The new news 24 thread

[Ghosty]

I really don't need them, but how much for the Bini wheels?

 

Yes, they would fit a Honda if that's what you're thinking. Old Man was going to put them on his Civic but he saw it had 185s on it where the Bini tyres are 175 width.

 It's a set of these, 4x100 15x5.5J, and I think ET45:

 

with 175/65/15 Michelin Energy-s, 7mm tread on 2 and 4mm on the other two. No kerbing but a couple of scratches, the wheels/tyres have done 16000 miles in 5 years.

I think Old Man wants £160 but I've no clue on actual value.  

[Lord Sterling]

Last week I found out that there was a German car specialist on the same industrial estate as my work, took the car to him and he seemed to have an idea what the problem was with the fan but wanted to investigate more so I'll be hopefully leaving it with him come Tuesday.

 

I reckon the power steering fluid needs changing as the steering feels very slightly "out" like it needs a very slight adjustment every now and again whilst driving, it bothers me so needs sorting.

[skattrd]

Cheers Ghosty, but 5.5j is a bit narrow for me.

[Ghosty]

Thought so! I'll probably flog them to someone with a Bini One and those godawful wheeltrims via eBay or something.

[JohnK]

Really enjoying France so far.

 

French cows are so much more fun that British cows - just saying like ...

 

[trigger]

Changed both rear wheel bearings on the Tina today, we modified a slide hammer with a welder and a hub puller to get the half shafts out and the local mechanic removed the old bearings and pressed on the new ones for £15 for both sides.

It made a huge difference, no more rear end wining, bliss also today my old man has had a really manky V reg Golf 1.8t sat round his for the last year, he moted it in October and it's sat unused since, so this afternoon we fitted some new fans and charged the battery and it started straight up.

I spent a few hours cleaning it ready to sell on ebay, considering it's done 175000 miles and hasn't been used for a few years it's runs really well and other than a ripped Recaro drivers seat it's really quite smart, got to be worth £450 now.

 

I've just found these photos of it before it was cleaned.

 

 

[richardmorris]

Really enjoying France so far.

French cows are so much more fun that British cows - just saying like ...

Beats worrying the sheep I suppose

[wuvvum]

Really enjoying France so far.

 

French cows are so much more fun that British cows - just saying like ...

 

FTFY.

[HMC]

The screeching alternator belt has screeched ever since ive had the volvo 760 dizzler. The adjustment is by a nut and a sort of screw that pushes against the engine block and rotates the alternator away from the other pulleys to keep the tension, which was siezed up and rounded off. I took the fixings to bits, straightened the screw and welded a nut on the end to allow a 10mm socket to work the adjuster rather than a screwdriver.

 

No more grumbling from the belt at least but SWMBO objected to us using it for a family outing today, but warmed to it as it rides much more softly than her modern Freelander.

[darkfour]

The two delaminated tyres on the Plymouth had a 2004 date code on them so no wonder they went out. The other two were inspected thoroughly and have a 2007 date code on them and they look fine so I'll keep them. Took the old ones to the local used tyre place and they only had 225/70/15 whereas I wanted 215/75/15. They are very worn and one is almost on the limit but for $80 cash for the pair including fitting and balancing I couldn't say no. I'll throw them on the front I think.

 

 

Got the new transmission cable fitted and adjusted up correctly, although I could do with rerouting the transmission cooler lines to make the cable linkage a bit smoother and straighter. The B&M shifter is a funny old thing. It's got an extra P position at the end of the throw for GM transmissions which I don't need to use. You need to pull the trigger up to move between Park, Reverse and Neutral but if you put it in 1 you can just push it straight into 2 and then Drive for "racing" starts apparently. Don't think I'll bother personally.

 

Hoping to get Mrs DF to assist me in bleeding the brakes tomorrow afternoon.

 

 

 

 

[FakeConcern]

Today went to London to visit the Design Museum (don't bother) & on the A2 at about 70MPH a pigeon suddenly changed lanes without indicating & hit the windscreen. I only had time to flinch & brace myself. Luckily the windscreen of the XM survived, not sure the pigeon escaped so lightly though!

[twosmoke300]

Sitting at home sore but happy . After over three months of not riding i got out on my Ktm . Did a local enduro training day and got beasted round the most rooty and slippery woods ever . Great fun

[worldofceri]

Got a chance to have a bit of a tinker with the Saab the other day.  I've had a bad back for a while so I haven't really felt up to grovelling under the car and what have you, despite an oil change being well overdue.

 

First up I had a play with the towing electrics.  We're planning to borrow a caravan next weekend for a long weekend at Billing Aquadrome (it's the NSRA hot rod bash) which could be great fun but possibly a recipe for disaster.  A quick check with a lighting board revealed the lights seemed to have a mind of their own, but I quickly established this was simply a bad earth (seemingly the earth wire just hadn't been connected to anything?!).  Hooked it up to a handy earth point and all was well.  Check my electrik skillz!

 

 

Then I had a poke around at the exhaust.  The middle two rubber hoops were completely shagged to the extent that the exhaust banged around under the car and scraped along the top of speed bumps.  Two new hangers and job rogered.  Also had a look at the centre silencer which was blowing a bit.  Someone had already had a go at bodging it and, of course, I couldn't resist poking at the hole until it was blowing a lot.  I picked up a tin of Gun Gum along with my rubber hoopy things and gummed it back up again.  Check my giffer bodge skillz!

 

Before:

 

After:

 

Flushed with success I finally drained and refilled the oil.  Must be one of the easiest cars to do this on.  There's even a label for the drain plug cast into the bottom of the sump so twits like me can find it.  I didn't even spill much on my Mum's drive and she made me a bacon sandwich.  Result.

 

 

I feel a bit better for having given the Saab a bit of attention as it deserves it.  Still a few things on the horizon to be looked at...  There's a knock from the n/s front which I'll get the garage to look at before too long.  I've also topped up the coolant a couple of times lately... hope this isn't a sign of impending doom; I'll just keep an eye on it for now.  Also need to see if I can get the front windows working as it's a bit of a bugger when the sun's out and I can't drive around with my arm out the window like a boss.

[dollywobbler]

I spent a glorious weekend at La Vie en Bleu at Prescott Hillclimb. Rather than posh Bugattis, have some Blue Win.

 

 

One of the marshals used this as his 'go to event' steed. He usually marshals on rally stages.

 

This combo served me well again, though shortly after I pitched, they came around with tape and it turned out I'd camped in a public car park. Meh.

 

It was the first time I'd been since 2012, which I couldn't quite believe. It is a very samey event - the same sort of stuff going up the hill, the same sort of stuff parked up at the bottom of it. I was glad to return though. Hillclimbing is a great spectator sport. The TVRs yesterday were especially entertaining, and sounded truly marvellous. I did get some more quality* spots today, including a Nissan Vanette and a 3-door sunny (sadly my sneaky pic failed to capture the sunroof replaced by black bin liners) but having just sifted through 1500 photos (of which 1000 were crap) I've had enough for today.

[phil_lihp]

Ironically, moments after you posted that, my phone rang, I dropped the CG125 in for its MOT on Saturday and it was tested today, the result is quite a spectacular fail and he's suggested thinking twice about mending it.  However, it's mainly bad earths causing lights not to work, a broken indicator switch (which it went through the last MOT with...), seized brake/stand pivot (a standard CG problem) and a knackered chain.  I might just be able to get it sorted this weekend for a retest, if not it'll have to find a new home sans MOT.

 

Poor thing's spent all year outside, much of it uncovered after the wind destroyed its cover, a few yards from the sea and I've barely used it in the last 12 months.  Everything that could be rusty now is and it's a royal pain to start - used to be fine but keeps fouling the plug.  Oh well, that's neglect for you!

 

Well, after a frustrating few hours I finally got it running again and took it home.  A combination of bad earths, manky wiring and a flat battery does not a strong spark make.  After 2 hours getting nowhere I was almost ready to pack it in this morning and decided to try one last bump start - and it caught.  

 

Spent a bit of time on it this evening, it's back to starting with one gentle kick now which is a relief, swapped over the broken indicator switch module for a replacement and tried some wire wool on the hideously rusty wheels - what a difference that made, I can hardly believe the improvement.  It's hardly concours but a bit of graft should see this looking vaguely presentable and MOT'd for another year, at which point it will be available for purchase.  Queue here please.

[Jerzy Woking]

Went to Silverstone for the weekend for the Blancpain Endurance Series and the Blancpain Lamborghini Championship, both of which were excellent. The racing was excellent. The sound of sixty one GT cars on a rolling start had to be heard to be believed.

 

However the highpoint of the day was seeing one bloke come out of one of the team truck awnings, wearing a race suit and boots, walk 25 yards to a P registration Toyota, get in and drive off. He was back 5 minutes later, and got out of tye car carrying a helmet and neck brace, then walked hurriedly back into the awning.

[MrDuke]

I spent a glorious weekend at La Vie en Bleu at Prescott Hillclimb.

 

Prescott is indeed an awesome venue. There really can't be many venues that let you get so close to the action, and give you a view of so much track at once. I will never, ever forget standing at the hairpin when the Napier Bentley came round and got properly booted away.

[darkfour]

Boston=AWESOME

[meshking]

Took the family to west Wittering for the day yesterday. Swmbo has always disliked camping, but noticed a lot of people were just day camping with their campers. By that I mean they just stayed put for the day, did all the camping things like BBQ etc but no actual staying out overnight. This seems a great idea and she asked ' why don't you get a camper then?'.

So I've been checking out prices, I quite fancy a t25 or a t4 day van caravelle type thing but there is a lot of scene tax involved. Need to do more research but I bet now is the worst time to buy.

[dollywobbler]

I bloody hate camping. Least enjoyable aspect of the weekend. 

 

Fortunately, there were other highlights. Here are a few more, including some stunning exotica. And a Porsche. And a Morgan.

 

Biggles knows how to off-road in style. Nice group of 4x4s.

[hairnet]

MOAR STUNNING EXOTICA PLZ

[meshking]

I bloody hate camping. Least enjoyable aspect of the weekend.

 

 

I thought 2cving and camping were linked? I like the outdoorsy bit, but having somewhere to sit in comfort appeals. Probably just getting old, but cannot ever see me towing a caravan.

 

I reckon a day van is what I need, would like something different to the VW gang though, not sure what.

 

Must get back to Prescott some day, last time I went it wasn't any particular day but I took my Dad who hadn't been for 30 years or so. Weirdly, we bumped into his old school friend in his 1930s Alvis.

[DeeJay]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hanomag-F35-Oddball-Camper-VW-alternative-/301643635403?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item463b5c9acb

[RobT]

Can anyone recommend a brand of grease gun that actually works? My last two have been shite, and I tried to do the radius arms on the Metro today but only managed to pump about a thimbles worth in one side. Chucked the fucker in the bin as it's useless. I imagine an old one sourced from an autojumble is probably a good option otherwise.

[dave21478]

My arsehole neighbour took advantage of "friendship" and a minor misunderstanding over exact wording of my request and sold me a mega grease gun and enough grease to last me until the end of the universe. I dont know what brand it is, but its a one-handed thing with a pistol grip kind of like a sealant gun. It takes grease cartridges with a screw top, so will probably only work with the kind of grease he sells. Fortunately I have so much of it I wont ever have to talk to the cunt again to order it.

[dave21478]

Edit - its a MATO Lube Shuttle.

Looks like this....

 

Mine has a flexible pipe about 10 inches long that clamps onto the grease nipple so it can be used one-handed.

 

It takes screw-in cartridges like this....

Mine are MOTUL brand grease.

 

It works really well. My old gun looked exactly like the "yesterday" one in that pic...clarted with grease on the outside and with the spring thing that went rusty despite it being covered in grease all the time. New one is a pleasure in comparison.

[320touring]

Clio 172 has an mot. Most productive bank holiday ever!

[dollywobbler]

I thought 2cving and camping were linked?

 

They still very much are, but like the older generation above me (many of whom have huge Hymers) I'm just fed up with camping. It's uncomfortable, I rarely sleep well and I just want on-tap running water. Which caravans are still crap at, so may not be a better solution. I s'pose I could just use the same solution that other 2CVers (and my wife) seem to employ, which is to get so drunk that comfort simply doesn't matter. I don't like drinking though.

[RobT]

 

It works really well. My old gun looked exactly like the "yesterday" one in that pic...clarted with grease on the outside and with the spring thing that went rusty despite it being covered in grease all the time. New one is a pleasure in comparison.

Cheers Dave, cartridges are the way forward then. I end up with grease everywhere apart from where it's supposed to be using the old one, so there will be less waste too.

[stripped fred]

Had my first proper run out in the mr2 today. Was nice to be behind the wheel for a while instead of fixing/rustproofing it. Insisted in having the t-bar roof panels out so I could hear the engine note better. All good apart from the missus got a stiff neck from the cold wind blowing through. Nice to get some use out if it rather than just spending money on it!