Ask a Shiter

[cort16]

I presume (probably wrongly) it's a 3 pin one and you'd need something like this.

 

[3VOM]

96db ain't quiet.

[Pillock]

13A at 230V is about 3000W so that sucker will run almost anything you plug in to a socket, but if you're using both sockets you can run stuff that drags up to about 6A each. Just check the ratings plate on anything you'd be plugging in.

[hairymel]

My garage has no power. I have been contemplating getting a cheap generator.  Would one rated at 13 amps (obviously 240 volts) work my compressor and power sanders and stuff? I know sweet FA about household eclectrickery so is it as simple as will run 13 amp plug therefore anything with a 13 amp fuse will be fine?

 

Or do I need to worry about watts and amps and other complicated shit?

 

simple or complicated shit depending on what you plug in!

 

I presume (probably wrongly) it's a 3 pin one and you'd need something like this.

 

 

it has normal 13amp domestic sockets under the flaps i think* ( i have one myself and used it once last year and haven't got any adaptors so it must do right?)

 

13A at 230V is about 3000W so that sucker will run almost anything you plug in to a socket, but if you're using both sockets you can run stuff that drags up to about 6A each. Just check the ratings plate on anything you'd be plugging in.

 

there are allsorts of issues with inductive loads, power correction factors, inrush currents, waveforms and loads of other bolllocks that i know even less about.

 

a 2.6/2.8kva generator will run most hand tools ok and should provide power for lights (flouro's can be troublesome,incandecents are ok but led lights are dirt cheap and should be ok as well) compressor is probably not viable but i'm sure someone else will have a more valid opinion 

[spike60]

Anyone know how to deflate the suspension air bags on an E39 touring? I know the problem is usually keeping them up but I have a bucket of bushes to fit tomorrow and don't want to be fighting the air bags. I work on plant with them but they just have mechanical levelling valves, this is ecu controlled. Can I just take the levelling links off and move the potentiometer? Cheers.

[KruJoe]

LOL'd at Tayne, my A-frame success rate is not that bad!

 

 

I'm meeting Bub on Wednesday next week to drop off some shite, I'm in Bradford on the Tuesday so I could possibly meet KJ somewhere and pick up the A? Skipton or something?
 

 

Sorry Dave, just seen this. I have quite a busy day on Tuesday, but I'll be near home during the afternoon, so you'd be welcome to pop up here and have a brew and the shite tour. (There may be cake too, MrsKJ is currently baking!)

 

We're about 20mins the other side of Skipton. What time will your business in Bratfud be finished? And would you be willing to come up here for the "A" for Bub?

I may be able to escape and meet you, but can't say just now.

[M'coli]

Erm...I'm coming up for some cabbage juice this weekend, and then driving down to Brizzle again tomorrow night - I could pop the 'frame in the boot of the ZX and meet Bub at a motorway junction (dare I say the A38 junction?), so that might be easiest.  Let me know.

[dave21478]

Batteries - This is getting on my tits.

 

Its a new battery for my big mower. It started and ran fine for a couple of weeks then suddenly nowt - wont start without a jump. The mow puts out a solid 14.4v when running so alternator is likely fine.

 

With the battery on the bench if I put a meter across it I get 12.6v, but if I wire an indicator bulb across it the bulb only lights up half brightness and the meter drops to 8.something. That suggests the battery is goosed, yes?

 

It has one of those magic eye things on it which shows green, allegedly meaning its good.

 

I have charged it with an "intelligent" charger and I have charged it with a big buzzing steel box charger. Results dont vary.

It will occasionally light the bulb up full brightness, but it only lasts a couple of seconds before it dims again. I wondered about an iffy contact but have sanded the terminals down to shiny clean metal and it makes no difference.

[Dave_Q]

Erm...I'm coming up for some cabbage juice this weekend, and then driving down to Brizzle again tomorrow night - I could pop the 'frame in the boot of the ZX and meet Bub at a motorway junction (dare I say the A38 junction?), so that might be easiest. Let me know.

This would probably be good as I'm now heading south on monday not wednesday so wouldn't have time to get the A from team_cabbage.

[bub2006]

That would be fantastic. Thank you

[M'coli]

Soundo. I'll be setting off tomorrow evening at about half 8-9pm, probably take about an hour or so to get down to the a38 unless there's roadworks like last weekend, so pm me ont' Faceache.

[bub2006]

Erm, not sure of real name so you pm me? Krujoe how soon do you need it back? Also does anyone know where I can buy a light board extension lead?

[worldofceri]

[M'coli]

Erm, not sure of real name so you pm me? Krujoe how soon do you need it back? Also does anyone know where I can buy a light board extension lead?

PM'd!

[KruJoe]

All arranged now Bub, sorry I've been busy on the Maz this afternoon.

 

Cameron will collect it tomorrow from Castle_Cleland, and meet you with it, and he can scoop it up again to bring it back north before next weekend.

I may have a trailer board extension here. If I find one to lend, please keep it from getting snagged in the 'A', but also don't let it drag on the road.

Have you used an A-frame before? Hook up right or there'll be casualties amongst Derbyshire's felines and holy sisters. Please stop and re-tighten the straps a mile after setting off. Etc... There's pages of lessons on the subject!

Good luck.

[bub2006]

Thanks Joe. Not used one before but have done much much research and I always check things after so far. I do with caravan,bike rack and trailer loads.

[beko1987]

 

I shot a video of the noise the zx makes on idle, it seems a bit tappy, is this normal? Coming from the lhs of the engine I think

 

No change in noise whilst idling with no aux belt, so it's the engine. All pulleys rotated smoothly when freed from the old belt.

 

Is there anything I can fettle or should I just leave it? Doesn't sound any worse than 3 year old vag derv shit I hear whilst stuck in traffic tbh...

[KruJoe]

Beko: Just turn t'wireless up.

 

Bub: I just sent Cameron down the road, fully veg'd up, boot full of cabbage_juice, A-frame, and an old trailer board extension I found in our shed. I haven't checked out the electrical connections, so I expect it might need TLC for your lights to work right with it. Good luck!

[bub2006]

Thanks Joe. Do you need it back asap or shitefest be OK?

[Station]

Anyone know how to deflate the suspension air bags on an E39 touring? I know the problem is usually keeping them up but I have a bucket of bushes to fit tomorrow and don't want to be fighting the air bags. I work on plant with them but they just have mechanical levelling valves, this is ecu controlled. Can I just take the levelling links off and move the potentiometer? Cheers.

 

Unplug the motor underneath the seats should do it, or if not, disconnecting the pipe on the sides of the bags (somehow) will quickly deflate them. WTC had a 545 with rear bags and pump had gone. We inflated the bags with a compressor to see if they worked, and he bought a new pump for it. I'd take the weight off the back end before doing it.

[spike60]

Unplug the motor underneath the seats should do it, or if not, disconnecting the pipe on the sides of the bags (somehow) will quickly deflate them. WTC had a 545 with rear bags and pump had gone. We inflated the bags with a compressor to see if they worked, and he bought a new pump for it. I'd take the weight off the back end before doing it.

Ta for that. I've done one side now and had to disconnect the levelling linkage to drop the wishbone low enough. If you manually push it up the compressor kicks in to lift but pull it down it doesn't lower. I couldn't see any easy way of taking any pipes off but managed anyway, 17 year old and 250k miles gave more chew than 60psi!

[Eddie Honda]

Batteries - This is getting on my tits.

Sounds like a dodgy connection between cells and the battery is shagged. Don't be distracted by the Magic Eye as that only tells you about one cell and not the other five.

[KruJoe]

My trailer is still bollocksed thanks* to idiot brother, (not Will,) so it'd be nice to have the 'A' back, "just in case"

 

Cameron said he wouldn't mind scooping it back up on his way back north on Thurs/Friday. Even if it stays at his place for a couple weeks, it's not so far away if we do need it.

[bub2006]

That's great. Thank you

[New POD]

At lidl this week for £179

 

2800w

 

 

It seems to have 230v and 3 phase type power outlets so you'd need an adapter to run normal tools

 

 

http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=33488

 

And you'll need ear defenders at 96 Db !!! Neighbours are going to love that.

[saucedoctor]

Does anyone know where I can get old new car price lists? By that I mean what the new price of a car was in, say, 2002?

[drum]

Stupid question incoming...

 

I picked up some wheels for the disco. Turns out the tyres are decent which is a bonus, but...one of the four is a different size to the other three. 255 65 as opposed to 235 70. They all look the same in diameter so I measured the circumference. The odd one is 20mm bigger in circumference or about 3mm in radius. The equivalent of good tread versus poor tread. Would running these mismatched tyres on the same axle lead to a trail of dead nuns and kittens and a wound up differential while being pursued by the rozzers?

 

I know the advice is not to, but I'm curious why the differentials (axle and centre diff) can't cope with marginal difference in tyre size. Give me the physics please.

[myglaren]

Anyone know what this is called (the handle bit).

This is mine but I lost one at work with a much smaller collet.

I need it to hold a 2mm long form drill and mine is no good.

 

 

Having no luck searching for one.

[gordonbennet]

Stupid question incoming...

 

I picked up some wheels for the disco. Turns out the tyres are decent which is a bonus, but...one of the four is a different size to the other three. 255 65 as opposed to 235 70. They all look the same in diameter so I measured the circumference. The odd one is 20mm bigger in circumference or about 3mm in radius. The equivalent of good tread versus poor tread. Would running these mismatched tyres on the same axle lead to a trail of dead nuns and kittens and a wound up differential while being pursued by the rozzers?

 

I know the advice is not to, but I'm curious why the differentials (axle and centre diff) can't cope with marginal difference in tyre size. Give me the physics please.

 

As i see it, the diffs cope fine with normal variations as turns etc are taken, its sustained straight road high speed running where both the individual axle diff, and in the case of a 4x4, where the centre diff as well are working constantly to mitigate the variation in wheel size where the problems occur.

Worse with centre diff systems made of cheese like Freelander 1.

[dave21478]

Stupid question incoming...

 

I picked up some wheels for the disco. Turns out the tyres are decent which is a bonus, but...one of the four is a different size to the other three. 255 65 as opposed to 235 70. They all look the same in diameter so I measured the circumference. The odd one is 20mm bigger in circumference or about 3mm in radius. The equivalent of good tread versus poor tread. Would running these mismatched tyres on the same axle lead to a trail of dead nuns and kittens and a wound up differential while being pursued by the rozzers?

 

I know the advice is not to, but I'm curious why the differentials (axle and centre diff) can't cope with marginal difference in tyre size. Give me the physics please.

 

No harm done with an open diff....the difference in radius is minimal, but even if it were larger the diff would compensate fine, it would just be like constantly going round a slight curve as far as the diff is concerned as you drive in a straight line.

 

Not legal though. tyres need to be in pairs on the same axle. size-wise.