Project Dollywobbler's Invacar - Ongoing

[richardthestag]

shit the bed!

 

11.9/10

[egg]

You can sell it as a ringing kit now. 

[Angrydicky]

Oh this is good. Angry Dicky informs me that I'd just failed to remove the plastic plug before trying to fit the old pushrod to the new master cylinder. Anyone would think I don't have a clue what I'm doing...

Kind of, the metal pushrod retaining washer was jammed in there making the bore size appear much smaller on that cylinder than the other. I levered it out and pulled the pistons out of both to double check the sizes - both spot on at 5/16". They'll be winging their way back to you as I type this. Easy mistake to make, embarrassing one though!

[dollywobbler]

So, what should I have done to remove that? I'll keep the other as a spare.

[Eddie Honda]

I think I need an MOT before I can change the tax class though?

Sort of. You can't change now, you must be ready to tax it.

 

I've got a tricycle in the bicycle/tricycle tax class which should be in the historic. Can't change it until I'm ready to tax it. Asked in the Reading local office years ago as I was in for something else.

 

Now there are no local offices, it should be something that can be done at PO that deals with vehicle tax.

 

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax

[Angrydicky]

So, what should I have done to remove that? I'll keep the other as a spare.

A small bent screwdriver is what I used to pull it out. It wasn't immediately obvious when I looked at it because it was covered in old brake grease.

[DeeJay]

You're trying to make DW feel better aren't you.

[dollywobbler]

Master cylinder now fitted. Next battle is the rear brake line. Need to splice in a new section, but also need to work out how brake flaring equipment works, as it turns out I've absolutely no idea. 

[Skizzer]

This is a fantastic thread in its own right but also for making it ok to fuck things up slightly first time round, like I always do. Thanks.

 

We need a hashtag like ‘#MeToo’. But not that.

[Supernaut]

#PobodysNerfect

[dollywobbler]

Busy day, just stopping for lunch...

 

So, new master cylinder fitted with no problems. New rear brake pipe made up after my mate Jasper came around to help with the flaring tool. He also helped do battle with the shoes. All refitted, just two brakes left!

 

In other news, I've pulled the entire inlet manifold off to fit to the spares car, in order to test the engine. That might be a two person job though, so may have to wait until tomorrow to try.

[dollywobbler]

Oh and one of my Facebook chums has spotted this one in Thailand! Is there anywhere these things HAVEN'T managed to get?

[mat_the_cat]

That'd be an epic road trip if it was driven there!

[Pillock]

Presumably it was simply taken as hand luggage.

[dollywobbler]

Oh FFS. Weather forecast for tomorrow? Pissio towers. All day. Guess I won't be getting the spares car running then. Rain can PISS OFF.

 

So, I guess I'll be replacing the other wheel cylinders on TWC then. I'm hoping I can get away with no removing the shoes because I'm not sure my anger levels can cope with more shoe misbehaviour. 

[dollywobbler]

With rain having ruined my plans, I set about replacing the nearside wheel cylinder. Far less fiasco this side thankfully, though the shoes still invoked some swearing.

 

Especially as I'd lost my long-nosed pliers, that we used to fit the spring on the offside just yesterday. I tried the 'piece of string' technique though, and it worked! Got it on camera too. Then, as I went to get the shoes sitting nicely, the bottom spring fell out again. UGH. Then I got it in place with my bare fingers. I'm still not sure how but naturally, the camera wasn't running at this point. 

 

I also identified that the handbrake mechanism had been set-up incorrectly yesterday, so I'll have to pull the other side back apart again. Mind you, I've just remembered that I forgot to fit the shoe retaining springs on the nearside, so THAT will have to come apart again too. Did I mention that I hate drum brakes?

[PhilA]

You need the post war attitude that sort of eventually spawned these cars. It could be worse, could be inboard drum brakes.

 

Keep at it. They can be infuriating, painful, slow items to work on but once they're back in properly, well adjusted drum brakes aren't bad to use. Particularly if compared to unassisted disc brakes of similar vintage

 

Phil

[dollywobbler]

Of course, the front brakes are even more annoying...

 

Rears now set up correctly at least. Drum doesn't want to come off - usual story of being stuck on the centre bit. Does that stubby bit come off easily? I might soon be finding out.

[Eddie Honda]

Yeah, it's only a hubcab.

[dollywobbler]

Huzzah! All done. Well, almost. I can't find my bleeding kit (why did I tidy up the garage again?!). As soon as I do, Mrs DW will be roped in for handlebar manoeuvres. 

[Skizzer]

And then you’ll get on with fixing the car (someone had to say it)

 

(Sorry, I’m stuck at home bored and ill)

[PhilA]

Which kit?

 

[dollywobbler]

I needed assistance to bleed the brakes. I think my assistant is pleased!

 

All sorted. Pushing the handlebars down does indeed prevent the wheels from turning as one would hope. Next, engine!

[timolloyd]

Big milestone - nice one! Love this thread

[madrat]

AS I said on your youtube, I fu@#ing hate drum brakes.

[Skizzer]

Many hoorays! Well done, bet that feels better.

[dollywobbler]

Many hoorays! Well done, bet that feels better.

 

It's nice. A warm glow for sure after a tricky few weeks.

 

Sadly, video production hasn't gone well today. I completely forgot to record some stages, and the celebratory bit when me and Mrs DW had the brakes working seems not to have recorded at all, possibly because I was a bit too excited. Oh well!

[DeeJay]

 

 

Mrs DW had the brakes working seems not to have recorded at all, possibly because I was a bit too excited. Oh well!

 

Would it work on Porntube?

[dollywobbler]

Would it work on Porntube?

 

There was much tweaking of nipples, and at one point, there was much accidental squirting.

[Felly Magic]

Once the tricky subject of the engine is fixed, will we see hoonage up the driveway with a grinning Wobbler?