The new news 24 thread

[Six-cylinder]

15 hours ago, junkyarddog said:

Found this in my late uncle's garage. 

Think he had in his VW bay window camper.

I had few windscreens break back when they were toughened.  The glass crazed so you couldn't see out and had to push a vision hole though. Sunglasses on, wind in your hair except the tiny bits of glass that blew back were terrible. I never had a temporary windscreen but had thought about it.

[stuboy]

Got bored so chopped up the mondeos old bumpers for recycling.... I'm supposed to be resting... ha ha ha

[HarmonicCheeseburger]

Could I use a e10 stablizer on 2.0 VVTI Avensis Mk1 to run e10 fuel should e5 be discontinued?

[RoverFolkUs]

29 minutes ago, HarmonicCheeseburger said:

Could I use a e10 stablizer on 2.0 VVTI Avensis Mk1 to run e10 fuel should e5 be discontinued?

When they say it's incompatible, it was a kneejerk reaction because they don't know if it will be ok because it wasn't intended to be used with E10. Compared to vehicles sold more widely in countries with E10 and so they were designed to be ok with it. 

Most early GDI engines are just marked as incompatible. It could cause problems with the aluminium components in the fuel injection system, partly because E10 is more hygroscopic than E5. 

Realistically it would probably be ok on E10 but fuel stabilizers would be the best thing you can do. 

I don't think E5 will be going anywhere anytime soon though. Not in the remaining lifespan of a GDI MK1 Avensis anyway!

[bunglebus]

Don't know if everyone can see the Facebook link but this Nissan Cashcow got hit by an exploding propane cylinder while in lane three

https://www.facebook.com/100064402523349/posts/pfbid0qY9f1noXiPVLkQsqJfaWGuLWEGtjrsY6KXctExS3BMGKunmaXjfC4WRNZDGrQaAal/?sfnsn=scwspmo

[RichardK]

Grandma died. She's taken her time with it so I've been a  bit on edge for the past couple of months, but as with all emotional things to process my solution is to buy a vehicle.

And then a less direct family member gets a stage 4 diagnosis. FFS.

[83C]

On 5/12/2023 at 8:24 AM, SiC said:

Mallard was running a heavier trainset than the 05 002. They also had to slow down for railworks. Another speed run was scheduled but WW2 broke out before they had a chance and it was cancelled.

Far more Type A4 were produced than the Class 05 and in regular scheduled high speed operations for a long time.  

So just saying.

 

On 5/12/2023 at 9:43 AM, Metal Guru said:

Germans in 1936 wouldn’t have made anything up , would they? I mean I’m sure Hitler would have been quite content with them having the second fastest train and the engineers involved wouldn’t have tweeked the results in case they were rewarded with a stay in a holiday camp near the Polish  border.

I’m very much with @SiC on the A4s being the better machine overall, the 3 05s were an experiment for high speed steam locos whilst the 35 A4s were a regular production class based on an existing and highly successful design, and undoubtedly with more favourable conditions could have run faster. Certainly regular 100mph+ running was achieved, and SNG holds the postwar record at an authenticated 112.5mph. It would have been great to see what an A4 in ex-works condition with the K.J. Cooke improvements to the valve gear, fully streamlined and with track in good condition would have been capable of. 

That said, it shouldn’t detract from the 05s being a very good attempt at the record, and 124.5mph is nothing to be sniffed at. I’ve not heard of any evidence of the figures being massaged to please the Führer, though it isn’t impossible. 

There is a group in America building a replica of a Pennsylvania Railroad T1, and one of their aims is to beat Mallard’s record. Be interesting to see if they can do it.

[320touring]

Things I have learned whilst working on the Oxford yesterday:

 

You need 4 things for an engine to run- spark, air, fuel and COMPRESSION. the last of these can be achieved by ensuring that the spark plugs are tight.

 

That 35 year old drive belt won't tension, even with the dynamo at the limit of its adjustment.

 

The car, once fired, will only continue to run if you re-attach the positive wire to the fuel pump. 

 

The fusebox is fitted with an anti-theft device Thatchcam would be proud of. Waggling it may allow for some contact, and an ignition light. Learning the skill of the correct waggle is akin to becoming a master of a martial art, such is the control and finesse required.

 

New spark plug leads come with a fibre core - using some sort of voodoo witchcraft to shove the electrons from coil to cap, and then onto plugs. I only fitted a new king lead, and could feel my flat cap forefathers looking down in disappointment.

 

It's a fucking ace car and the happiest of all mechanical things whilst running.

 

[Yoss]

On 5/12/2023 at 8:24 AM, SiC said:

Mallard was running a heavier trainset than the 05 002. They also had to slow down for railworks. Another speed run was scheduled but WW2 broke out before they had a chance and it was cancelled.

Far more Type A4 were produced than the Class 05 and in regular scheduled high speed operations for a long time.  

So just saying.

Surely a heavier train going downhill would not be a hindrance? 

On 5/12/2023 at 9:43 AM, Metal Guru said:

Germans in 1936 wouldn’t have made anything up , would they? I mean I’m sure Hitler would have been quite content with them having the second fastest train and the engineers involved wouldn’t have tweeked the results in case they were rewarded with a stay in a holiday camp near the Polish  border.

There would have been no need to massage the figures at that point as it was two years before Mallard did it's run so they already had the record. 

4 hours ago, 83C said:

 

I’m very much with @SiC on the A4s being the better machine overall, the 3 05s were an experiment for high speed steam locos whilst the 35 A4s were a regular production class based on an existing and highly successful design, and undoubtedly with more favourable conditions could have run faster. Certainly regular 100mph+ running was achieved, and SNG holds the postwar record at an authenticated 112.5mph. It would have been great to see what an A4 in ex-works condition with the K.J. Cooke improvements to the valve gear, fully streamlined and with track in good condition would have been capable of. 

That said, it shouldn’t detract from the 05s being a very good attempt at the record, and 124.5mph is nothing to be sniffed at. I’ve not heard of any evidence of the figures being massaged to please the Führer, though it isn’t impossible. 

There is a group in America building a replica of a Pennsylvania Railroad T1, and one of their aims is to beat Mallard’s record. Be interesting to see if they can do it.

I'll admit I don't really know enough about either to make an informed decision, I just knew there was enough evidence to at least make an argument out of it. 

I'll also admit I don't really do steam, I prefer a big diesel but I saw 05 001 at the railway museum in Nürnberg in about 1986 and was impressed by its sheer size. So much so that I have a model of it in my loft. One of the few steam locos I own. And the other three are all German too so I might be a bit biased. 

The A4s are certainly more elegant, this is more like streamlined brutalism but it certainly makes an impression. 

I also sometimes wonder where we would be now had diesel and electric not been a thing and they spent a further 70 years refining steam. What would a modern steam loco look like, or had they pretty much reached their pinnacle in the 1950s? But with a combination of modern materials and electronics what would we have now? Steam and electronics don't sound like they would go together but an oil fired loco could probably pretty much drive itself with modern control systems. 

[RoverFolkUs]

7 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Don't know if everyone can see the Facebook link but this Nissan Cashcow got hit by an exploding propane cylinder while in lane three

https://www.facebook.com/100064402523349/posts/pfbid0qY9f1noXiPVLkQsqJfaWGuLWEGtjrsY6KXctExS3BMGKunmaXjfC4WRNZDGrQaAal/?sfnsn=scwspmo

Jeepers Christ, imagine if the Qashqai was 2 feet further ahead than it was and there was a passenger on that side..

[83C]

1 hour ago, Yoss said:

Surely a heavier train going downhill would not be a hindrance? 

There would have been no need to massage the figures at that point as it was two years before Mallard did it's run so they already had the record. 

I'll admit I don't really know enough about either to make an informed decision, I just knew there was enough evidence to at least make an argument out of it. 

I'll also admit I don't really do steam, I prefer a big diesel but I saw 05 001 at the railway museum in Nürnberg in about 1986 and was impressed by its sheer size. So much so that I have a model of it in my loft. One of the few steam locos I own. And the other three are all German too so I might be a bit biased. 

The A4s are certainly more elegant, this is more like streamlined brutalism but it certainly makes an impression. 

I also sometimes wonder where we would be now had diesel and electric not been a thing and they spent a further 70 years refining steam. What would a modern steam loco look like, or had they pretty much reached their pinnacle in the 1950s? But with a combination of modern materials and electronics what would we have now? Steam and electronics don't sound like they would go together but an oil fired loco could probably pretty much drive itself with modern control systems. 

The best of the 1980’s:

South African Railway’s sole Class 26, 3450. Modified from a 25NC 4-8-4 by David Wardale in the SAR workshops. His work on modern steam is well worth a look, especially the ACE3000 concept.

[AnnoyingPentium]

The trailer got used for the first time this year. Had some lawnmowers to bring from my Granda's as our garden is a substantial headache due to the area of it. Skoda earned its keep nicely today.

[wuvvum]

3 hours ago, Yoss said:

What would a modern steam loco look like

[Yoss]

27 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

That's not modern, that's just new. Not saying it's not a great feat of engineering but they just recreated something that once existed but had all been scrapped. Again, using the word 'just' doesn't do justice to the feat but I mean what if everybody had continued to develop the steam loco for the last 70 years. It's just something I ponder from time to time. 

[Asimo]

Truly modern steam?

Nuclear kettle, steam turbine, electric transmission.

[JakeT]

Recently, I went on holiday. (Hooray). Took the stena line overnight from Harwich to Hoek Van Holland. The Amsterdam, Hamburg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Malmö, Hanover, Ghent, and finally the Chunnel home. I’ll spare too many boring details, but show the shite spotted on the trip.

 E30 and a DS boarding the boat. Already off to a good start.

 

Drove at speed, as is customary in Germany. Stops me speeding on the road here. Nearing 200k but will still pull to the limiter at 155.

https://jtongue.com/images/Images/IMG_0195.MOV
 

Hamburg is the home of old taxis it seems. W124, S124, and a W126! Surprisingly exciting.

Got stopped by undercover customs in Germany. They were pleasant enough.

Old Volvo spot, weathered and all the better for it.

 

Why do additional lights look so right? I want a V70.

 

A meet of old American stuff in Copenhagen.

 

One that made me squeal. A Lupo 3L! Not a lupo with a big engine, more a Lupo that would do 3L/100km. Lots of trick upgrades.

 

A Porsche. Not shite, but I have a big thing for Pre-euro plates. This Porsche wearing ‘old’ German plates. Germany changed to their current style in 1994, but owners could choose old style plates until 1999, when they were no longer allowed. Means this Porsche has been owned since 1999, probably before. 
 

 

[4wheeledstool]

Tried out my spot welder this morning. 

Should save a fair bit of time. 😁

[Bren]

Found myself looking on ebay. At maserati.

They seem a bargain but then I remembered hgf cost £6k to repair.

[Popsicle]

About a year ago I upgraded the stereo in the couriering Caddy to a DAB+ unit from newer VW stuff, it works pretty well, but one major annoyance is when my dashcam is charging the DAB and FM signal goes to shit. VW in their infinite wisdom built the aerial into the top of the front windscreen and the DAB aerial I fitted was the windscreen type too. Moving the dashcam to the bottom of the windscreen improved signal strength, but it was still poor when the dashcam was charging. I've fitted a couple of ferrite cores to the cable, but it only gave a slight improvement. So I left the dashcam unplugged for a few months, Mrs Popsicle goes mad at me for doing this (long story), I promised her on my return to couriering that I would always have a dashcam fitted.

So another solution was required, particularly with the Ashes starting next month! Picked up a cheapo DAB and FM roof mount aerial with signal booster, I also needed a couple of extra cables to make it fit the back of the stereo.

So dropped the roof lining in the back, measured 20 times and drilled once, seems to be in the middle.

Professional use of insulation tape and cable ties.

One tube of silicon sealant later....

Lots of swearing, scrapped knuckles and broken trim clips later.....

Tentatively plugged the dashcam back in and went for a drive, remarkably for something I've done it seems to be working perfectly.

I'm sure the back of the van will be soaking next time it rains and the battery will probably be flat tomorrow as I've wired it up wrong, but for tonight I am an auto electrical and hole drilling roughly in the middle of the roof genius 👍!

[puddlethumper]

Classic car show at the Cardiff city stadium is on today. Shame I won't see any of it as I have to go back to Brighton to help move the circus. ☹️

[NorfolkNWeigh]

38 minutes ago, puddlethumper said:

Classic car show at the Cardiff city stadium is on today. Shame I won't see any of it as I have to go back to Brighton to help move the circus. ☹️

I went to Brighton one day last week , that must be the biggest slide out caravan in the World, presumably the owners’s.

[artdjones]

18 hours ago, Yoss said:

What would a modern steam loco look like, or had they pretty much reached their pinnacle in the 1950s?

This was the most powerful locomotive in Europe up to the late 50s. Of any form of motive power.5000hp,  equal to  the best American 4-8-4s which were much larger.

A Deltic, which was the most powerful BR diesel loco for quite a long time is 3300hp. The designer had plans for much more powerful locomotives even than this, but the decision had already been made to scrap steam. In fact, 242A1 was a bit of an embarrassment to the railway authorities in France, as it called into question their modernization plans, and the loco was quietly cut up in 1960.

[ruffgeezer]

Picked up some fresh reading material for downtime at work;  almost a complete run of CCC from 1992 to 1996 and a few from each side too,  also a box of mid 90s Car Mechanics which I've yet to sort through.

[PicantoJon]

http://advanced-steam.org/5at/

These guys tried to gather funds to build a modern steam engine but scrapped the idea, their website is still a good read. 

 

[richardmorris]

Took the x1/9 down to frensham ponds this morning for a walk. Nice drive there and back.

[SiC]

Pulled the TT out of storage earlier as it's off to visit the Wizard of Wellington for an exhaust fix. Currently sounds like a right rudeboi with an almost straight through exhaust.
I'll be glad to have it back in rotation as I don't like taking the Boxster to the train station. It's already picked up a scuff on the back quarter that wasn't there earlier this year.



I really ought to pull this back out and give it some use. Hopefully once the Dolomite is down here then it should be a bit easier. I don't like leaving it outside as it does leak water in and risks ruining it.


This mess also really needs sorting. There are four Dolomite seats that are for a 1300/1500 and no use for my Sprint! Feels a bit of a waste to chuck them but I can't be arsed with the hassle of selling them.

[320touring]

Had a bit of a decent weekend car wise so far- getting things done to the cars I own for once..

 

Spent Friday night getting the Oxford back into the position of being the "turn key" spares car.

Elgrand washed,  fueled, emptied of shite and tyres done ready for @stereotype to borrow it again.

Golf battery out and on charge, alternator belt tightened. Battery clamp cleaned, primed and pentit. It's now the defacto Daily driver, and is on station duty.

Took the wheel for the 807 to @sdkrc, and got it fitted. I bought it off hime a while back but lent it back to him due to the Alfa having a hissy fit.

Also managed to buy a bargain strimmer (£17.60!) So the grass got its first cut of the year.

Nae bad progress.

[RoverFolkUs]

I know a lot of you folk get on really well* with printers, so this news is bound to go down a treat if your printer is affected by this 🥴

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/hp-printer-block-unofficial-cartridge-29959820?

[ruffgeezer]

Took the V50 to work today for an extra shift, thought I'd give the brakes at the back service;  first wheel off shows that the caliper was or is seized, not badly enough to cause it to overheat the discs in use, but bad enough that I don't want to risk it for it's mot.  Which is tomorrow afternoon after I come off of shift.  Oh bollocks.

[brownnova]

Went to the Wirral classic car show today. Only took one picture. 

Not because there wasn’t a really good range of chod there, there was - it was a lovely show! But it was busy, very busy. Took 45 mins to escape the car park!

It was also Chumly/Cholmondoerlingerly today… totally missed that!