It's grim up north…tales from the Primate House

[NorthernMonkey]

Nope, I’m not that brave!! 😂

[Bear]

1 hour ago, NorthernMonkey said:

Had a low pressure tyre warning on the osf Ampera wheel pop up yesterday as @Bearadvised. Took the wheel off to do a bit of nail finding and it turns out the leak was from the TPMS valve that just needed nipping up with an 11mm socket. Another easy fix 🥳

Ahhh! That makes me happy to hear. I did wonder about the valve but I don't know enough about messing with TPMS to think of doing that! There was possibly a red herring in the form of a sticky patch on the tyre and an empty tyre gunk bottle in the boot...

[NorthernMonkey]

Trained, collected and now back at Lockerbie on the way home…

…it really does drive well. Need to place an order tomorrow for discs, pads and ball joints then attack the brake ferrules with emery cloth and possibly stick some tyres on it but once all that’s done, it’ll make a cracking car!

[Split_Pin]

[warninglight]

49 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

Trained, collected and now back at Lockerbie on the way home…

…it really does drive well. Need to place an order tomorrow for discs, pads and ball joints then attack the brake ferrules with emery cloth and possibly stick some tyres on it but once all that’s done, it’ll make a cracking car!

Congrats! You were quick off the mark with that bargain C5. Next time you're passing Lockerbie let me know and I'll pop the kettle on!

[NorthernMonkey]

4 hours ago, warninglight said:

Congrats! You were quick off the mark with that bargain C5. Next time you're passing Lockerbie let me know and I'll pop the kettle on!

If I’d have realised, I’d have called in for a poke of your new RR!!

Settled for a Maccies coffee and fed the ducks some crisps at Annandale instead…

[warninglight]

42 minutes ago, NorthernMonkey said:

If I’d have realised, I’d have called in for a poke of your new RR!!

Settled for a Maccies coffee and fed the ducks some crisps at Annandale instead…

Haven't collected it yet, though it's just a couple of miles down the road.

I'm about 10 mins from that services, towards Dumfries. Next time!

[vaughant]

9 hours ago, NorthernMonkey said:

Trained, collected and now back at Lockerbie on the way home…

…it really does drive well. Need to place an order tomorrow for discs, pads and ball joints then attack the brake ferrules with emery cloth and possibly stick some tyres on it but once all that’s done, it’ll make a cracking car!

Really liked this and it looked a good un. Well bought 👍🏻👍🏻

[NorthernMonkey]

The Ampera has been behaving itself by and large, with just an occasional EML relating to a fuel tank evap leak. I stuck it up in the air the other day and connected up the smoke tester to the filler neck to check for leaks but everything checked out ok.

Fast forward to today and a flash of inspiration occurred…the purge valves on the inlet manifolds are known to fail quite regularly on GM stuff so off it came and sure enough, it’s not sealing correctly.

I bodged it up with a finger from a rubber glove to effect a temporary seal and it’s now running fine with no pending codes in sight so a new one has been ordered for the grand sum of £12!

[yes oui si]

Mechanic's condom to the rescue again.

[Bear]

Damn it, that's the sort of marque-specific experience knowledge I could have done with - I was worrying about the crusty bits at the back and didn't know about these evap things!

[Bear]

11 hours ago, yes oui si said:

Mechanic's condom to the rescue again.

But it's a good matching shade to complement the high voltage cables - can't deny the style

[jim89]

35 minutes ago, Bear said:

Damn it, that's the sort of marque-specific experience knowledge I could have done with - I was worrying about the crusty bits at the back and didn't know about these evap things!

Shurely you asked ?

[Bear]

1 hour ago, jim89 said:

Shurely you asked ?

No, I'd put it to the back of the list of things to ponder once the other bits were sorted. So I am very happy to see it tracked down!

[NorthernMonkey]

New arrival today, and a totally new direction for me at least…

I’ve never done two wheels but have always liked the styling of classic scooters, ever since my school friends dad gave him a Vespa to play with in the paddock, back in the early 80s.

I spotted the ad for this appear a few weeks ago but had no idea what a Royal Alloy was so didn’t even open the thread.

Fast forward to sitting in the pub last Saturday night, idly browsing the forum whilst waiting for the band to come on, and clicking on unread content when I realised that a Royal Alloy was indeed probably the ideal introduction to motorcycling for me.

Communications took place throughout the week culminating in a 30 minute jaunt up the motorway this lunchtime.

Collection was achieved…

and in its new home back at the other end of the M65…

This thing is bloody brilliant!! I’ve been doing laps of the yard at work much to Claire’s amusement…

Next step this week is to book my CBT then stuck some L plates on and hit the highway.

Quite frankly, I cannot wait. Just looking at it in the corner of the workshop makes me smile and it’s amazing how much easier it is to control at low speed compared to an E-bike which is all or nothing on the throttle compared to this.

[UltraWomble]

Nice to see you (again) & I hope you get more use out of it than I have had these last 12 months.

Not for the want of it, but since the job change its no longer been a sensible option for me to use for work, and I cant really justify keeping it in the shed and starting it up every Sunday to stop the battery going flat.

[NorthernMonkey]

1 hour ago, UltraWomble said:

Nice to see you (again) & I hope you get more use out of it than I have had these last 12 months.

Not for the want of it, but since the job change its no longer been a sensible option for me to use for work, and I cant really justify keeping it in the shed and starting it up every Sunday to stop the battery going flat.

Likewise!

Got it wedged in the van somehow and had to remove the screen temporarily to get it out but other than that, it all went swimmingly!

Managed a few laps of the car park with no problems…feeling a bit more confident now regarding the CBT 😂

[Mally]

When I bought a Vespa in 1960 something, everyone said I'd fall off.  Unsafe, with nothing between your legs. 

I didn't, but I've  fallen off a few bikes including a Combination.

Be careful and get your hat on.

I don't want you appearing in the Angles topic.

[Split_Pin]

3 hours ago, NorthernMonkey said:

pub

Saturday night

idly browsing the forum

That would not end well for me so well done on an eminently sensible purchase!

I've fancied a go at 2 wheels myself recently, as you say it looks like huge fun. Plus the roads round my bit aren't too busy.

Enjoy!

[loserone]

Don't think you will have too much trouble with the CBT.  Why not go for a full licence?

 

I could do with some competition to kick me into booking lessons instead of browsing 125s on marketplace 

[NorthernMonkey]

8 minutes ago, loserone said:

Don't think you will have too much trouble with the CBT.  Why not go for a full licence?

 

I could do with some competition to kick me into booking lessons instead of browsing 125s on marketplace 

I will in due course but if I want to get out on the road on it in the meantime, then needs must.

Bearing in mind it’s 40 years since I’ve ridden a motorbike and that was only my pals DT50 around the old quarry at the end of our lane, I’d like to get a bit of practice and guidance first before I’m let loose on the Queens!

[loserone]

Nearly the same, 23 years since I came off a bike on a jump and was told "it doesn't matter, it's nicked anyway".  First time on the road was CBT (second attempt after it was cancelled due to hail at lunchtime)

[NorthernMonkey]

I know there’s plenty that’ll think I’m mental but eventually, I’d quite fancy the idea of pissing about on an old HD or the like.

I should have stopped thinking about it too much and just bought the one that was on here last year but if I had, it would probably still be sat in the unit unused. This way, I can get a feel for things and see if I get on with the whole concept! 😂

[NorthernMonkey]

One thing I’m going to do is invest in a decent helmet first.

I can justify it even more in so much as I need a full face one to do track days in the MX5 or the Exocet when I finally get my hands on one (or just do the sensible thing and buy a new kit from Stuart)