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...

[lesapandre]

Liverpool - traffic turning left into Mersey Tunnel approach.

[LightBulbFun]

10 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Liverpool - traffic turning left into Mersey Tunnel approach.

page 465 of the eye catching black and white thread  

https://autoshite.com/topic/17072-eye-catching-black-and-whites/page/465/#findComment-3019623

(see @Pieman this is what I mean LOL)

[lesapandre]

Oops. (Six degrees of separation). I thought I'd seen it before. Just popped up again on the B/W thread. Interesting photo - the Invacar is just about to go into the Mersey Tunnel.

Less 'Ferry Across the Mersey' and more 'Invacar Under the Mersey'.

[Remspoor]

Another possible Invalid Carriage spot.

Looks like a AC  From this  video, who may have borrowed it from Pathe News.

It appears at 7:25 https://youtu.be/T7Z-7alY4_E?si=iMxgmVo22kSLWEUK&t=445

 

[D.E]

AC Petite I think?

[LightBulbFun]

On 25/04/2025 at 16:24, calebaaront said:

managed to get the original picture from the OP  

On 25/04/2025 at 18:30, trigger said:

I was just about to post that too, upsetting the internet being on the motorway in it!

I admit this is where its a shame it got nuked, i'd of loved to have seen what people where saying about that  (the OP says the Admins nuked it!)

 

of course as I have talked about in the past, its perfectly legal, both now and in the past when the Model 70 was current, the old highway code was quite clear about it!

and even the modern know your traffic signs book the government produces mentions it

[Remspoor]

The Troubles | Iconic Movie Scenes vs Real News Footage at min 27:09 This peeks into view.

[wuvvum]

Not strictly an invalid carriage, but it is a small blue automatic 3-wheeler so it sort of fits in here.

 

[LightBulbFun]

finally managed to recover enough to pop down to REV and give her a looking over  

all going well I have got a bit of a trip tomorrow (100 mile round trip or so) I was hoping to give her a full service, but my brother wont be available for that until later in the month, but before going anywhere with REV, after such a long jaunt previously, and with the idle/slow-speed running issues that developed in that, I did want to check a few things over, main thing I wanted to check was the points and condenser etc (I do also want to whip the spark plugs out and see what those look like, but I did not get round to that) everything looked fine for the most part, (no obvious burning of contact surfaces, the condenser still measures a correct capacitance value etc) the points felt  maybe a little tight, so I twiddled and gapped those, but It did not make any difference, but hey at least I did not make it any worse  

I made a recording of her non-idling and stumbling

as you can see she will gradually die off, and if held with the throttle just a touch open she will continually cough and splutter

this is what the fuel filter on the outlet of the fuel tank looks like when running (I *think* this was while she was running quite smoothly while cold on choke)

I noticed while on the big trip there appeared to be a jet of air/gasses coming from the top of the engine, and sure enough I noticed today there is a hole in the PCV's where its coming from, I did try and cover this with my finger but it made no difference to running

if anyones curious how the exhaust bodge is holding up (still seems to be for the most part!)

obligatory chippy-run-after-fettling  once more she's not 100% happy with things at 15-20Mph, seems fine at faster speeds (on my private bit of road officer), so yeah not sure what the issue is exactly, if the carburettor is unhappy with life for some reason, or just does not like the tank of E10 thats currently in there? (I am hoping on my next trip out I can finally get some E5-super back in there) or if there are other things going on that i am not aware of?

soon home again once more tho  

[Snake Charmer]

Have you considered fitting electronic ignition Dez?

[LightBulbFun]

so today another fairly sizeable old trip in REV was had  with a 90 mile round trip to Southend-on-Sea

finally managed to get some E5 super, not that it appears to have made any difference to the lack of idle 

about 27Mpg (although I really brimmed the tank this time, I think at some previous times I might not quite of been filling it up *all* the way, really at some point i need to try somehow fill it from completely empty to see just exactly  how much I can get in there before it starts pouring out the hole LOL)

lack of an idle (Invacar now with stop start technology) and general frumpyness about slow speed running aside REV performed fine, she did completely sputter to a stall one point while I was doing about 25Mph on the A12, while I was in the outside lane, which I am sure made me popular* but she restarted without a hitch, I pulled into a row of houses and apart from the carb being overall damp/slightly cool to the touch with petrol, I could not spot anything amiss, the fuel filter was 5/6th full of petrol for example, so I just continued on my way  

and eventually after battling my way through traffic, I got to the sellers house, yes its me buying more fluorescent lights again  specifically I had been made aware of 2 Brand new, new in box, New old stock, 1970's Atlas Popular pack 5ft fluorescent battens on facebook market place, so now that I have REV etc, I had to snap those up! the Atlas/Thorn Popular pack is a bit of a legendary fixture, and you *very* rarely see NOS/new in box examples like this, hence it being well worth the 90 mile round trip to grab the pair  the seller then told me he had some other bulbs/tubes so I snagged those as well, turns out yes you can get a bundle of *6ft* fluorescent tube in an a Model 70! but you cant get a 6ft fluorescent fixture in an Invacar, thats just slightly too long it turns out (but those where "just" much more modern T8 tube, fitzgerald lightpacks, so I did not feel too bad leaving those behind, but I still would of liked em!) 

and then I headed home  drive back was much more relaxed, less traffic, much more steady cruising (give or take the odd fluorescent tube falling about the place and the fact they blocked the view of the rear view mirror LOL

REV ticking up the miles, not far off 1000 miles since purchase now  I explicitly chose the A12-A127 route, as the A127 is a road that Derry Preston Cobb was famous for flying up and down on in his specially tuned Invacar New Era and later Model 70, so I thought it would be fitting to take REV down that road and I got up to 62Mph on the way there  

all in all I am very pleased with REV, she has been worked quite hard recently, and baring the popped drive-belt which could of entirely been prevented if I had actually changed the drive belt before hand, REV has worked pretty well  sure some issues have cropped up (like the loss of idle or the clutch issue), but they have all been nuisances or niggles, rather then outright show stoppers, I have always been able to accomplish the task I set out to do on every trip  and hopefully with a bit of fettling the niggles can be sorted  

speaking of, these arrived today, which is 2 sets of newly manufactured Model 70 Clutch-shoe springs, I preemptively grabbed these for when REV's clutch is able to be looked at

[Mrs6C]

18 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

2 sets of newly manufactured Model 70 Clutch-shoe springs

Impressive! Who made these?

[LightBulbFun]

22 minutes ago, Mrs6C said:

Impressive! Who made these?

the chap with VAV1L (MPD553P) the Kubota diesel engined Model 70,  had a batch made up after he ran out of spare springs himself, he had an existing good spring tested and reverse engineered to make these, and has since fitted a set of these reproductions to his Model 70 where he says have performed like the originals and without fault, so I purchased some from him, and fingers crossed they will do the trick for REV  

[LightBulbFun]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/658824030328459/

also for @Zelandeth fancy another TPA?  its very cool to see one of the TPA Stanley Argson's actually survive, TPA249 is a new one for the list  

[lesapandre]

Last on the road in 1971 by looks of it.

[dollywobbler]

10 hours ago, Snake Charmer said:

Have you considered fitting electronic ignition Dez?

Would recommend. TWC has been running points-assisted ignition since I got her back on the road. Still on the original set of points, starts and runs beautifully. 

This sounds like it may be fuelling though. Perhaps there is some crud that has got past the filter. A quick fix is to rev REV with the air filter off and slam your hand on top of the carb. Does contain some fire risk as petrol can splash out of the carb. Remove hand before it completely shuts off ideally, but restart otherwise (may take a little longer than normal to catch). Do not wear gloves because the suction will just suck bits of glove in. Your hand will smell of petrol afterwards.

[LightBulbFun]

On 08/05/2025 at 21:10, Snake Charmer said:

Have you considered fitting electronic ignition Dez?

not really, I mean I dont *think* the current issue is ignition related, and the traditional ignition system on the Steyr Puch engine is considered reliable, give or take the odd duff condenser (to which @Zelandeth has devised permanent fix for, and I do have a regular spare in the car) so I rather not add complication or more things to fail if I can help it  and I am trying to keep things fairly original  

you know when the EMP hits, and London falls silent, except for the whirring of an Invacar CVT system  but speaking of EMP's still looking if anyones got any recommendations on a dial-back type timing light? i'd like to try twiddle REV's ignition timing once she is behaving herself again, to see if I can get a little bit more top end out of her  

On 09/05/2025 at 07:27, dollywobbler said:

Would recommend. TWC has been running points-assisted ignition since I got her back on the road. Still on the original set of points, starts and runs beautifully. 

This sounds like it may be fuelling though. Perhaps there is some crud that has got past the filter. A quick fix is to rev REV with the air filter off and slam your hand on top of the carb. Does contain some fire risk as petrol can splash out of the carb. Remove hand before it completely shuts off ideally, but restart otherwise (may take a little longer than normal to catch). Do not wear gloves because the suction will just suck bits of glove in. Your hand will smell of petrol afterwards.

yeah thats been my thoughts as well /next plan of action when I have recovered enough to do some more tinkering with REV  (also see if any of the jets and mixture screws are easily accessible, and if so, make sure those are ok, that none are clogged have rattled loose, I remember at one point she clogged one of those briefly at the FoD!)

[wuvvum]

8 hours ago, dollywobbler said:

A quick fix is to rev REV with the air filter off and slam your hand on top of the carb. Does contain some fire risk as petrol can splash out of the carb. Remove hand before it completely shuts off ideally, but restart otherwise (may take a little longer than normal to catch). Do not wear gloves because the suction will just suck bits of glove in. Your hand will smell of petrol afterwards.

I remember you telling me about this trick years ago when my Honda NH125 blocked up a jet on the way to work - it did the job, the scooter ran fine all the way home.

[wesacosa]

when I was looking for one the best value with the adjustable advance dial I could find was this, although possibly there were some unbranded ones on eBay/Amazon for a bit less.  I'd not bother getting one without the adjustable advance 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-trigger-activated-high-beam-timing-ligh/

if you are passing by this way on your travels any time soon you're welcome to borrow it

[LightBulbFun]

13 minutes ago, CGSB said:

Is the underside swimming in oil, or is it the light/photo making it look that way?

Oh dont worry, the top-side, right side especially, is also swimming in oil just the same  

only a few drips on the ground mind, after a long run, she will leave a few drips on the ground, and after a week of standing, you can see where she was parked, but its not pouring out of the bottom either, I think the air cooled nature of things means what oil does leak out, does get thrown about everywhere, tho of course, it would be nice to make things oil tight if I could, but I think that would be a fairly major engine out job to strip everything down and replace all the seals n what have you

18 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

when I was looking for one the best value with the adjustable advance dial I could find was this, although possibly there were some unbranded ones on eBay/Amazon for a bit less.  I'd not bother getting one without the adjustable advance 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-trigger-activated-high-beam-timing-ligh/

if you are passing by this way on your travels any time soon you're welcome to borrow it

thanks for that ill look into getting one of those I have a very good friend in the states, who recommends an older snap-on unit and said that a lot of the modern units have a failure mode where they can appear to be working,  but not actually (and is a failure mode he himself had experienced), however that snap on unit he recommends is non-existent in the UK it seems sadly! 

[Remspoor]

This AI channel is taking liberties.

 

[Snipes]

Aren't vacum leaks usually the cause of poor idle (I have no idea about Invacars specifically, sorry if nonsense post!)

[Yoss]

14 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

 would be nice to make things oil tight if I could, but I think that would be a fairly major engine out job to strip everything down and replace all the seals n what have you

 

And even then there is no guarantee it will work. I've done the front oil seal on the Triumph three times and it just starts leaking again quite soon after. This is quite common apparently as modern oil seals are shit.

I've given up now and just let it leak. Fortunately part of the subframe runs underneath it in a U shaped channel so catches most of the oil and you can mop it out before it fills up and starts overflowing. It's almost as if they knew it was going to leak. 

[Saabnut]

Spotted these on an industrial estate near me. I had forgotten them, they have been here years.....

 

[LightBulbFun]

4 hours ago, Saabnut said:

Spotted these on an industrial estate near me. I had forgotten them, they have been here years.....

 

ahh yeah I know the pair quite well and who owns them, it pains me to see them left outside like that, they really deserve better then that, especially the one closest to the camera with the indicator-ears, which is the sole known surviving AC Acedes Mk9 and a private machine on top of that, its quite a historically significant machine because of that

it is for sale, and I would purchase it, but I dont have anywhere to put it or the @AdgeCutler type skills to it justice!, but if I won the lottery sort of thing it would be one of the vehicles that I would give a blank-cheque restoration to so to speak  (I have tried to convince others to purchase it, but its not helped that the seller wants pretty strong money given the state its in it because of its registration mark, he is somewhat understandably fearful someone would otherwise just buy it to rob it of its plate and toss the rest away) 

I appreciate the photos tho, its good at least they are still extant and that they actually near you/your near the chap who owns them!  

[Weird Car]

38 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

the seller wants pretty strong money

How much money is pretty strong money for one of these? When if my memory serves correct similar if not slightly different marks in much better condition have sold not too long ago for less than £2k 

[Andyrew]

Figured this belongs in here

Harper wheel now more wheel shaped

[wuvvum]

Now we just need to get the Harper more Harper-shaped and all will be well...

[LightBulbFun]

2 hours ago, Andyrew said:

Figured this belongs in here

Harper wheel now more wheel shaped

Awesome! many thanks for taking care of that for us  its very awesome to see some forward progress with the harper! it makes me feel better seeing/knowing its getting a bit of TLC  that one step closer to getting our moneys worth out of the Historic ULEZ exemption in a cloud of 2 stroke down Oxford street  (I hope the engine is still turning freely as it was when we first picked it up, i'd still like to try get it running one of these FoD days!)

for those unaware that wheel had rusted away a bit, I mention it because @Andyrew's repair is literally seamless! its fantastic  

[Mrs6C]

35 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

@Andyrew's repair is literally seamless! its fantastic

Yep, I'd agree with that!