The new news 24 thread

[Micrashed]

Man alive, that's a HUGE caravan for a single axle jobby! What'll you pull it with?

Its pretty heavy  (1480kg unladen) and it munches tyres - I leave it sited though so it will only do two trips of 80 miles a year.

 

Will be towing with one of these when I do tow:

 

Anyway - MOAR pictures of the Europe please.

[Ratdat]

lol...my caravan only weighs 570kg laden! But then it is just a tad more... er, compact!

 

I'm off to Newark in the morning so I'll snap some pics of the Cherry tomorrow afternoon after it's had a clean and it's wheel centres and badges fitted. Super chuffed with it... I never thought I ever lay my hands on this particular car. Just goes to show...it's always worth asking! 

 

But for now, here's the funky green seats...

 

[Wilko220]

Apologies in advance - I'm probably well behind the times on this and everyone else already knows (hence not starting a new thread). But I have just learned that the "historic vehicle" exemption for road tax has been extended to all vehicles manufactured before Jan '74.

 

I learn this from the new, hip and happenin' Humber Club e-newsletter, "Humber Torque" (geddit?)...

 

 

 

The DVLA have now confirmed that the planned changes to historic vehicle road tax exemption are taking place with all Sceptres manufactured before 1st January 1974 being exempt from Road Tax from 1st April 2014.

1972/1973 Mk lll Sceptre owners need to complete a V70 form, the application to exchange a vehicle tax disc.

They then need to send the completed form with accompanying documentation to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1DZ,  Stephen Lewis the Club Historian will be able to validate the date of manufacture if required.

Tel: 0300 790 6802  
Website: www.gov.uk/exchange-tax-disc

It will be interesting to see if we have to wait another 16/17 years before the next change in historic vehicle road taxation to include Sceptres manufactured in 1975/1976, or will this be the start of a rolling 50 year exemption ?

 

Of course, mine was registered in '76.

 

 

"Bugger"

[TimothyClaypole]

There were people setting up at Newark on Saturday afternoon... how long does it take to throw a few bikes and assorted rubbish out of a Sprinter? 

 

 

(I was geeking it up selling some tat at a show at the Cedric Ford Pavillion). 

 

[beko1987]

501720151 1 Guttmann Oil Filter 1.86 1.86 Pending... 521772241 1 Shell Engine OilHelix HX7 AG 5w30 5Ltr 28.49 28.49 Pending... 363720071 1 Elring Sump Gasket 8.64 8.64 Pending... 333880020 1 Corteco Sump Plug 1.98 1.98 Pending... 360440010 1 Goetze Sump Plug Washer / Seal 0.23 0.23 Pending... 549771811 1 STP Engine Flush 450ml 2.99 2.99 Pending... 542770341 1 Pagid Brake Cleaner 5 Ltr 11.99 11.99 Pending... DELIVERY   GB Mainland 0.00   Total

56.18 (GBP)

 

 

 

Just need to book a day off work, get 5l of asda oil and the Meriva's blocked sump and sludging can be sorted!

[beko1987]

That didnt look as shit when I was typing the post... 

[wuvvum]

Not having much luck with the Beluga so far.  I removed the carb yesterday evening and took it to bits - sure enough the main jet was blocked solid with manky gunge, so I unblocked it with a pin and gave the rest of the carb a general clean up and degunge.  This morning I refitted it, pressed the starter button and nothing.  The bike fired straight up on Easystart but as soon as I stopped spraying it died. 

 

A bit of investigation revealed that there was no petrol getting through to the float bowl.  I assumed that one of the passages had got blocked again (as it were), so took the carb off again to have a look.  It turned out that it was the float valve which was closing off the petrol inlet - even just fitting the float bowl was lifting the floats up enough to close the valve.  Which struck me as rather bizarre, as it looked like it'd been that way from new.  Anyway, a bit of pissing about bending tabs and whatnot and it seemed to more or less be working again.  There's a strange little nubbin sticking up from the bottom of the float bowl on one side which lifts the float on that side further up than its opposite number, so I bent the assembly a bit so that that one sat higher anyway.

 

Put everything back together and refitted the carb to the bike - still nothing.  There was definitely petrol coming through this time, and I think the valve was still shutting off as nothing came pissing out round the knackered float bowl gasket.  I'm a bit stumped now - the only things I can think of are that the main jet isn't properly unblocked and isn't letting enough fuel through for the engine to run (it's hard to tell where the solidified 16-year-old pez ends and the jet begins), so I've left it soaking in carb cleaner for a while.  The only other thing is that there's some kind of autochoke mechanism hidden under a cover on top of the carb, and I can't get to that as the screws won't undo (my heart always sinks when I see Philips screws on an old Japanese bike, as they're invariably an arse to undo), but I wouldn't have thought that that would stop the rest of the carb doing its thing.  I even tried putting my hand across the mouth of the carb to act as a choke, but that didn't help either.

 

I can't seem to find any info online about the carb, or indeed any bits for it.  There's a secondhand one for sale on Frogbay for 25€, but that's about it.  Anyway, I've given up for now as it's far too fucking windy outside to be pissing around with bikes.

[hairnet]

I have two buyers already lined up, one in particular already has 3 of them including a stunning brown one that he's restored himself so he already processes fully fledged shite credentials, he wants it as a daily but needs to sell his ex police Focus first, it's like being in a house buying chain!

 

I've told him I'm after £600 no offers as I think it's worth that all day long, even with its shabby bits.

panda is looking as the nippa died

[trigger]

He hasn't killed it already has he?!

[Cavcraft]

Soz to sound patronising but given recent events, Bob, it's good to hear you've been able to tinker/do stuff.

[The Moog]

changed fuel filter on the xantia. And of course I now haz air leeks. Gr2.

 

Under full load the EML light comes on, so I still think the veg is too thick. Going to have to whip out in tank strainer again and check it is clean. Will attempt to syphon some of the veg out so I can mix it with dino juice. Next step is to replace all fuel lines and reseat filter housing to get rid of the air. if that doesn't work I might see if I can remove the plastic filter housing from the equation as it is always a pig to seal.

[cobblers]

Noticed my golf was sounding a little bit noisier lately, so I checked and there wasn't any gas coming out of the exhaust. On further inspection the side of the back box has fell off and all the wadding etc has fallen out:

 

 

It's a diesel so it's not backfired or owt so I'm at a loss as to why it's gone where it has, the rest of it is not that knackered. It's not really much louder, so I'm not in a rush to do anything about it until it threatens to fall off, then I'll probably just take it off altogether.

[saucedoctor]

It's maybe had a wee ding in it at the failure point. I had a relatively new (<1 year old) exhaust on a mark 4 Escort that did a similar thing.

[The Moog]

I have managed to get xantia running again. Removed all the jubilee clips and replaced with new ones. Removed and cleaned the filter housing. Used the end of a rubber glove in the water screw to seal that up as well. It seems to have stopped the air getting in.

 

On the downside i tried to adjust the clutch cable. It was at the top of its travel. Adjusting it has lowered it but nuts are right at the end of their travel. I think this means new clutch time. It isn't something i want to do myself so need to make a decision about whether to keep it or not.

 

It also needs a cambelt or to play cambelt roulette. The brakes are juddering so that needs looking at. Also an associated squeaking from front left although think this is brake related.

 

Decisions decisons....

[dollywobbler]

Doesn't sound like much of a decision to me, even though I love Citroens! Problem is, Xantia values seem super low at the moment.

[ruffgeezer]

I've just had someone wanting to knock me £250 off the Frontera "Because we would have to have the tape taken off the back and the bottom resprayed because my son doesn't like it so that is why I can't go any higher."

 

Since when is it the seller's problem for that sort of thing, I'm of the opinion that in the Sub- £1000 category, you don't get to be fussy, you go for what you can find that is (a) what you want and ( within budget.

[The Moog]

Doesn't sound like much of a decision to me.

 

 

that's not including rust appearing on door jamb and rusty speckles on the roof.

 

I find it incredibly boring but it is so competent. Plus missus loves it so she will fight to keep it. Although could get breadvans alfa

[wuvvum]

Had a poke around under the front end of the Stanza this afternoon and the front valance / crossmember doesn't seem to have suffered any significant damage - the very end of it has been bent back slightly where the bumper was pushed against it, but I can't see that being an issue to sort.  So it's really just the slam / headlight panel which needs straightening out.  I'm going to run the car up to my usual garage one evening this week and see if they reckon they can sort it.  The advantage is that none of the damaged bits are visible normally, so it doesn't have to be cosmetically perfect, it just needs to get everything lined up properly.

 

Unfortunately, the more I drive the bloody thing, the more I like it.  That wasn't supposed to happen - it was supposed to be an amusingly shit car that I was going to run around for a month or two to tick it off the list, tidy it up a bit and flog it on.  Problem is that apart from the handling (which is a bit lurchy but not as bad as contemporary road tests made out - although the wider Pirellis it now wears may have something to do with that), it's actually a bloody good car - it's comfy, it has a decent boot, it's fairly refined and so far it seems to be doing pretty well on petrol.  I like the way it feels to drive too - it has a kind of solid heavy feel to it.  It's also adequately quick for most situations I find myself in on the road - dithering old bats in Ford Fusions are despatched quickly and efficiently.  Even the looks are growing on me.

 

Realistically I'm going to have to end up flogging it anyway, but I wasn't expecting that I'd be sorry to see it go.

[r.welfare]

Did you score that new bumper in the end?

[Lankytim]

Spent much of today in the pissing rain rolling around on the floor under a poorly supported XM which i'm gutting before it goes for scrap next weekend. Most of the bits I want are already off but it has a nearly new clutch fitted, which are made from unobtainium and when they are available are very expensive. I had the idea of undoing all the subframe and engine mounts and getting the grab operator at the metal recyclers to lift the body off leaving the engine, gearbox and subframe behind to be dumped in my shed at home and stripped at leisure.

 

What will probably happen is I'll have forgotten to unbolt something, the engine and subframe will be lifted up with the body up to 30-40ft before breaking off and landing on my towcar. Absolutely 100% guaranteed.

[r.welfare]

Liquid crystal radio/trip computer display in the Toyota has been fading for the last couple of years and finally got to the point you couldn't see jack. Anyone know why this happens? Anyway, managed to score one on the Bay for a tenner plus post and half an hour of dismantling the centre stack on the dashboard and all is visible again.

[wuvvum]

Did you score that new bumper in the end?

Yep.  Not going to fit it until the panelwork is a bit straighter though.

[Wilko220]

I've just had someone wanting to knock me £250 off the Frontera "Because we would have to have the tape taken off the back and the bottom resprayed because my son doesn't like it so that is why I can't go any higher."

 

Since when is it the seller's problem for that sort of thing, I'm of the opinion that in the Sub- £1000 category, you don't get to be fussy, you go for what you can find that is (a) what you want and ( within budget.

Hilarious isn't it. I had someone ask me to knock £150 off a car I was selling once on the basis that he would have to travel a long way to collect it and would have to pay the train fare. I suggested he might want to find one closer to where he lived.

[mercrocker]

I blame the telly for making everybody think they are wheeler-dealers.   You just feel like saying....Its that much, that's how much I  want for it.  Feck off.

[dugong]

Hilarious isn't it. I had someone ask me to knock £150 off a car I was selling once on the basis that he would have to travel a long way to collect it and would have to pay the train fare. I suggested he might want to find one closer to where he lived.

 

As stated by all of the potential buyers for the GS. Even the winning bidder tried it. 

 

 

[catsinthewelder]

I have managed to get xantia running again. Removed all the jubilee clips and replaced with new ones. Removed and cleaned the filter housing. Used the end of a rubber glove in the water screw to seal that up as well. It seems to have stopped the air getting in.

 

On the downside i tried to adjust the clutch cable. It was at the top of its travel. Adjusting it has lowered it but nuts are right at the end of their travel. I think this means new clutch time. It isn't something i want to do myself so need to make a decision about whether to keep it or not.

 

It also needs a cambelt or to play cambelt roulette. The brakes are juddering so that needs looking at. Also an associated squeaking from front left although think this is brake related.

 

Decisions decisons....

 

If the clutch feels fine then I would be tempted to find a way of adjusting the clutch cable a bit further,  either a new cable or a bit of padding out.

 

My camper has 3 large nuts acting as spacing washers to give an extra 40mm or so (it has a very long clutch cable mind).

[dollywobbler]

Slightly alarmed by how close the postie wanted to park next to my cars this morning, especially given the state of his van!

 

The front bumper is held together with zip ties while most of the rear bumper seems to be missing.

[The Moog]

Made a decision about the xantia. I have decided to let it earn its clutch.

 

It comes in at around £350 so need to get through 583 litres of veg to get a new clutch. So about 12 tankfuls should see that earnt.

 

Happy with that solution i cleaned out in tank strainer again. Tightened up filter housing then managed to squeeze in 13 litres of dead dinosaurs in the tank.

 

Took it out for a long motorway thrash and now it seems to be a happy frenchie.

[scruff]

This morning I took a 1940 Austin 10 over to 'Available Austins' in Warwickshire, run by a chap called Bob Glenister. What a place, straight out of the '40s/'50s and brimmed with 8s, 10s, a 12 and enough bits to recreate a thirties Longbridge production line I should think. He's retiring (ish) soon and selling the place so I was pleased to get the chance to have a look round. Didn't get many pics but when I go back to pick the 10 up I will.

 

IMG_2220 by sparkright, on Flickr

[dollywobbler]

I like that your company sign is beige. Saving up to do an entire beige vinyl wrap on the cab? You'd get my business!*

 

* Caution. Business may not exist.