Chaseracer's chod: French tat a speciality

[chaseracer]

21 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

What’s wrong with it though ? 

Total refusal to start.  

Tried new ECUs but no joy.  Engine loom utterly fooked, so we're going to transfer the known-good wiring from the Partner.  There will also be an element of body repair and general titivation while it's apart, though it will still look like a complete shed.

[Stinkwheel]

33 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

Total refusal to start.  

Tried new ECUs but no joy.  Engine loom utterly fooked, so we're going to transfer the known-good wiring from the Partner.  There will also be an element of body repair and general titivation while it's apart, though it will still look like a complete shed.

Perfect, I approve greatly

[chaseracer]

The Dyane passed its MOT today with just three tiny advisories!

[Floatylight]

How's Blingo coming along

[chaseracer]

2 minutes ago, Floatylight said:

How's Blingo coming along

Both the Bling and the Partner are stripped for action...  next job is to transfer the engine loom and see if that sorts it.

Big thanks as ever to the outstanding  @Talbot

[chaseracer]

A few weeks ago, on the way back from the (cancelled, due to snow) Raid Tan Hill, the Dyane slowly FTP'd on the M66 with some electrical malady.  There followed several hours on the hard shoulder awaiting recovery.  

I didn't have a @mat_the_cat-style BBQ, but I had parked under a bridge and I did have chair/blanket/food/flask of coffee.  Highways England called several times to check on me, and I even had a visit from a Womble who approved my setup behind the third pillar of four.  BUT FECK ME IT WAS COLD.  Took three days to warm up properly!

Anyhoo... checked today and the fan belt's still there, so that leaves the alternator.  New one ordered from Uncle Roy at ECAS, along with a new voltage regulator and a spare fan belt - and a fan, just in case.

 

[chaseracer]

In Mercedes news, a Shropshire pothole did for one of the front springs - or it might have been Welsh, I was on the road between Ellesmere and Whitchurch which crosses the border and back several times.

 

[lesapandre]

4 hours ago, chaseracer said:

A few weeks ago, on the way back from the (cancelled, due to snow) Raid Tan Hill, the Dyane slowly FTP'd on the M66 with some electrical malady.  There followed several hours on the hard shoulder awaiting recovery.  

I didn't have a @mat_the_cat-style BBQ, but I had parked under a bridge and I did have chair/blanket/food/flask of coffee.  Highways England called several times to check on me, and I even had a visit from a Womble who approved my setup behind the third pillar of four.  BUT FECK ME IT WAS COLD.  Took three days to warm up properly!

Anyhoo... checked today and the fan belt's still there, so that leaves the alternator.  New one ordered from Uncle Roy at ECAS, along with a new voltage regulator and a spare fan belt - and a fan, just in case.

 

I always carry a sleeping bag and pillow as well as a blanket...

[chaseracer]

After two days on a battery charger, I finally got the Dyane up to Race HQ for Laurence to lay on his healing hands...

Turns out the alternator is fine, and the breakdown was caused by a blown 15A fuse!  That, I could fix.

Laurence adjusted the idle speed and did various things to the carburettor which evaded my full understanding - all I know is it goes even better now...

[Stinkwheel]

Always check the fuses 🤫

[chaseracer]

12 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Always check the fuses 🤫

True!  I plead the early stages of hypothermia... 🥶😄

[chaseracer]

Well... ARSE.

On the way back from a top day out at Oulton Park, four miles from Chaseracer Towers  the Dyane spat a spark plug and took the head thread with it.  Home on the big flat taxi; repairs are in hand.

That'll learn me to check the tightness of the plugs occasionally, especially given that the 720's compression is a smidge* higher than standard.

[Somerset Suffolk]

My 10 and 5 - long time ago now and my 2cv (fitted new chassis back on the road at some point !)  sisters 306 GTI 6 in the back ground - she also had 2 Renaults as company cars a 5 GT turbo and a series 2 Clio Williams  -you can just see Dads gold Renault 11 TSE next to the 5 😊

[richardmorris]

1 hour ago, chaseracer said:

Well... ARSE.

On the way back from a top day out at Oulton Park, four miles from Chaseracer Towers  the Dyane spat a spark plug and took the head thread with it.  Home on the big flat taxi; repairs are in hand.

That'll learn me to check the tightness of the plugs occasionally, especially given that the 720's compression is a smidge* higher than standard.

Helicoil or a new head?

[chaseracer]

5 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

Helicoil or a new head?

Helicoil and Loctite, according to the man who knows what he's talking about!

[richardmorris]

33 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

Helicoil and Loctite, according to the man who knows what he's talking about!

Fingers crossed.

[chaseracer]

On 13/10/2025 at 19:30, chaseracer said:

Helicoil and Loctite, according to the man who knows what he's talking about!

Speaking of...

We've both been a tad busy of late, but Dyane-fettling finally happened this afternoon.  No pics - I was holding an umbrella over Laurence as he did the useful stuff!  As well as recutting and helicoiling the plug hole, some sort of magic was done to the carburettor (Visa 652 Solex).  It now idles beautifully at a steady 800rpm and starts instantly like the racer, with the merest turn of the key.

Marvellous.

[chaseracer]

It was becoming increasingly clear that the Dyane's battery identified as a pancake, so...

... eighty-odd quid and an ECP visit later, Edd the Duck called it good.

[hairnet]

heap

[chaseracer]

9 minutes ago, hairnet said:

heap

Feckin quick one, though...

[chaseracer]

@Stinkwheel Matt, I need to have a trip out your way so you can have a go in the Dyane on some decent roads...

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, chaseracer said:

Feckin quick one, though...

snortle

[hairnet]

@Floatylight

daft green truck of oatcake?

[Stinkwheel]

4 hours ago, chaseracer said:

@Stinkwheel Matt, I need to have a trip out your way so you can have a go in the Dyane on some decent roads...

Oooo that would be fun 👍 Always welcome mate, although, avoiding the snow and ice we are getting over the next little while is probably advisable 

[Floatylight]

3 hours ago, hairnet said:

@Floatylight

daft green truck of oatcake?

nah, probably Ovlov

[chaseracer]

Two pieces of good news, fleetwise...  

The Dyane made it to Tan Hill and back without malfunctioning...

...and the Mercedes got a new ticket this afternoon!  Also, it was surprisingly good in the snow.