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...

[LightBulbFun]

had another couple hours out in REV  

main aim of the trip was pop to Halfords see if I can do anything for a wiper blade, pickup some nicknacks and just scope the store out in general (as this is only the 2nd time I have ever been into a halfords, the first time was with @Zelandeth when he kindly took me to one to get my L plates )

it was a fairly large store with credit where credit was due had a fair range of stuff, but rather amusingly while they had most of the bits and bobs I wanted, they had no wiper blades for REV, the guy at the counter just took one look at REV's wiper blade and arm and went "nah m8" need to grind some valves in? sure no problems they have a kit for that? but 10 inch wiper blades to fit a bayonet mount, nope LOL

I did personally look at this Bosch 11 inch wiper, which seemed to have a few different attachment options, but I was not sure if it would fit, so I did not get it (especially because the box showed a curved looking blade, and REV has a flat windscreen!)

I was able to pick up some RainX 2 in 1 glass cleaner and rain repellent  as well as a tub of those anti fog wipes and one of those demisting sponge pad thingies

I also picked up a a few M5 and M6 nuts and bolts as well as a tap and die set to see if I can sort of the indicator stalk which has somewhat stripped its threads for the 2 screws that secure it to the handle bars thus its a little bit floppy (and I figured having a tap and die set is not a bad thing to have in general anyhow)

during the trip REV clocked up a nice round millage number  I have to say I really quite like the illumination style of the large speedometer, its very even and the slight colour difference of the main light and the light for the odometer is a nice touch

eventually after doing some other shopping for the household I was back home

so thats a few more trouble free miles done  

[auntiemaryscanary]

Cheap shit, no idea if it will fit:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324988246236?_skw=10+inch+wiper+blade&epid=14041622940&itmmeta=01JDJBYZTACS7T65FV7ACZ30QH&hash=item4baacf18dc:g:-90AAOSw4s1kBa~h&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnrhK6CZ5Zhrf9e9AW6Lib%2BM6SBvM812h%2FZiwngIvNq7dmEc8nBIm%2Be7srr%2FMx%2FSsw5iGW3ZM6aaWnCD2pbZhcP2ojxvhXMapJsG04bOjI0P0VxdRXmC%2FmRDBFRHUGRRi2GsF124E40Rv%2Bo1JxhW8kqpuDFk5wK3qdDAtXzQegsJQUAfovGqL%2FM0%2FxTc8HwfNdH8nGLOGdYWtdD6ZlLnlLebm%2FTxlSkUCkPhlRFMgmfBh7ULyrNgvcbhXacdSF%2F7fu8P1NwfCJeLq%2FdpHt0ekmaJOh8HTkShrr69goTN4UvHA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR6D9-8vsZA

Classic* bayonet fit,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322910956720?_skw=10+inch+wiper+blade&epid=2281606434&itmmeta=01JDJBYZTARZXNJ3P99JSWRSCM&hash=item4b2efe2cb0:g:p7cAAOSwSrNaHo~-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmTzucRsvfGaKbOG0%2Fq65ETSbi2XoDeK6G%2FAjGuXLGPnZemsk3w4HuF3VYGwqjF3ql7MgR6u%2FfSGUjB3ea%2B%2BUASfsLGy2%2FbexW3v1V33b%2FITakXeuWp%2Bj1iPRj7wTws159jhLAbJGi26pSo3h%2F7767DH0bkuUfpih066cmug2myDoBgF2hUjPEP98Os86yg%2FbN7cQjZOVZvhN%2FCPmjstEfv9rwl17miEKgIGxTJp4VyZySte4SA%2FD2YUTsJuRjD%2Bsxh3xvMMEl3wkeUDouFd6Bhuzkc5pifYpKo5FbHuPOIsQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR579-8vsZA

Bosch: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333338299128?_skw=10+inch+wiper+blade&epid=249287846&itmmeta=01JDJBYZTAEFYQZ4FQ87878023&hash=item4d9c82caf8:g:jAIAAOSw2w5diPTm&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKm041gzvS0dFuWXUdOFYJ6OIyD6mqyEwncbaN2xneIs79RGMLatjS2BhKv8gXp1Bi%2B9aFOJdO1Bxd4FBRUaoSys8Q%2BRFhDEQxian78nbNCKNJbHKtWejVLYoY%2BtWMr6iFDxsFvPq%2FpaGmFCjPdHbML65wxHI3MmIw3fNfRoCqfqlYJGGctp0FmSdEIlsPlG0Xpo%2FvOIR0NfNqggJA8L8nTGhEs7ahqiFCh4894W9FoaBlqeujoItEWyuRfsVUhe%2FnY%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR6D9-8vsZA

[lesapandre]

Plenty online. But to be fair to Halfords the Invacar was possibly one of the last with use of this fitting - so years since any real retail demand. 

My A30 and A35 had them - but I think that was the last car I can recall - and these stopped production in 1968.

These are a respectable retailer I think:

https://www.completeautomobilist.com/categories/ca-windscreen-and-wipers-wiper-blades-bayonet

[plasticvandan]

This sort of thing will be specialist only,worth keeping consumables like that in stock for when you need them as you won't find stuff like that in Halfords etc.They didn't really stock anything that useful when I started driving 20 years ago,even less so now,don't even keep fuel line.

[Snake Charmer]

Holden Vintage and Classic, Car Builder Solutions are the first two that come to mind. I'm not at work this week so no catalogues handy. 

[LightBulbFun]

yeah im not too worried about not being able to get one, I know they can be got online  but I was curious to see if Halfords could provide or not, after all the old saying goes "all they are good for is wiper blades these days" so I thought alright lets put that to the test LOL

but what I am wondering is if there are any name brand wiper blades that will fit, I know I can get a generic shiny chrome one from eBay or any number of vintage car part suppliers, but I am wondering if anyone does anything actually said to be decent? ( I suppose this is @dollywobbler's domain )  

 

as an aside while out n about today, I met a 1984 B Prefix Mercedes S123 in delightfully care worn beige at the lights, it even had what looked to be original raised plastic digit number plates, I gave the the driver a big thumbs up out my window he returned one in kind  (I really wanted to a grab a photo of it, it was great, prime Autoshite in Mercedes Estate form  )

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, lesapandre said:

My A30 and A35 had them - but I think that was the last car I can recall - and these stopped production in 1968.

ADO 16's had what I think is the same, plus others

[plasticvandan]

Used to be able to buy refills to put in your old metal blade,so long as the spring pressure is still good that would be a way to go.Tex was always a good make,though of course 40+ yr old rubber old stock may not be that great 

[somewhatfoolish]

8 hours ago, Snake Charmer said:

Holden Vintage and Classic, Car Builder Solutions are the first two that come to mind. I'm not at work this week so no catalogues handy. 

Seconded. A wiper from one of those is a better bet than ebay no-name vendors, less likely to perish after 5 minutes UV exposure.

[Mr Pastry]

Have a look at 2cv wiper blades, 255mm long in various flavours and fitments. Wiper blades – ECAS 2CV PARTS LTD

[Snake Charmer]

Tex Automotive are still producing car parts, l had to replace a wiper motor and wheelboxes recently then swap the Tex arms and wipers with a cheaper set which was a shame. 

[LightBulbFun]

did not go anywhere in REV today , but took care of a couple odd jobs,  the first one was changing REV's indicator stalk, for her original one that has intact mounting screw hole threads (and who's locating peg is not all smooshed), it worked fine in the time I first got REV, but it got replaced with a modern equivalent new one while she was away, and sure enough when I got her original stalk back when I got REV back in 2021, it was jammed (despite my best efforts to clean it and free it off).

However just today when I was putting together an action plan, I picked it up to have another look at it, since I thought let me see if I can try one more time to free it off, since I knew it did otherwise work fine, and that its plastics was in better shape then the modern replacement currently fitted, and low and behold it was perfectly fine! I didn't even have to do anything to free it off, I can only assume some grit or dirt had gotten into the mechanism that eventually found its way out again

so I refitted that, and thankfully indeed not only does it still work just fine, but its much more securely mounted to the handle bars then the modern replacement was, this is one of those things I am quite pleased to have sorted, because its oddly disquieting having a indicator stalk that moves about on you!

I also think I figured out why the current wiper blade/setup is smeary at the top, it does not actually look like its quite contacting the windscreen fully (even once I pushed the wiper rubber back in a bit) somewhere I do have a 2nd unused wiper-blade of the same type, ill dig that out and try that as a zero cost option and then ill see about ordering a replacement blade if the issue still persists

and then I attacked all the window/glass surfaces on all sides with some Rain X 2 in 1 glass cleaner and repellent 

its done a good job of cleaning the windows at least! note the contrast strip of dirt/grime I could not easily get to where they overlap,  and highlighted that REV's windscreen is a bit scratched along the wiper arc, wonder if anything can be done for that? be interesting to see how things are in the rain now 

[IronStar]

40 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

did not go anywhere in REV today , but took care of a couple odd jobs,  the first one was changing REV's indicator stalk, for her original one that has intact mounting screw hole threads (and who's locating peg is not all smooshed), it worked fine in the time I first got REV, but it got replaced with a modern equivalent new one while she was away, and sure enough when I got her original stalk back when I got REV back in 2021, it was jammed (despite my best efforts to clean it and free it off).

However just today when I was putting together an action plan, I picked it up to have another look at it, since I thought let me see if I can try one more time to free it off, since I knew it did otherwise work fine, and that its plastics was in better shape then the modern replacement currently fitted, and low and behold it was perfectly fine! I didn't even have to do anything to free it off, I can only assume some grit or dirt had gotten into the mechanism that eventually found its way out again

so I refitted that, and thankfully indeed not only does it still work just fine, but its much more securely mounted to the handle bars then the modern replacement was, this is one of those things I am quite pleased to have sorted, because its oddly disquieting having a indicator stalk that moves about on you!

I also think I figured out why the current wiper blade/setup is smeary at the top, it does not actually look like its quite contacting the windscreen fully (even once I pushed the wiper rubber back in a bit) somewhere I do have a 2nd unused wiper-blade of the same type, ill dig that out and try that as a zero cost option and then ill see about ordering a replacement blade if the issue still persists

and then I attacked all the window/glass surfaces on all sides with some Rain X 2 in 1 glass cleaner and repellent 

its done a good job of cleaning the windows at least! note the contrast strip of dirt/grime I could not easily get to where they overlap,  and highlighted that REV's windscreen is a bit scratched along the wiper arc, wonder if anything can be done for that? be interesting to see how things are in the rain now 

There’s a couple of places over here offering glass polishing service , and if it exists here, surely it exists there, albeit at a higher price. The rule of thumb is if it’s not deep enough for your nail to catch on it when you pull it across, it can be polished.

[Sh'Eds]

Reading this thread made this pop up on face ache.....

[plasticvandan]

Lift the wiper arm up and bend it inwards a bit,you may find it then contacts the screen better 

[Pieman]

Shiters who are friends with me on Facebook will know that I run a photo album called "Car of the Day" where I just pick a random photo of a car (it could be absolutely anything) and write a little piece to go with the photo.  Well, with REV back on the road, I recently decided to feature it...

 

Thankyou to Dez for choosing a photo and helping me with details for the article

[calebaaront]

Not sure if you’ve got this one on record yet? @LightBulbFun

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, calebaaront said:

Not sure if you’ve got this one on record yet? @LightBulbFun

Ooh! Where?

[LightBulbFun]

12 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Ooh! Where?

tis from this facebook post  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/950689934973969/permalink/8806053736104177

Quote

My Nans car on Canvey Island... both long gone.

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

forget pissing about with the same type wiper & just get 11 inch for a 70/80s mini

[barrett]

Seen on facebook... is this the ultimate autoshite mobility vehicle?

"What's that you're driving, Kees?"

"Het is mijn Kempf"

[Remspoor]

18 hours ago, calebaaront said:

Not sure if you’ve got this one on record yet? @LightBulbFun

So a quick run around the old BrickYard. Oh sorry wrong BrickYard.

[Remspoor]

This came up in my YT feed....WTF?

 

[LightBulbFun]

another day of REV tinkering I did not actually plan to do anything today, but I noticed REV had moved! so I went down to check on her and make sure everything was alright, thankfully everything looks fine, I was worried someone had bumped into her! I do wonder if the owner of the black BMW pushed her out the way so he could park there? (her handbrake was applied, but I noticed with a bit of effort she could still be shoved out the way, goes without saying when I re-parked her I applied the handbrake a bit firmer this time and gave her a good shove to make sure she was not going anywhere)

and since I was going to check on her, I brought my tools and bits and bobs to do a couple more odd jobs, I fitted the spare wiper-blade I had, and that one aint great either, im not surprised tho since it came as a pair with the other one, so if that one was bad, the other was not likely to be much better, so ill see about ordering a replacement  

and then I set about doing some electrical jobs, which went off to a good start when I opened my box of crimps upside down!

but eventually I finally got my little USB and voltmeter gauge fitted  

and I also re-replaced the fuse holder for the battery charging circuit, simply because the one I had fitted previously the wire gauge on it was a bit spindly for my liking, but thankfully Halfords did one with a better gauge on it, so I fitted that  

on the topic of the battery charging circuit, I think I will see about fitting the electronic regulator I purchased at some point, since while she will charge with no lights or only side lights on, the moment you stick headlights on, it kinda dies on its arse, even with a lot of revs, it was only outputting about 12.8V with the headlights on (and at anything less then a-lot-of-revs with the headlights on it was in the 11V range)

but its reassuring to know she will charge otherwise if I stick to sidelights only (which is fine in London its all streetlight'ed up here!), at about 20Mph the dynastart is outputting about 13V-13.2V, with lots of revs that climbs to 14.5V or there abouts, I was tempted to go for another blat up the A12 to see how it did at speed, but it was getting dark at that point and traffic looked a bit buggered, so ill do that another day  

as an aside, the other day when the Tippen Delta came to visit, this 10 pence coin fell from somewhere in REV! 

no idea where exactly it came from, but having a car that literally rains money on you is not a bad thing I suppose

all in all another pretty good tinkering session, im especially pleased to get the volt-meter fitted, both so I can finally get a grasp on what the charging system is doing, and have somewhere to charge my phone, but also because I have had said voltmeter since 2019! so its good to finally get it fitted at long last  I also managed to snag my preferred parking spot  

[MiniMinorMk3]

Mini Spares do nice shiney wiper arms and blades

Title

[plasticvandan]

Does look like it's been shoved out the way,something to keep an eye on. I used to fit motorcycle anti tilt alarms to my Reliants,the theft or breaking into wasn't that much of a worry,being turned on it's side or moved was,they use a mercury switch or asset of contacts on a pivot so if the car rocked just a bit it would set the alarm off,might be worth looking into,given if someone was tampering with it you aren't going to be able to run down to it that quickly it might at least alert you,stop them and give you some time.

[lesapandre]

The answer may be to park a car length into the bay leaving enough room to let another car park on the end of the bay. Remote the temptation to tamper with it. You might consider putting a discreet security camera in it if this becomes a regular thing. 

[Christine]

Has the Rover SD1 gone?

[quicksilver]

9 hours ago, barrett said:

Seen on facebook... is this the ultimate autoshite mobility vehicle?

"What's that you're driving, Kees?"

"Het is mijn Kempf"

That's cool, but surely a Hustler Harrier is cooler still.

[egg]

Not very nice person drives ugly modern Bimmer shocker!