Fingers crossed that is the end of it for now, as otherwise is a bonny thing.

[320touring]

Top graft gents,!

[spartacus]

I so much want a BX but fuck me they seem needy, I'm not sure I'm ready for that level of commitment!

Top work, it's great to see it getting tickled back into shape.

[The Moog]

I so much want a BX but fuck me they seem needy, I'm not sure I'm ready for that level of commitment!
Top work, it's great to see it getting tickled back into shape.

Honestly they aren't that needy - it's the First time either of us have done that kind of clutch plus difficult to get bits off shelf so things have to be ordered.

Mr StrangeAngel has really looked after this one. It is pretty mint underneath.

[NorthernMonkey]

What he said ^^

For all their quirks, they are really well designed and quite simple to work on.

Add to the fact that this particular one has been very well maintained by @strangeangel, there’s absolutely no reason why it shouldn’t continue to offer reliable and comfortable transport for years to come.

[The Moog]

What he said ^^
For all their quirks, they are really well designed and quite simple to work on.
Add to the fact that this particular one has been very well maintained by [mention=19532]strangeangel[/mention], there’s absolutely no reason why it shouldn’t continue to offer reliable and comfortable transport for years to come.

And this shall be used as the roffle advert ....


If it goes that way

[NorthernMonkey]

4 minutes ago, The Moog said:

And this shall be used as the reason for my imminent Saab roffle advert ....
 

 

[artdjones]

I've had five, and found them nothing like as needy as my 2 VWs.

[The Moog]

Forgot to mention that Mr Monkey also cured a lhm leak with PTFE - it was coming from the high pressure pump and pissing over gearbox.

[artdjones]

Just now, The Moog said:

Forgot to mention that Mr Monkey also cured a lhm leak with PTFE - it was coming from the high pressure pump and pissing over gearbox.

If there's a leak from a union it's always worth undoing the pipe and turning the rubber seal around before reattaching the pipe. The unions don't need to be done up very tight.

[strangeangel]

53 minutes ago, spartacus said:

needy

 

 

Y'see, you say that, but I imagine it's no better or worse than any other life-expired 32 year old car! I think it's unreasonable to expect total reliability from anything that age. And as @The Moog says, parts aren't as easy as they once were, so that can quickly escalate a trivial problem.  By way of balance, over 4 1/2 years of use as my main car it only failed to make it home once.

 

Really hoping that the overheating shenanigans is indeed an airlock, or some other trivial shizz...

 

[spartacus]

Don't worry, I'm not doubting how well it's been looked after previously, if it goes to roffle I'll be ticketing myself up!

[NorthernMonkey]

40 minutes ago, strangeangel said:

 

Really hoping that the overheating shenanigans is indeed an airlock, or some other trivial shizz...

 

99% sure that’s all it was....there’s no sign of a coolant leak and I reckon it took about a litre less to refill than came out but was struggling to get any more air out whilst it was ticking over.

It’ll be right...

[NorthernMonkey]

Just realised I’ve got a picture of this bugger on my coffee mug!! 😂😂

[The Moog]

Topped up coolant

But no cigar

So in minus 3 go tools out and opened the red screws and massaged the hoses..


a big burp and..

[dean36014]

If it's a TD there's a bleed screw on the thermostat housing. Really important to bleed it here as the airlock can be hard to shift

[The Moog]

If it's a TD there's a bleed screw on the thermostat housing. Really important to bleed it here as the airlock can be hard to shift

It's just a D but has the same bleed screw.

[The Moog]

Boot catch fixage time


The old one is kaput


Got a zx one


But constant rain and last night this

Meant no chance to fix it. Rain stopped so dodging through puddles I got it mostly fixed.


It shuts and locks now but has a bit of play in the boot.

Wheel bearing going to be fitted next week. Also got a replacement tach sensor and gearlinkage

[Noel Tidybeard]

On 29/12/2020 at 22:39, loserone said:

I've definitely never* been towed in a dead Evoke (no PAS, no brake servo) 1.5m behind a 405, but if I had I'd find it difficult to talk about the experience even to a counsellor

yes, no one would find it easy to admit being in an Ewock

[The Moog]

Gave the smart a little bit of love.

The stereo was draining the battery and also the ciggie lighter has stopped working.

A mechless Bluetooth unit was ordered and old one pulled out. It had some scotchlolsloks behind it as I think there must have been an amp in it.


Stripped off the lower cowl

Whizz with Dremel and made it large enough for a volt meter usb quick charger.

Put it all back together


Now have decent tunes and can charge my phone.

[The Moog]

Current motorhome comes with a gas fire and fan. The fan has stopped working and I think it is the controller knob - a new one is £70.

At that price it got me thinking - gas is a bit of a pain when we want to wild camp. I can sell the old gas fire on eBay for reasonable money - hopefully getting somewhere close to break even

A touch more money and I get a diesel heater - which will free up space plus won't be so dependent on gas.

Stuck it in basket


Went to pay

Bargain

Came pretty quickly


Time to get fire out



That's a nice bit of cupboard space. A turret and feed from diesel tank were sourced.

Fitted turret then test fit in location


Fits nicely and the leads etc should go in existing runs.


The heater chucks out a lot of heat according to internet, so the main outlet is going behind the passenger seat - out of the way of dog paws.

Happy with location I took the step of cutting a hole in the floor



As you can see, the turret is a little short - bigger one has been ordered.

The power cable to the fuel pump can run through the old duct and out.

Power feed can go to the battery


Took the time to check the distribution unit. It got a bit of a clean and put back



The diesel feed comes from the fuel sender - it has the benefit of using vans fuel.

Removing the send was case of pulling up front mats, unscrewing the access cover and then getting unit out.


Only stumping bit was the unit had a metal ring sealed with 7mm bolts, then had to be prised out. It took videos on YouTube to confirm this was the way - I normally expect a big plastic ring.

Carefully drilling a hole in the top, the tube then feeds through to inside the unit


All reinstalled


Started the van up - just to check.

Next steps -
Run fuel lines
Mount pump
Mount fuel filter
Fit bigger turret
Run big cables to battery
Enlarge the vent hole
Refit ducting
Seal and bolt down the unit
Mount air filter
Mount exhaust
Cap off gas pipe
Build cupboard in the new space
Block off old vent
Fit ducting to run to bathrooms

[The Moog]

What a little shit this has been

Bigger turret arrived and was fitted with heat proof sealant


This makes sure no gases go back into the van


Tidied up with some black spray


Built a little box and mesh screen out of some reduced B Q ends.

Should give some ventilation as well as protecting it.

Bought a reducer so I can run most of the existing 65mm pipework


All fitted then started it up.


What the bugger was that


Diesel pissing out. Pulled cover out


The supplied fuel pipe clamps weren't clamping. Swapped out for 9mm spring clips


All sorted.

Except it wouldn't start. Many swears were issued.

After a day chasing it was obvious that the pump was pulling a large amount of air through. I tracked it all down to the supplied fuel filter.

By passed it and the heater runs perfectly. New filter ordered.

Gas pipe has been properly blanked off


The removal of gas fire frees up this space


Had a quick look under van

Might need some chassis painting

[bezzabsa]

if you latr decide to run it from a seperate tank, you get the joys of using Red diesel legally ..... loved my Night heater in the Scania, cosy even on nights out in Scotchland

[Stanky]

Nice work - these DERV heaters seem to be really good once you've ditched several shite components and replaced them with actual working ones. Its a shame, they all seem to very close to being actual effective systems out of the box.

The space saving though is very impressive vs the gas heater jobbie. Hoiw much of a chore would it be to run from a separate tank of cherry/domesitc heating oil/veg for one of these? or is the bigger concern the loss of space of having a separate tank negating the space gained by binning off the gas heater?