The new news 24 thread

[Jazoli]

1 minute ago, JJ0063 said:

I made a thread (deleted it as changed our mind) and virtually everyone said they either didn’t have one or they’re shit / expensive

Weird, ours costs us around a pound a washload to run, and was only 200 quid to buy, but I guess the hive mind has spoken.

[RetroShite]

2 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

I made a thread (deleted it as changed our mind) and virtually everyone said they either didn’t have one or they’re shit / expensive

Tumble dryers are ace, fuck using the peasant version out in public.

[JJ0063]

1 minute ago, Jazoli said:

Weird, ours costs us around a pound a washload to run, and was only 200 quid to buy, but I guess the hive mind has spoken.

May reevaluate, I like the idea of it as I fucking hate having damp washing hanging round the house for days on end in the winter trying to get it all dry.

[Talbot]

13 hours ago, brownnova said:

the DOT mark caught my eye… 1800… that’s a 23 year old tyre! One other was also old at 2003. So I didn’t fancy blezzing down the M6 on them!

As long as they are not cracked or rock hard, they'll be fine!

[RoverFolkUs]

6 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

May reevaluate, I like the idea of it as I fucking hate having damp washing hanging round the house for days on end in the winter trying to get it all dry.

If it's considered peasantry to be using a public tumble drier then you might as well just not bother doing any washing 😂

[RoverFolkUs]

If only tyres were made to last 23 years nowadays! 

5 year old continentals on a Citroen C1, failed it's MOT the other day on perish cracking down to the cords and a "pimple" type bulge 😐

[High Jetter]

34 minutes ago, JJ0063 said:

30 mins later at a cost of £7 the whole lot was bone dry.

HFM? Nearly twice the price (if not more) of a traditional launderette. 

[brownnova]

Our tumble dryer broke last weekend… we’re not sure how we ever coped without one! We went to the laundrette and all the dryers were in use! Every radiator has washing on… 

37 minutes ago, Talbot said:

As long as they are not cracked or rock hard, they'll be fine!

They’re neither, and that’s why I never checked the date codes…. But implicitly I now do not trust them after having an old tyre blow at 65 on the M5 (in a Talbot Express) which showed no signs of being fallible in any way beforehand.

In tyres as in condoms old rubber just isn’t worth the risk… 

[High Jetter]

6 minutes ago, brownnova said:

Our tumble dryer broke last weekend… we’re not sure how we ever coped without one! We went to the laundrette and all the dryers were in use!

How very dare they! Surely your failing appliance should have contacted them and insisted their regular weekly customers vacate the machines immediately for your exclusive use!

Honestly, I get this all the time, you're not alone.

[brownnova]

The real frustrating part was how we drove past and none of the dryers were in use, but by the time we’d parked, got some change  and got the washing out all four were being used 😂😂

[High Jetter]

4 minutes ago, brownnova said:

The real frustrating part was how we drove past and none of the dryers were in use, but by the time we’d parked, got some change  and got the washing out all four were being used 😂😂

Yup, it happens. Can be empty for a couple of hours, then everyone comes in at once. No way of getting round that, sadly.

[wuvvum]

This morning I gave the Z4 a quick hoover out, and plugged in the Delphi to see what fault codes were showing - it came up with various codes for intermittent misfires, plus a couple of sensor codes.  Cleared the codes and fired it up and other than being a bit spluttery for the first few seconds it was fine.  Took it for a spin up the coast road and the EML stayed off, so that's good.  It is going to need the front shocks doing sooner rather than later though - on dodgy bits of road the front gets rather bouncy.  I was hoping to put it off until the spring but I think I might have to bring that forward somewhat. The steering was noticeably less sticky today, which I was pleased about. 

This evening I used the folding electric scooter for its intended purpose for the first time, riding it the 8 miles to Wroxham station to pick the Getz up from where I'd dumped it yesterday morning to catch the train to Devon.  It's actually happier on NSL A-roads than on badly surfaced back lanes, and it hummed happily along at 23mph all the way (apart from a couple of slight hills which knocked a few mph off).  I'm not sure I'd be happy riding it along the same roads at peak times, but in the evening when there's not much traffic it's fine.

Didn't get much else done - I was rather late getting up as I was somewhat tired from yesterday's mission - but I did have a quick look at the Honda Elite I bought last weekend to see whether the engine was free - the starter button wasn't doing anything but with the jump leads connected and a screwdriver across the starter solenoid terminals it turned over - rather slowly, but then it's probably not moved for 15 years or so.  It seemed to have compression too, so it looks like I've got a spare engine in case the Spacy ever blows up...

[ruffgeezer]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

This morning I gave the Z4 a quick hoover out, and plugged in the Delphi to see what fault codes were showing - it came up with various codes for intermittent misfires, plus a couple of sensor codes.  Cleared the codes and fired it up and other than being a bit spluttery for the first few seconds it was fine.  Took it for a spin up the coast road and the EML stayed off, so that's good.  It is going to need the front shocks doing sooner rather than later though - on dodgy bits of road the front gets rather bouncy.  I was hoping to put it off until the spring but I think I might have to bring that forward somewhat.

This evening I used the folding electric scooter for its intended purpose for the first time, riding it the 8 miles to Wroxham station to pick the Getz up from where I'd dumped it yesterday morning to catch the train to Devon.  It's actually happier on NSL A-roads than on badly surfaced back lanes, and it hummed happily along at 23mph all the way (apart from a couple of slight hills which knocked a few mph off).  I'm not sure I'd be happy riding it along the same roads at peak times, but in the evening when there's not much traffic it's fine.

Didn't get much else done - I was rather late getting up as I was somewhat tired from yesterday's mission - but I did have a quick look at the Honda Elite I bought last weekend to see whether the engine was free - the starter button wasn't doing anything but with the jump leads connected and a screwdriver across the starter solenoid terminals it turned over - rather slowly, but then it's probably not moved for 15 years or so.  It seemed to have compression too, so it looks like I've got a spare engine in case the Spacy ever blows up...

Whikst you are keeping busy, when did you want to pop over for this Velofax?  😁

[Pat Earrings]

On 11/11/2023 at 22:04, Conrad D. Conelrad said:

I needed a new car, and my list of requirements were: automatic, not silver. So I bought this:

I love it to bits. The collection was uneventful except for an agonising 2½ hour wait for the bank transfer to come through (it was flagged as fraudulent but the bank didn't think it was worth telling me this). It's only a 1.8, but it doesn't feel nearly as sluggish as I'd anticipated. It also has some fancy-ass optional extras, including metallic paint, cruise control, ABS and leather upholstery with armrest and ruffled map pockets. I dread to think how much that lot added to the cost in 1991! Anyone got a price list?

A few jobs are required. I was happy to see it came with a Bluetooth radio, but it turns out to be a vintage one which can only do phone calls over Bluetooth, not music. So that was replaced as a priority. There's a little oil leak from the rocker cover (advised on the last MOT) which shouldn't be difficult to rectify. The boot is damp which really needs sorting ASAP because I hate a boot you can't leave a coat in. It runs beautifully except when first started (hot or cold) it runs rough until the throttle is blipped. If you start it with the throttle pressed slightly it doesn't do it. I don't know much about these engines or the injection system, so I have a bit of learning to do. 

It's delightful. 

This look gorgeous and takes me back to mine I had about 10 years ago when values were rock bottom. Mine was also the same engine and never felt underpowered. That rough start is probably the OVP relay iirc? Had to replace mine. Sold it to a chap who flew from Scotland to buy it but looked over it with a fine tooth comb for the princely sum of £750! I remember the fuel filler cap feeling so heavyweight, almost as if it was made from billet aluminium or something. Cracking purchase 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

8 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

I made a thread (deleted it as changed our mind) and virtually everyone said they either didn’t have one or they’re shit / expensive

We have a washer/dryer combi.  It's not as good as a dedicated tumble dryer but when it comes to doing bedding and other bits and pieces it's brilliant and only takes up one space in the kitchen.  Whack it in, set it to wash and dry and a few hours later you have clean, dry bedding that can go straight back onto the bed.  Same for towels.  We don't use it for our clothes much but for those bulk items I wouldn't be without it.

 

[RetroShite]

Got some fantastic shite for this week's raffle!

 

[Split_Pin]

A modern tumble tryer costs little to run. I have mine on most days and even through the crazy energy prices last winter it bore little impact. Also, they're impossible to kill as there is very little to them and are therefore so easy to fix. Mine is like Triggers broom these days. One time the drum jammed on some clothing and burned out the belt. I stuck a new one on and discovered that the drum was no longer round and made a bit of a noise but over time it just sort of went back into shape and it's fine now 😂

If you really want to save money and space, fuck off your dishwasher if you have one. Totally unnecessary in my opinion and they use a lot of energy (and water). One came with my house when I moved in 12 years ago and it was the first thing to get hunted. I remember I gave it away to this wee man who had a mountain of a wife who took a massive shit in our downstairs toilet as he and I were manhandling the dishwasher into his car.

[EyesWeldedShut]

Tumble drier - we have a Beko Condenser one, big drum, cheap to run so long as you clean the filters out properly (otherwise the damp seems to sit in the drum). Can handle even delicate stuff that the heating type of driers kill - make sure its a condensing one.

[Wilko220]

A bit lo-fi maybe, but I've just got a couple of these and they do me fine

[Coprolalia]

We now have two kids and a dryer is great for dealing with sheets, clothes and all sorts that toddlers get through in a day.

Having said that we actually wouldn't be without our dehumidifier. Basically put three airers up in the spare room with the ancient dehumidifier I picked up for £30 on gumtree with the probably no longer legal refrigerant. After 12 hours the washing is dry. It costs pennies to run relative to the tumble dryer. It also dries the room and house (no damp), and the waste heat warms the room. 

So I would recommend a decent dehumidifier over a dryer.

[TheOtherStu]

We played the "buy cheap, buy twice" mantra a couple of years back and spent proper money on a Samsung washer and dryer.
With washers, we kept buying Beko, Candy and the like, then wondering why they only lasted 3 years before the motor burnt out or the board fried.

As above, kept playing the triggers broom with the condenser dryer, replacing parts, new condenser (they get gummed up and there's only so much you can do with them).
Ripped it apart a few times - you'd be surprised how gummed up the rest of the internals get. Replaced some internal parts a few times and so on, so that lasted 10 years.

The dryer is a heat pump based one, so uses hardly any electric.

[beko1987]

I've got a lake land heated airer with a cover and it's been fab. Got no room for a tumble dryer, whereas this sits in the corner of my bedroom making it warm! 

I've got it plumbed into my Home Assistant too with some bodgery and it cycles on and off on a timer so it doesn't sit and run all day long (don't need clothes dry that fast 🤣)

In the summer it's folded flat and put away 

[JakeT]

1 hour ago, TheOtherStu said:

We played the "buy cheap, buy twice" mantra a couple of years back and spent proper money on a Samsung washer and dryer.
With washers, we kept buying Beko, Candy and the like, then wondering why they only lasted 3 years before the motor burnt out or the board fried.

As above, kept playing the triggers broom with the condenser dryer, replacing parts, new condenser (they get gummed up and there's only so much you can do with them).
Ripped it apart a few times - you'd be surprised how gummed up the rest of the internals get. Replaced some internal parts a few times and so on, so that lasted 10 years.

The dryer is a heat pump based one, so uses hardly any electric.

I’d agree with this. We have a Miele washing machine and tumble dryer. Both of them cost a truly stupid amount of money in 2008, but are still in use now and the washing machine has been Faultless. The dryer has needed a feeding a couple of parts, but still goes well after 15 years.

 

I am also a big dishwasher fan, because the one household chore I won’t do is washing up. I’d rather clean gutters than do the dishes. Plus the dishwasher uses less than a bowl of water, and doesn’t face the risk of cross contamination of using nasty water for dishes. That said, both are luxuries, and there’s been plenty of years where I’ve done without. I used to take bedding and things down to the laundromat and didn’t mind it. Met some good characters in there, and would nip for a pint while the dryer was on.

[Metal Guru]

Can anyone with a heat pump tumble dryer comment on the energy saving v a condenser ?

On paper they look spectacularly good, annual consumption 200-250 kWH v 600+.

[Markeh]

I had one of those ancient White Knight 3kg jobs that was here when I bought the house. My gran at the time had just downsized and had a full sized Indesit gathering dust in her shed, that she said I could have. But wait a minute... it's on the big recall list.

And that's how I managed to get a brand new Hotpoint condenser for £99 (upgraded to a bigger one as part of the recall scheme).

I do also have a Lakeland airer, although I've just inherited a 3 tier one with the cover, I had a 2 tier without and wasn't particularly impressed (although do bear in mind that as a larger gentleman I can't get as many clothes on it!)

[loserone]

We have a Bosch condenser drier my parents bought in lockdown before realising their vented one just had a lake of rain in the vent pipe.   We use it for towels and sheets sometimes.  Otherwise it would be in their garage unused.

 

We live in the past though, so have two kitchen maid type pulley airers, which were enough for a family of five with two in washable nappies and are now much less taxed, we could probably manage with one but use the second for sheets.  Nothing takes more than 24 hours to dry.  

[scdan4]

3 hours ago, Wilko220 said:

A bit lo-fi maybe, but I've just got a couple of these and they do me fine

Couple of them in a small room with a dehumidifier. Works a treat.

[Split_Pin]

There is no chaos like that which ensues by accidentally kicking either of these parts with a full load of washing hanging. 

[Richard_FM]

22 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

There is no chaos like that which ensues by accidentally kicking either of these parts with a full load of washing hanging. 

I once had one of the collapse on my little finger while I was trying to fold it down!  Very painful & lost a finger nail.

[richardmorris]