How much shite is too much shite? Overdue Update, A Show, One Out One In and a Stupid Road Trip.

[Saabnut]

420 miles down, made it to Coventry with no problems apart from the LPG system deciding to be temperamental for 20 minutes before giving up the fight and working properly.

[Saabnut]

Another 150 ish miles today now near Gatwick for the night

[Saabnut]

With a final 225 miles from Gatwick to Portsmouth and Caen to here it has clocked up 195k and again completed with no problems and on LPG for 99% of the journey. 

Chod spotting in the Sarthe starts tomorrow ish

[Saabnut]

Not been out chod spotting yet as the first few days here have been busy vacuuming spiders and cobwebs as usual, plus fitting a new belt to the ride on mower and a new shackle to the tractor with flail mower. I have also started fault finding on my friends Iveco Cherry Picker but that will be a whole seperate post!

So today, I went for a quick lunch with friends here

Lunch consisted of these

accompanied by some very nice local rose wine. Hindsight tells me the dozen oysters were not excessive, but the 1.5 liters of wine (each I hasten to add) probably was. Not much done this afternoon as I have only just woken up!  

[hairnet]

WTAF

[Inspector Morose]

Oysters maybe not but rosè? Now we’re talking .

[Saabnut]

I am writing this whilst watching snow fall and settle outside, only the second time I have seen this here in France in 10 years. Oh well, turn the heating up and a day working inside beckons.....

It is a bit frustrating as my friend has left his Iveco cherry picker here, the deal being if I can get it working I can borrow it, the main job being to put in a chimney liner to reinstate a log burner ironically. The cherry picker is based on a 61 plate 7 tonne Iveco. The van itself runs fine but has lots of electrical gremlins and the cherry picker and stabilisers dont work. I am sure these are related and as the van has been sitting outside unused for over a year. I managed to get it started after replacing a knackered battery terminal along with a jump, and that earth improvement brought the wipers and indicators back to life, confirming the gremlin theory.

I managed to get the PTO for the hydraulics to engage, but no electrical controls do anything. I suspect that the isolater/sensor on the boom is faulty, which stops everything working if the boom/basket is not detecting locked/unlocked. I do have wiring diagrams but I am rubbish with electrics, but I guess I am about to learn!

First job was to charge the battery to ensure any low voltages are not being caused by a flat battery, so moved it forward and put it on charge. Snow has, however, stalled progress.

[Saabnut]

The scene currently. Still snowing!

[hairnet]

un homme des parties supérieures de l'écosse devrait être habitué à 2 pouces

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

1 hour ago, hairnet said:

un homme des parties supérieures de l'écosse devrait être habitué à 2 pouces

Are you saying that he's hung like a Hamster ? 🙃

[lesapandre]

'Hamster' in French is: 'le hamster'.

French is very easy to speak. You simply put le in front le major words and you can immediately be understood by le French.

Le snow is due to stop le-ater according to le French weather app.

[hairnet]

29 minutes ago, Momentary Lapse Of Reason said:

Are you saying that he's hung like a Hamster ? 🙃

with the weather cold atm then dunno maybe

[somewhatfoolish]

The boom won't go anywhere until the stabilisers are out, weight on them and depending on how old/new it is, levelled.

[Saabnut]

8 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

The boom won't go anywhere until the stabilisers are out, weight on them and depending on how old/new it is, levelled.

Problem is the stabilisers won't go down either! I think it is the sensor that operates when the boom is fully stowed, but it has been too cold to go out and test my theory. Hopefully soon!

[Saabnut]

As usual, an update here is well overdue. The weather in France did improve, but I ran out of time as I had to return for another hospital visit and I found myself in need of some tools I had not taken with me, As a result the cherry picker was parked in* the hanger and will have to wait for my next visit, and since being home more research has yielded some results, and a visit to the manufacturers in Bradford is a possibility.

Since being home, I have been stupidly busy with courses, exams etc for my new (part time) career amongst other things. The final part of that should be completed early in the new year. All this lack of time has resulted in my shed being used for storage rather than working, so the last couple of days has seen a start to putting that right. The old grey tin barn I have been using as overflow storage has been under utilised as when it was part of the farm and used for straw storage, the floor was covered with pallets to keep the straw off the ground. I had moved some out of the way but at least half the floor was still covered in now rotten pallets. I have spent 2 days lifting these out an burning them (there is so much woodworm evidence there is no way they are coming near my house for the wood stove). I have roughly a third of the barn cleared.

Once that is complete, I can move things around and get on with my Saab 93 that basically needs brakes doing

Of course, as these were never officially imported to the UK, there are no spares available off the shelf. Shoes I can get relined and I believe the wheel cylinders are as fitted to a Morris Minor, but there are two types so I need to get the drums off to see what I need.  As the drums have the bearings in them, a puller is required, ideally one that will fit on a slide hammer. A few of the Saab specialists list them, but they have been out of stock for years. I mentioned this to my friend and neighbour who reminded me he had this

Yes, that is a CNC Plasma cutting table and he offered his help. Saturday evening I took my slide hammer and the one drum I had managed to get off round, and an hour later it was done.

Now once I have space, I can get on with it!

[hairnet]

4 hours ago, Saabnut said:

 

 

 

 

❤️ 

[Saabnut]

OK I can admit it all now  As most know, I retired from the oil industry last February after 35 years offshore. Since then I have been enjoying retirement but having to be fiscally prudent!  In autumn last year I was talking to a friend from my off road club days and he mentioned he was about to set up an MOT test centre that would not do repairs in Forfar and he said if things worked out he could use an additional tester from time to time. As I have no interest in full time work nor being committed for long periods, this set the grey cells rolling.  In November I went to Northampton for a week and completed an MOT testers course at MOTExpert. Hard work but enjoyable, and then of course Christmas and New Year got in the way.

This morning I passed my final "Observed Test" with DVLA so I am now a fully qualified and authorised class 4 and class 7 tester! To help out my friend and to build up experience I will be doing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at  Forfar Technical Services (Expert Class 7 MOT Testing Services) for the near future. If you live nearby, pop in and say hello or if you need an MOT go to the site and book it in!

[Surface Rust]

Poacher turned gamekeeper...

Good luck with the new job!

[MrGTI6]

Congrats on passing the test and best of luck with the new job! 

[HillmanImp]

I thought you had to be in the trade for a couple of years before becoming an MOT tester? Is it different up there or did your old job qualify you? 

[mintwth]

Can't be much rust in your prescribed areas if you're passing your MOT test at 63

[High Jetter]

Excellent! A whole new chapter starts for you (and many contribs on tales of the motor trade, hopefully)

[New POD]

45 minutes ago, HillmanImp said:

I thought you had to be in the trade for a couple of years before becoming an MOT tester? Is it different up there or did your old job qualify you? 

I suspect 35 years in the oil industry most of it on an oil rig probably justifiably allows a little bending of the rules. 

[Saabnut]

47 minutes ago, HillmanImp said:

I thought you had to be in the trade for a couple of years before becoming an MOT tester? Is it different up there or did your old job qualify you? 

You need 4 years on the tools to become a tester, 13 years owning a garage and being employed as a mechanic many many years ago was acceptable.

[hairnet]

63

Awa an fek aff

Nice one nick

[Dobloseven]

Often wondered about MOT only places.Place I've used for the last 20 years has just put it's price up to £45 after charging £40 for as long as I can remember.They book in on hourly slots with a bay used for testing only that can take large and tall vehicles, motorhomes and the like.So basically they're charging 45 quid for an hours labour,which doesn't sound very lucrative to me.Take off the testers wages,the cost of maintaining and updating the equipment,all the other fixed costs etc.and not much left over.Would be interested to hear others opinions though.Owner says he'd lose custom if he put the price up,as that's the going rate for the area.Doesn't seem especially busy either,able to get in at pretty short notice.

[Inspector Morose]

3 hours ago, Saabnut said:

OK I can admit it all now  As most know, I retired from the oil industry last February after 35 years offshore. Since then I have been enjoying retirement but having to be fiscally prudent!  In autumn last year I was talking to a friend from my off road club days and he mentioned he was about to set up an MOT test centre that would not do repairs in Forfar and he said if things worked out he could use an additional tester from time to time. As I have no interest in full time work nor being committed for long periods, this set the grey cells rolling.  In November I went to Northampton for a week and completed an MOT testers course at MOTExpert. Hard work but enjoyable, and then of course Christmas and New Year got in the way.

This morning I passed my final "Observed Test" with DVLA so I am now a fully qualified and authorised class 4 and class 7 tester! To help out my friend and to build up experience I will be doing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at  Forfar Technical Services (Expert Class 7 MOT Testing Services) for the near future. If you live nearby, pop in and say hello or if you need an MOT go to the site and book it in!

Strangely there'll be a MINI coming your way in the near future. Oh, and something else - eventually!

Well done there chap.

[Barry Cade]

41 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

Often wondered about MOT only places.Place I've used for the last 20 years has just put it's price up to £45 after charging £40 for as long as I can remember.They book in on hourly slots with a bay used for testing only that can take large and tall vehicles, motorhomes and the like.So basically they're charging 45 quid for an hours labour,which doesn't sound very lucrative to me.Take off the testers wages,the cost of maintaining and updating the equipment,all the other fixed costs etc.and not much left over.Would be interested to hear others opinions though.Owner says he'd lose custom if he put the price up,as that's the going rate for the area.Doesn't seem especially busy either,able to get in at pretty short notice.

I worked in one for 2 years. 3 cars getting tested at the same time on 1 ramp, 2 men on each test, each test was about 20 mins. 50 quid a test, less for trade. Quite lucrative!. Boss had 2 planes...and a runway in his garden.

[Dobloseven]

1 minute ago, Barry Cade said:

I worked in one for 2 years. 3 cars getting tested at the same time on 1 ramp, 2 men on each test, each test was about 20 mins. 50 quid a test, less for trade. Quite lucrative!. Boss had 2 planes...and a runway in his garden.

Doesn't the vehicle have to be logged in and out though and so much time taken.My place used to do mostly testing,with at least three bays, doing repairs on another nearby site.The owners son in law took over and has cut the testing back to one bay and one tester,with himself covering and an old boy who does Saturday mornings where they have an unbooked first come, first served session.

[Barry Cade]

4 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

Doesn't the vehicle have to be logged in and out though and so much time taken.My place used to do mostly testing,with at least three bays, doing repairs on another nearby site.The owners son in law took over and has cut the testing back to one bay and one tester,with himself covering and an old boy who does Saturday mornings where they have an unbooked first come, first served session.

3 testers, 3 tests. 1 car getting pre checks, 1 on the ramp, 1 on the emissions test. It was like synchronised swimming, and worked very well. No time limit on tests, VOSA were quite happy with the way it worked. No repairs at all. Not even a bulb. We did motorbikes too. Some Saturday mornings were just all bikes.