Ask a Shiter

[Guest Hooli]

That lawn mover carb looks identical to my chainsaw carb. My chainsaw is a fake sthil, so could be worth looking for a manual that way.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

What's the point of a 3.5 ton recovery vehicle? Surely they only have a tiny payload?

[twosmoke300]

Most drivers / operators of them seem to think weights limits don't apply to them

[scaryoldcortina]

My LT had a payload of about 1400kg, so enough for the old tat I was hauling around on it, but I agree with twosmoke about the "doesn't apply to me" brigade, and especially so for the ones that think their 3.5T transit with some ramps is MoT exempt.

[twosmoke300]

Most modern focus sized cars will put a 3.5t truck overweight unless it's got a really light alloy body

[They_all_do_that_sir]

My LT had a payload of about 1400kg, so enough for the old tat I was hauling around on it, but I agree with twosmoke about the "doesn't apply to me" brigade, and especially so for the ones that think their 3.5T transit with some ramps is MoT exempt.

 

 

Most modern focus sized cars will put a 3.5t truck overweight unless it's got a really light alloy body

 

Kinda what I thought - older recovery vehicle might have a reasonable payload, but a modern truck must surely be well into the 3.5 itself.

 

opportunistic manufacturers down-plating to 3.5t knowing fine rightly their customers will carry more?

[DodgeRover]

Most modern focus sized cars will put a 3.5t truck overweight unless it's got a really light alloy body

Alloy bed and a bare bones build on a poverty spec truck to keep the unladen weight down as well, a crew cab will usually be right at the rear axle weight limit too.

[sierraman]

Re the carb question. I'd give thought to the cost of a new carb. Last new one I bought cost £8.50 delivered...

[steve_earwig]

3. pull the battery and bring it inside for the winter 

That's what I was going to add (but took too long about it) - batteries don't like freezing.

 

Perversely, I had a quick Google (I really should stop using that) to see if I could find some figures and was told hot temperatures are far worse. Really? So why do so many more batteries get sold in the winter? Maybe if you live in Death Valley...

[Stanky]

Opinions on price chaps.

 

My much loved Almera is due an MOT in about 2 weeks, the exhaust has taken its cue to rot through just before the rear silencer and just by the front flexi. I've taken it in to be looked at and been quoted £400 + VAT for a complete downpipe-back setup including cat which is a bit salty IMHO.

 

I've wobbed up the back of it with exhaust paste but the front bit is going to be a twat to do and won't last long due to it needing to flex.

 

It also needs 4 tyres before christmas so that being the case I'm looking at £600 of work for a £400 car which we've stuck 80k miles on. I'm a bit sad when I think about taking it to see James Brown but at the same time I could get something else in better shape for £600 and just sack this off.

 

thoughts?

[steveo3002]

most £600 replacements may well need an exhuast /tyres /cam belt as well

 

better the devil you know and all that ....any scope for some ebay flexi /pipe and a hour with the welder?

[Jazoli]

 

 

Opinions on price chaps.

 

My much loved Almera is due an MOT in about 2 weeks, the exhaust has taken its cue to rot through just before the rear silencer and just by the front flexi. I've taken it in to be looked at and been quoted £400 + VAT for a complete downpipe-back setup including cat which is a bit salty IMHO.

 

I've wobbed up the back of it with exhaust paste but the front bit is going to be a twat to do and won't last long due to it needing to flex.

 

It also needs 4 tyres before christmas so that being the case I'm looking at £600 of work for a £400 car which we've stuck 80k miles on. I'm a bit sad when I think about taking it to see James Brown but at the same time I could get something else in better shape for £600 and just sack this off.

 

thoughts?

It all depends really, I have bridged/sold cars before that needed their value spending on them but regretted it when their replacement has been a load of crap, £400 for an exhaust is very pricy, I'm sure a bit of shopping around could halve that price, if you fancy a change just scrap it and buy something else, plenty of decent cars (if you look carefully) for £600

[Guest Hooli]

That's what I was going to add (but took too long about it) - batteries don't like freezing.

 

Perversely, I had a quick Google (I really should stop using that) to see if I could find some figures and was told hot temperatures are far worse. Really? So why do so many more batteries get sold in the winter? Maybe if you live in Death Valley...

 

Hot weather does seem to be worse for batteries, but cold weather means the engine needs a lot more amps to turn over.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

What's the point of a 3.5 ton recovery vehicle? Surely they only have a tiny payload?

I was the CPC holder for my mates recovery firm for years, other people look at us funny when we refer to:

" Another one of them 5 tonne Transits "

 

This was the guy who bought my knackered 5 Series last year. " Can I pick it up after 9? Less VOSA then!!!!

[jonathan_dyane]

My Primera goes round corners better than pretty much anything I've ever driven. It does however have a very firm ride and I'm contemplating when I need new tyres replacing the original spec 195 60 15 tyres with 185 65 15 however will it make much of a difference?

[Guest Hooli]

Bit more comfort, bit more tyre roll in bends.

 

Depending on the make of the tyres of course as some have firmer sidewalls than others.

[Richard]

My Primera goes round corners better than pretty much anything I've ever driven. It does however have a very firm ride and I'm contemplating when I need new tyres replacing the original spec 195 60 15 tyres with 185 65 15 however will it make much of a difference?

 

Won't they have exactly the same amount of rubber in the sidewalls?

[Pillock]

Approximately. The 60 or 65 is a ratio, it means the sidewall height is 65% of the 185mm width f'rexample. Because you are narrowing the tyre as the aspect gets larger, they almost cancel each other out.

 

185R65 have a sidewall height of 120mm

195R60 have a sidewall height of 117mm

 

What you might want is to increase the aspect ratio without narrowing the tyre, but you might run into clearance issues. And your speedo will read slow, although it probably already reads fast so might not matter.

[worldofceri]

I was the CPC holder for my mates recovery firm for years, other people look at us funny when we refer to:

" Another one of them 5 tonne Transits "

 

Of course, you can get a 5t Transit.  But, you need and O licence for one of those, something many owners are unaware of judging by the lack of a little blue disc in the windscreen of most.

[rainagain]

Looks like I'm going to need a a good length of 10mm copper pipe, its a bit bigger than I initially thought

I is a tube bending ninja. I couldn't make a flare at each end so I soldered on a couple of olives instead.

 

All fitted tonight, I will report back if it splits in a geyser of power steering fluid

[somewhatfoolish]

That's what I was going to add (but took too long about it) - batteries don't like freezing.

 

Perversely, I had a quick Google (I really should stop using that) to see if I could find some figures and was told hot temperatures are far worse. Really? So why do so many more batteries get sold in the winter? Maybe if you live in Death Valley...

 

Oil gets thicker the colder it is which makes starters do more work, putting more strain on the battery and the charging circuit. The cold also reduces the ability of the chemistry in the battery to put out current.

[andy18s]

Approximately. The 60 or 65 is a ratio, it means the sidewall height is 65% of the 185mm width f'rexample. Because you are narrowing the tyre as the aspect gets larger, they almost cancel each other out.

 

185R65 have a sidewall height of 120mm

195R60 have a sidewall height of 117mm

 

What you might want is to increase the aspect ratio without narrowing the tyre, but you might run into clearance issues. And your speedo will read slow, although it probably already reads fast so might not matter.

That's assuming the tyre actually measures 185 across,there's a massive amount of variance between manufacturers..

[GrumpyCat]

Would this fail an MOT?

 

[steveo3002]

dent wont , maybe tape the bumper edge to be sure 

[rainagain]

Just been out for a spin in a colleague's Tuscon, when cold you can engage gears ok, but there is only a small amount of movement in the clutch pedal. Once it heats up you have to push the pedal right to the carpet, even then it is really hard to get it into gear.

 

Anyone want to suggest what is faulty? I'm thinking the pressure plate is failing

[steveo3002]

is it hyd clutch?  might need a bleed /look for leaks on the clyinders

[AMC Rebel]

What's the point of a 3.5 ton recovery vehicle? Surely they only have a tiny payload?

The bloke who recovered my ZT-T back here (the first time) more or less admitted it was overweight.  It was a nearly new Citroen chassis cab with a tilt and slide - single wheel rear axle.

 

Would I need an O licence for a 7.5 tone GVW recovery/beavertail thing if it was just for fun?  I know I'd need CPC if driving even 7.5t for a job - but if it was for collecting my own chod or taking to shows I don't think I do.  I have grandad rights to drive 7.5t (being old enough to be a Grandad).

[rainagain]

is it hyd clutch?  might need a bleed /look for leaks on the clyinders

Sorry meant to say, yes it's a hydraulic clutch and I've checked no leaks

[barefoot]

Woman next door asked me how to get mould off her folding roof - MX5 - I didn't know.

She was steam cleaning it, I didn't know about that either.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The bloke who recovered my ZT-T back here (the first time) more or less admitted it was overweight.  It was a nearly new Citroen chassis cab with a tilt and slide - single wheel rear axle.

 

Would I need an O licence for a 7.5 tone GVW recovery/beavertail thing if it was just for fun?  I know I'd need CPC if driving even 7.5t for a job - but if it was for collecting my own chod or taking to shows I don't think I do.  I have grandad rights to drive 7.5t (being old enough to be a Grandad).

Not if its registered as a private vehicle and taxed as such. You used to have to have " Not for Hire or reward" signs or stickers on the cab doors, . The problem is if you were ever tempted to pick a car up for a mate or weigh in a scrapper not registered to you, You'd have a hard time proving to VOSA that you weren't doing it for profit. There have been cases of VOSA prosecuting people moving their own race/rally cars because they've got a sponsors sticker on them and that makes it business use.

In theory you shouldn't need to use a tacho either.

I haven't worked as a Transport Manager for at least 5 years, so this could all have been superseded !