The new news 24 thread

[beko1987]

I've found that driving from tonbridge Wells to j15 of the m25 good for shaking out loose wheel bolts... 

Don't fully recommend it though, was quite lucky there wasn't a bike or smoll car next to it when it let go

[Split_Pin]

A lump hammer and a bit of wood on the inside of the wheel, rotating as you go has never failed for me. I managed to get HGV wheels off this way too.

[Zelandeth]

Does the brake pipe necessarily need to go over the tank?  Get some proper brake pipe clips and just reroute it to somewhere less awkward to get to?  Not sure if the NCT is strict enough as to disallow things like that though.

[andyberg]

The wonderful little micra I bought from @Cavcraft earlier this year has just passed her MOT. The only structural advise was very minor bit of rust on the offside sill, booked it to be sorted next month. Unfortunately was also advised the original dealer plates are a bit deteriorated so I may have to buy some special MOT only ones for next year. Very pleased with the car, it sips fuel and for such a small thing is really comfy and quiet to drive around. 

[LabRat]

Nearly 2 weeks later, the mg6 is finally roadworthy again! Ended up paying a mobile mechanic to come and do the job, £60 well spent in my books.

Its also sporting a nifty new Black Lion brand ditchfinder as the tyre on that side was utterly wrecked thanks to the spring taking bloody great lumps out of it... So shit Chinese tyre, for shite Chinese car. 

[beko1987]

I've done car things today! Not with my own car, don't be silly, that's not seen life for over a month... 

1.6 2004 golf, belongs to a neighbor and the smoll cooling fan was permanently running, and flattened the battery. We gave it a jump and after 0.004 seconds of googling worked out its probably the resistor pack and we pulled the 30a fuse which solved it. The big fan kicks in too as that's a different circuit so we called that fixed*

His work astra van with the ever so reliable 6 speed manual has shat 4th gear too, conveniently  after he had it rebuilt to repair the 6th gear eating itself issues... 

Was a nicer 35 minutes than working anyway! 

[Split_Pin]

Big shout out to @Burnside for sending me an intact plastic scuttle panel for the Cavalier. These are incredibly  brittle and break easily. The old one had split along its entire width and was almost certainly letting in water.

A replacement wiper linkage also arrived today also. The old one had a large amount of play in the nearside spindle, allowing the bottom part of the wiper arm to spring up and the bonnet clouted every time it was lifted.  All nice and tight now, new washer pump has power although water tightness still to be tested.

 

[Fumbler]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114192913894?epid=1162420221&hash=item1a966d95e6:g:ZPsAAOSwo4pYdGh8

Finally found a carburettor that'll fit my car. Basically an exact clone of what's currently on it but it's in stock in the UK and is affordable. I might just buy it now. I bought it.

[Fumbler]

...On closer inspection the new carburettor doesn't have the securing bolt location for the air intake hose so I'm faced with either modifying the one on the car (which is already broken) or swapping the new carburettor's choke and lid with the old one. Modifying the hose is at least easy to do because it's plastic. I don't really want to fanny around with changing the float bowl needle, float and whatnot, so modifying the intake it is.

All* I need to do is make a cone piece to create a friction fit/seal with the neck of the carb. This'll certainly be better than what's currently in place as the intake hose is warped and is letting unfiltered air straight in on one side.

[bunglebus]

Had one of those "they've changed something in the Matrix" moments today. Walked past a black Picanto and it caught my eye due to bright green bits, and an AA card holder in the windscreen. Then another identical one behind it. Then a third, all the same in a row. Just a normal residential street with a row of shops

 

[beko1987]

Would be even funnier if one owner plips his key and they all unlock... 

[PhilA]

Small brass parts of a car clock; one tooth (left of the out of focus pin at the top) is filed ever so slightly too big and likes to catch.

I need to get a tiny diamond file and reprofile it.

Then hopefully the clock won't randomly stop.

Phil

[dollywobbler]

 

45 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Had one of those "they've changed something in the Matrix" moments today. Walked past a black Picanto and it caught my eye due to bright green bits, and an AA card holder in the windscreen. Then another identical one behind it. Then a third, all the same in a row. Just a normal residential street with a row of shops

 

Love the 'French lacquer peel' effect on the bonnet.

[Jamie]

Just popped up on face ache. Thought of you lot lol 

[Stanky]

1 hour ago, Fumbler said:

...On closer inspection the new carburettor doesn't have the securing bolt location for the air intake hose so I'm faced with either modifying the one on the car (which is already broken) or swapping the new carburettor's choke and lid with the old one. Modifying the hose is at least easy to do because it's plastic. I don't really want to fanny around with changing the float bowl needle, float and whatnot, so modifying the intake it is.

All* I need to do is make a cone piece to create a friction fit/seal with the neck of the carb. This'll certainly be better than what's currently in place as the intake hose is warped and is letting unfiltered air straight in on one side.

What does it need exactly? Would either a silicone hose elbow or a piece of rubber strap work? I assume the intake comes over the top and then goes through a 90 degree turn down the barrel of the carb? What is the diameter of the carb barrel and the diameter of the intake hose?

Something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224464982346?hash=item344327d14a:g:N-cAAOSw3-BgdE1v

with a reducer from intake hose diameter to carb barrel diameter, plus a plain ali connector like:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222224898335?epid=1347460992&hash=item33bda2d91f:g:UDMAAOSwNphcD5xh

measure the stock intake hose, match the ali connector to that, then get a 90 degree reducing elbow to match the ali connector diameter to the carb barrel diameter.

[hairnet]

35 minutes ago, PhilA said:

Small brass parts of a car clock; one tooth (left of the out of focus pin at the top) is filed ever so slightly too big and likes to catch.

I need to get a tiny diamond file and reprofile it.

Then hopefully the clock won't randomly stop.

Phil

you are mr rolex and i claim my 5 swiss francs

[EightMegs]

A night soaking in WD40 got my wheels off the hubs, thankfully. I moved on to trying to get the knackered brake line loose. Not only was that clip very brittle, but the bolt going through it was completely mangled by either road salt or someone attacking it before me. It ended up getting dark as I was trying to get the brake pipe over the fuel tank, it feels like it's snagging on something.

[brownnova]

My evening involved... 

Moving my friend’s Zafira to his new house. It’s misfiring (looks likely to be an ECU fault) and has been off the road a while, so needed towing. So we borrowed an A-Frame and proceeded to tow it with his 4x4... but this is Wales so there were hills... which was erm... fun. 

[Fumbler]

18 minutes ago, Stanky said:

What does it need exactly? Would either a silicone hose elbow or a piece of rubber strap work? I assume the intake comes over the top and then goes through a 90 degree turn down the barrel of the carb? What is the diameter of the carb barrel and the diameter of the intake hose?

Something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224464982346?hash=item344327d14a:g:N-cAAOSw3-BgdE1v

with a reducer from intake hose diameter to carb barrel diameter, plus a plain ali connector like:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222224898335?epid=1347460992&hash=item33bda2d91f:g:UDMAAOSwNphcD5xh

measure the stock intake hose, match the ali connector to that, then get a 90 degree reducing elbow to match the ali connector diameter to the carb barrel diameter.

It's this:

It's basically a flat U shape which incorporates the crankcase vent and an intake manifold vent.
On the carburettor side, there's a rubber flange on the carb neck which butts up to the intake hose thing. A seal is made via bolting it to the carb with a 10mm bolt. On the air filter side, the U piece slides over and is held in place with friction. The weird thing is that I haven't found this type of U piece on other cars using the TU3 engine. This type of carburettor was also used on the AX whose intake has a rubber cone fitted to the U piece to provide a strong connection and seal. This A: makes air filter replacement wholly toolless and B: is just a better idea for longevity. Trouble is, I can't find a single one anywhere!

The new carburettor doesn't have the bolt leading to a small issue with securely fitting the air intake to it. As my current intake is warped and broken, I think I may be able to get away with modifying it. It shouldn't be all that hard to do.

Failing that, I'll measure the bonnet clearances and see if something like what you suggested works.

[PhilA]

2 hours ago, hairnet said:

you are mr rolex and i claim my 5 swiss francs

Maybe. The file I made, sitting next to a 1.8mm screwdriver.

It seems to have made an improvement, I see why it's doing what it's doing and it's doing it less now. 

Slowly slowly catchy monkey.

[BorniteIdentity]

8 hours ago, brownnova said:

My evening involved... 

Moving my friend’s Zafira to his new house. It’s misfiring (looks likely to be an ECU fault) and has been off the road a while, so needed towing. So we borrowed an A-Frame and proceeded to tow it with his 4x4... but this is Wales so there were hills... which was erm... fun. 

These early Zafiras are starting to look very tasty indeed. I did try to find a nice one last year but they are cars that get the shit crayoned out of them by kids and happy meals. 

Really need to find one owned by a practical retired type who wanted the extra boot space for tip runs and garden centre visits. 

Get your mate signed up 😉 

[sierraman]

20 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

These early Zafiras are starting to look very tasty indeed. I did try to find a nice one last year but they are cars that get the shit crayoned out of them by kids and happy meals. 

Really need to find one owned by a practical retired type who wanted the extra boot space for tip runs and garden centre visits. 

Get your mate signed up 😉 

Have you driven one? Awful to sit in.

[beko1987]

When my mum met my stepdad he had a v reg Zafira as his current company car. Had a couple more A's before a few B's and the A's were always more comfy, especially as he chose boggo spec cars bar his insistence on only owning red cars, so they were all flame red and velour (no sport shit) . 

Bar the back 2 seats, fuck those seats

[brownnova]

1 hour ago, BorniteIdentity said:

These early Zafiras are starting to look very tasty indeed. I did try to find a nice one last year but they are cars that get the shit crayoned out of them by kids and happy meals. 

Really need to find one owned by a practical retired type who wanted the extra boot space for tip runs and garden centre visits. 

Get your mate signed up 😉 

I’ve been eying this one quietly as it has festered on the driveway... 1.8 petrol automatic though! Needs a few hundred quid spending but it’s in decent condition otherwise! 

[Royale80]

Took a visit to Aberdovey yesterday to pick up a load of Royale spares-many thanks Dave! Will take me a few weeks to sort them out-totally filled the wifes focus estate!

[junkyarddog]

Nice 3 rail Honrby turntable too.

[dozeydustman]

I wasn’t needed for jury service yet again, so I’ve rented a BROWN* VAN

*may be another colour but I’m colourblind

Verdict. Uncomfortable, clutch and throttle are digital and the brakes are snatchy. Transits are better.

 

[Bren]

4 hours ago, Stevebrookman said:

Took a visit to Aberdovey yesterday to pick up a load of Royale spares-many thanks Dave! Will take me a few weeks to sort them out-totally filled the wifes focus estate!

A beautiful part of the world.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

18 hours ago, Jamie said:

Just popped up on face ache. Thought of you lot lol 

Wasn't me.

[Royale80]

12 minutes ago, Bren said:

A beautiful part of the world.

It is-never been before-but will definitely return to the area! Aberdovey beach yesterday.