invacar LightBulbFun's Invacar & general ramble thread, index on page 1, survivors lists on Pages 24/134 & AdgeCutler's Invacar Mk12 Restoration from Page 186 onwards, still harping on...

[Noel Tidybeard]

On 05/11/2024 at 18:59, LightBulbFun said:

yes its good to be back behind the handlebars once more  I even discovered a new fun game of how to be an accidental menace on the roads! 

"oh little bit of a tight gap but I can fit through that no problems" so went through it at speed no problems there

the 2 ton SUV that was up my chuff however thought he could follow me through but most certainly could not!

have to admit I had quite the chuckle at that! as I got an irate flash of headlights shrinking in my rear view mirror (but also realising, one has to be careful next time, as someone not quite as aware of their surroundings and without auto-braking, might just clobber whatever it is I managed to fit through LOL)

that's a them problem so nothing for you to worry about- "driving without due care & attention"

[Noel Tidybeard]

On 06/11/2024 at 15:57, LightBulbFun said:

thanks for the offer  but I think thats a bit too big to fit on REV's rear view mirror, REV's mirror is a little plastic thing that partly attaches to the windscreen with a sucker-cup, apparently they are known to be quite fragile in themselves so I dont want to try hang anything off of it, but I appreciate the offer/thought still  

sounds like a 70's mini type of mirror

this is the later larger version

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186140717737?_skw=mini+1000+rear+view+mirror&itmmeta=01JC8GVWCMT5NQ0GZGM92FW8N7&hash=item2b56d9f2a9:g:ARMAAOSwwaplPiEJ&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKm%2Fz1g3tMg3X%2BzbinA%2F8RsjxOGS56H%2Bj8QjSNRhz1gnNOHjvrkD36TtKTZYP4bu0PGIHTTEgydDtWPl47hCFAVaP3SulG1epk2lCBL9kRS%2FL116ZohPjXtHoAODJoFj6mbCRlLbwowp6Lf1v%2F0o7rQ6mmub0H2XZ%2Bd9cjVKQ1mkcXaBwXXxhYBsGrRRyqTsVNgWQYeiNyePeMbAKveEhotieKEWS2tcIkZyrZVG60hNCTMDV%2FF%2BaunKLtDDGWZLTdXjdnT%2BczSGv8b0wZoUP3ER|tkp%3ABk9SR8bG75DiZA

 

& moar cheaperer

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126765534510?_skw=classic+mini+rear+view+mirror&itmmeta=01JC8H1CSHVHTNWY3Q13FCATQ3&hash=item1d83d08d2e:g:qBAAAOSwEqBm11TV&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkG8CLsMR6jVox0mTslWvd2CopmKSj39V9jSm7FEg1bKETKroGGEBVXd1tfBjtoA%2FvZs35EqCWVjQhiCGV5AigZMM0fWcZLGXPJSXF8GPLBgfMRxLeAFV9RUgGfh6YFnDr6Vl7sBhQxtG7UVMc1uXPxJ555LFv2n7IzjSaLljdUTYIKo7M4sAIK95xGpb7VJQ2Qyzo%2Bi51dTl5BmUT7VMUspRYprqb4SPH6YFuShNm%2FyHAFAZSypNn1empr%2F5%2BXjHAnSw%2Bi%2BPyyt3TWuZc2Cn9r|tkp%3ABk9SR_TMhZHiZA

[Missy Charm]

23 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

are you checking with the DVLA's vehicle enquiry services, or the DVSA's check-mot services? because @beko1987 is, and I am wondering if everyone else is as well

 

those 2 checkers are completely independent from each other, and the DVSA only queries the DVLA's database for the raw data, to the point that the DVSA has its own make and model code lookup table, which is why for example a Model 70 on the DVLA will incorrectly report back as "INVACARE"

but it will still correctly report back as "INVACAR" on the MOT checker, since the DVSA have thankfully not fucked up their own lookup table at least

because of this, vehicles, even vehicles with a CoD will still show up on the MOT checker thankfully, but if you try and of the vehicles in the DVLA 1st party vehicle enquiery service checker, you will see that as above they dont show up sadly

even ones that would of shown up until recently

If it helps, plugging a random selection of our old number plates into here: https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk, returns results that seem to be all over the show.  My father's first Mondeo, which was written off further to a crash and scrapped in 2004 appears in the database - albeit untaxed and without MOT, ditto for a Ford XR2 we ditched in 2002.  Conversely, the number of my father's second Mondeo - the replacement for the crashed one, incidentally - is absent from the database.  Another Fiesta my mother owned is missing*.  My Nissan Bluebird has vanished but a Ford I had afterwards is present; my old BMW coupe isn't there, but a car I owned years before that one is.  God knows what is going on!  

*this one is really odd, given we know that particular Fiesta lived on for years after we sold it.  The buyer was a semi-local woman we'd see out and about.  

[LightBulbFun]

9 hours ago, auntiemaryscanary said:

@LightBulbFun have you got any any tiller controlled jaunts planned for this weekend?

Are you pleased with all the work done by shitters (various)?

I'm asking as I'm living vicariously through you. My most exciting motoring event this weekend is polishing a cloudy plastic headlight lens in preparation for a Doblo MoT on Tuesday...

haha nothing planned right away per say  sadly my sleep cycle is in that awkward phase that by the time I wake up at 2PM-3PM, all the daylight has already gone! so I need to either reign it back in, or just push it over the edge all the way back around! 

but I do have a few things planned in general, another trip through brick lane to pick up something mum wants again, this time hopefully avoiding the market! and then I want to move onto some higher speed runs, go to Wanstead where I passed my driving test, and get a shot of REV outside the DVSA driving test office LOL

that should be a good run for me, since I know the Route quite well, but it also takes me along the A12 which is 40-50Mph multi-lane dual carriage roads, so will give me a good chance to fully get a feel for how REV is at those speeds and on those roads

 I have got REV up to 40Mph along the roads around the FoD quite happily and she did so without any performance or handling issues, so I am not going into this completely blind, I have had her at speed, I know what she is like at those speeds,  but the roads around the FoD are of course fairly narrow country lanes where you cant maintain that speed for very long etc, so I would like to do a longer run on roads im more likely to encounter around here to fully affirm thats alls tickity boo before I start doing  longer runs that require me to actually be somewhere, to meet someone or pick something up etc ( @Kiltox a while back expressed interest in some Ami bits that are in London so if he still wants those, ill schedule that in also, that would be a good run out for REV in itself after the A12 proving run, as it takes me along the A406  )

so thats the plan, once I can align my sleep cycle to it 

other then that I have got a couple, more local runs planned, which Ill hopefully get done during the week   

 

indeed am very pleased and most thankful for all all the work done by everyone involved, its very evident that @red5 has done a fantastic job sorting REV out mechanically, the engine is performant and the brakes are excellent, she accelerates and rolls along very nicely, I actually have to make sure to use the handbrake at junctions  and the brakes themselves will happily perform an emergency stop from 30Mph without issue, release, and go again and all that good stuff  and @Saabnut's mechanic Duncan has done a super fantastic job on the doors, they really do roll and close very smoothly now! and of course the front kingpin having been changed by him, is now completely devoid of all play, and he also welded up the exhaust and also did a full oil change on REV (Engine, , including dropping the oiler strainer out of the sump and cleaning it out, Gearbox, and Differential) which is very reassuring since I had no idea when those where actually last done, so its very reassuring knowing those have been taken care of properly  

[auntiemaryscanary]

42 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

 I have got REV up to 40Mph along the roads around the FoD quite happily

That's good to hear. I'd not realised you'd had a blast round the lanes near the FoD. Hope your sleep returns to something more conducive to 3 wheel driving in the big city.

PS the Doblo headlight is now nice and shiny for the MoT.

[Christine]

Place to go..unless it was bombed during ww2

[Barry Cade]

Just watched  the new Hagerty vid on You Tube. . There's a collector on there, in America who has an AC Invacar...

 

[LightBulbFun]

Just now, Barry Cade said:

Just watched  the new Hargerty vid on You Tube. . There's a collector on there, in America who has an AC Invacar...

 

that one is owned by Charles Gould  but there are actually a few Model 70's over there  somewhere between 5 to 10 last I checked, including 1 private example that the owner moved from the UK to the US with in the 1970's! 

and the largest collection of British invalid vehicles actually exists in the US with Dr Ian Hellings  

[adw1977]

23 minutes ago, Christine said:

Place to go..unless it was bombed during ww2

Definitely looks pre WW2.

[Christine]

LED lighting shop now 

 

The advert is 19th century...1890's Engineering magazine

[Blake's Den]

Hey @LightBulbFun. Is this one on your list?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186774247436?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=cpkvs1xuqbm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=PJQO1AMYSTG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

It appears to have triller steering.

 

[reb]

[LightBulbFun]

 

4 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

Be very surprised if this hasn't already been posted (soz if it was)

Tippen Delta, vintage disability car | eBay

*Tippen Delta is an anagram of 'applied tent'

@LightBulbFun

 

 

12 minutes ago, Blake's Den said:

Hey @LightBulbFun. Is this one on your list?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186774247436?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=cpkvs1xuqbm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=PJQO1AMYSTG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

It appears to have triller steering.

indeed it is!  ORW413G is actually quite a well known Tippen Delta, to the point where I am somewhat surprised to see that its up for sale, and I hope the chap who owns it is alright! 

I am currently making enquiries to see what the deal is so to speak, and I feel I am very close to having convinced someone else to have a go at it, so if they do give in and managed win, it should be guaranteed a good home  

 

[plasticvandan]

My favourite,the appropriately named Tippen, must have been a fair few on the road in worcestershire as it's a make my grandad used to mention often, though he did on more than one occasion have to go out on call to one that had been turned over,they are very narrow.

[Mrs6C]

6 minutes ago, plasticvandan said:

My favourite,the appropriately named Tippen, must have been a fair few on the road in worcestershire as it's a make my grandad used to mention often, though he did on more than one occasion have to go out on call to one that had been turned over,they are very narrow.

Sometimes Tippen over?

[calebaaront]

21 hours ago, reb said:

Is that Dr House on an invacare? 

[reb]

4 minutes ago, calebaaront said:

Is that Dr House on an invacare? 

Yes, though for some reason he's dressed as Tam Mullen.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

21 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

 

 

indeed it is!  ORW413G is actually quite a well known Tippen Delta, to the point where I am somewhat surprised to see that its up for sale, and I hope the chap who owns it is alright! 

I am currently making enquiries to see what the deal is so to speak, and I feel I am very close to having convinced someone else to have a go at it, so if they do give in and managed win, it should be guaranteed a good home  

 

The ad mentions it's been off the road for a decade, so sounds like the owner is no longer able/has passed on, I'd say.

[LightBulbFun]

Idle 7AM thoughts, like any British 1970's car I notice REV does drop a bit of oil, but what Im wondering, is what are peoples thoughts on it? if it is it excessive and if anyone has any idea where it might be coming from?

I dont notice any active drips, but after a day or so parked in the same spot this is what she leaves on the road, the bigger patch is under the differential and I think is from the right side of the differential as I notice the differential is visibly wet around there so not too much mystery there (worn driveshaft or diff seal of some kind?)

but the more perplexing one is the one closer to the camera (with the feather in it LOL) in that I know its coming from the engine, but I am just not sure where the oil leak is on the engine

for it *appears* to be coming from the right hand side engine mount?! and unless the block is cracked or such at the mounting points, I cant see how an engine mount could leak oil?

and its even more purplexing in that looking at the top side the right hand side of the engine cowling/tinwork is also similarly wet, but I cant seem to find anywhere it would of come from? the only thing in that area is the fuel pump, but it itself is completely dry

so yeah just one of those things I am curious what peoples thoughts are on it?

(I was initially only going to post about this once I had a chance to try and degrease/clean up that area and see if I can pin point where its leaking from/what gets wet first, but my sleep cycle is stubbornly refusing to budge!  but once thats sorted I will try and clean it up to see if I can spot where it reappears from and report back) 

the possibility of a cracked block aside, my main concern is actually the differential leak, since its a lot more of a faff to check the levels on that then it is on the engine, so hopefully its one of those "Looks worse then it actually is" things

I just figured given my relative inexperience with these matters that it would be best to get the hive mind to have look at it, I would like to think its nothing to worry about, but better play it safe then sorry as they say  (I just really hope its not a cracked block that is my main concern, as she was loaded/unloaded a couple times via a strap round the engine rear mount point on the top side and im wondering now if thats put too much strain on the mounting points or such, but I also feel that i am perhaps reading too much into things)

[JJ0063]

I’d be complaining and claiming under warranty considering all the time it was away having work done.

[Christine]

Probably the dipstick seal. If thats a dipstick. . Or filler cap seal ..

[LightBulbFun]

23 minutes ago, Christine said:

Probably the dipstick seal. If thats a dipstick. . Or filler cap seal ..

I did check around the oil filler area and it looked dry, but the dipstick tube is not a bad shout  its a solid cast tube into the block and the dipstick physically screws into place,

but perhaps maybe at some point it got ran with out it fully screwed in or such?

to check the oil level you unscrew the stick wipe it clean, plug it back in to the dip-stick tube but *do not* screw it in, then pull it back out. So I can see someone doing that procedure, then plugging the dip stick back in once the level was checked and forgetting to screw it all the way home, it would explain how it got all over the engine lower cowling/tinwork in that area

[Christine]

You dont want to be dropping oil , when it rains it goes 'rainbow '  all over the road ..and the trail  leads back to your place ..  like the trail down my road leading back to my house when it rains....

[Mr Pastry]

Is the crankcase breather system working properly?  Important on flat twins,  as they tend to pressurise the crankcase.  Looks reasonably easy (and messy) to check. 

[mk2_craig]

2 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

given my relative inexperience with these matters that it would be best to get the hive mind to have look at it

No. It would be better to get a mechanic to look at it. 

[LightBulbFun]

46 minutes ago, Mr Pastry said:

Is the crankcase breather system working properly?  Important on flat twins,  as they tend to pressurise the crankcase.  Looks reasonably easy (and messy) to check. 

there is a couple PCV valves with pipe that connects one of em to an inlet on the air-intake system

https://autoshite.com/topic/29443-zels-motoring-adventuresvolvo-renault-rover-trabant-invacar-a-sinclair-c5-updated-1311/page/57/#comment-1851192

is there a method to checking if its work?

 

I am also reminded in that they like to leak from that assembly anyhow

https://autoshite.com/topic/29443-zels-motoring-adventuresvolvo-renault-rover-trabant-invacar-a-sinclair-c5-updated-1311/page/57/#comment-1854045

so ill stick that on the list to check  

[dollywobbler]

Could well be pushrod seal for that odd leak. Haflinger Technik stocks then.

The seals where the driveshaft goes into the diff is a particularly naff design. They do seem to leak a little here, especially if parked on an angle.

[Mr Pastry]

9 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

is there a method to checking if its work?

It's in the manual, page 23 IIRC.  Quite likely to be full of clag, and if suck/blow test is negative it would be worth taking the whole lot off and cleaning, though I appreciate that is not easy by the roadside.  The idea is that it maintains a partial vacuum in the crankcase when running, so the condition of the hoses and non return valves is critical.  

[LightBulbFun]

15 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

Could well be pushrod seal for that odd leak. Haflinger Technik stocks then.

does Haflinger-Technik have a catalog or such of parts they sell? their website is not very verbose on that front, I have been putting together a list of steyr-puch engine service items and what have you to order from https://prokschi.at/ but it would be good to know what i can get more locally from Haflinger technik  

but that does remind me whats the general preference for rocker cover gaskets? I realised that I dont know if REV's valve clearances where checked/set while she was away, so thats something i'd like to schedule in and get done at some point, but I know ill need fresh gaskets for that, and I see on the https://prokschi.at/ they do a few different types, so I am wondering if theres a preference/best type, or is it a personal preference sorta thing?   

[Yoss]

I'd wouldn't say don't worry about it at all but at the same time I wouldn't be over concerned. It doesn't look that bad, I would just keep an eye on the levels. 

My Triumph front oil seal leaks but it is on its fourth one now so I've given up. I'm just resigned to the fact modern part are cheap shit. Fortunately there is a V shaped chanel of the front subframe directly underneath that catches the oil so I can mop it up from there before it hits the floor. It's almost as if they planned it that way knowing the front oil seal would leak.