Ask a Shiter

[cort16]

Are you sure it's not wired up the wrong way around? It's a bit weird it spins the wrong direction as a fault.

[Eddie Honda]

Pinion end of starter motor facing you.

[captain_70s]

Right, in the case my starter should be going the right way, and indeed it does when it's sat on the floor. I thought I may have somehow acquired a rare 1300fwd example by accident!

 

It should be wired up correctly according to the wiring diagram, the starter itself only takes a live as it's earthed through the body. The only potential issue is I remember having to change the wiring up slightly to get it running electronic ignition. Either way I don't think there is any way I could wire it up that would allow it to correctly engage backwards?!

 

I'm still bloody confused as to the problem!

[cort16]

Are Dolomites not positive earth as in the positive goes to the body and the negative goes to the systems ? could be wrong /irrelevant .

[captain_70s]

Nah, they're negative earth. Mine was a positive earth briefly when Dad wired in the battery backwards, he had to buy me a new alternator for that.

 

In his defence he was used to working on the other Dolly which has it's battery on the opposite side facing the other way!

[Richard]

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[Asimo]

The direction an original Lucas type starter spins has nothing to do with +ve / -ve earth. It is a function of the way the field winding is wired relative to the brushes.

The Bendix / inertia-spiral widget has to be correct for the rotation direction too.

 

Modern starters with primary gear reduction and permanent magnet motor would motor backwards if on +ve earth.

 

Does the car bump start ok?

[captain_70s]

Does the car bump start ok?

It's been sat for a year and the clutch hydraulics have escaped. Might be the next port of call though... Really need to get the thing running and driving for the whole "moving 200 miles away in a week's time" thing.

[Anthony]

Is the ignition timing and HT lead order defo correct? I've had a starter do that before - crank strongly before stopping dead when the engine went to start - and it turned out at the ignition timing was a mile out so that it was trying to fire part way through the compression stroke, thus stopping the engine dead.

[captain_70s]

Is the ignition timing and HT lead order defo correct? I've had a starter do that before - crank strongly before stopping dead when the engine went to start - and it turned out at the ignition timing was a mile out so that it was trying to fire part way through the compression stroke, thus stopping the engine dead.

I'd love to say I'm not dim enough to have done this, however I'll check when I see the car tomorrow. Just in case I have, because I could have...

[3VOM]

New question, the engine turns over fine but as soon as she tries to fire the starter stops dead with a metallic crashing noise. The starter is brand new and sitting on the floor connected to a battery it seems to work fine, put it on the car and it'll spin the engine too, as soon as the engine even tries to turn itself, BANG. Instant stoppage.

Bendix isn't the correct one for the engine? It isn't moving fully out of the way so jams into the flywheel?

[Richard]

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[Richard]

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[Dippy]

Can anybody identify these light lenses as i have come across them but cant identify them.

 

The bottom one is 2 pieces and the box is marked 1961

 

[Inspector Morose]

Top one is a Lucas sidelight lens commonly found on buses and lorries from the 50s to the 70s. It should have a chrome surround with two screws (top and bottom) it also had a metal housing that contained the (5w) bulb that the lens and surround screwed in to. Stupid fact #754 - three of these units were fitted to the engine bays of leyland nationals as compartment lights long after the unit was used for its intended purpose of a side light. I'd imagine they got all the obsolete surplus stock from Lucas. I've never found one working but they were a great source of sidelight units for the VR I had at the time. Due to the fact that were plastered in oily shit, after cleaning up they came up like brand new!

Haven't a clue with the bottom one, sorry.

[Dippy]

Thanks FPB7 thats a bery comprehensive answer.

[Parky]

Wonder Wheels Alloy wheel cleaner....

 

I have bought some but the inter web seems to be full of stories ranging from "yeah it's pukka m8" to "I put it on and it melted my car and my hands"

 

I have some pitting on my wheels and bought some to give it a whirl but having read some of the tales I am having second thoughts. Has anyone on here used it and did it melt your wheels and your hands?

[rainagain]

I'm changing an ABS ring on my OH's Tucson, I went to put the driveshaft back and noticed the strut was hanging down. It looks like the top mount has come apart. I can't see anything else that could hold it together but glue and luck. Are these mounts normally bonded? New ones aren't expensive but I really could do with getting it back on the road sooner rather than later. Could I bond it with something? I'm worried if I get this wrong it could pop out when the suspension is unloaded

[gordonbennet]

Wonder Wheels Alloy wheel cleaner....

 

I have bought some but the inter web seems to be full of stories ranging from "yeah it's pukka m8" to "I put it on and it melted my car and my hands"

 

I have some pitting on my wheels and bought some to give it a whirl but having read some of the tales I am having second thoughts. Has anyone on here used it and did it melt your wheels and your hands?

 

It shouldn't be any worse than any strong TFR or other wheel cleaner, avoid breathing in the spray or fumes, wear some gloves when agitating so you don't get it on your mitts in undiluted form and avoid splashes in yer mince pies as you would with any chemicals.

I suppose some fool thought it would be a good idea to wash the whole car with it by sponge application with bare hands and left it on to dry, hence the car/hand melting hysterics.

 

Bilt Hamber make a new different type of wheel cleaner that doesn't attack the finish but its seriously expensive stuff.

[Station]

I'm changing an ABS ring on my OH's Tucson, I went to put the driveshaft back and noticed the strut was hanging down. It looks like the top mount has come apart. I can't see anything else that could hold it together but glue and luck. Are these mounts normally bonded? New ones aren't expensive but I really could do with getting it back on the road sooner rather than later. Could I bond it with something? I'm worried if I get this wrong it could pop out when the suspension is unloaded

The 'rubber' is baked and just bonds to the metal. They're all shite nowadays and last a year. Astra mk3 ones are terrible, but I've never had one go, I don't think it's possible to have any thing bad happen as only the suspension shock absorber mounts to it.

[Des]

Can anybody identify these light lenses as i have come across them but cant identify them.

 

The bottom one is 2 pieces and the box is marked 1961

 

IMG_3411.JPG

 

Top one fits rear on early Bristols, used a red lens inside for the Lexus effect 50 years early. 

[bub2006]

Ford mondeo 2.0 tdci on a 54 plate. My dad said it's been a bit stiff going through the box for past couple of days when cold until today when he went to skeg and rang to tell me it had jammed in reverse. Is this going to be linkages or gearbox failure? He's talking of bridging it!

[Richard]

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[bub2006]

I plan to have a look and try talk him out of bridging it.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Is this tyre now buggered?

 

 

 

 

Looks like that all the way round. Mrs Shrimp drove it with 13psi in.

[dave21478]

If I bought the car that tyre was attached to, I wouldnt even give it a second thought. I probably wouldnt even notice it. Therefor I say crack on. Your mileage may (quite literally) vary.

[Guest Hooli]

I think it's legal unless you can see the cord so I'd say it's fine.

 

Still slap Mrs Shrimp with a kipper mind.

[dave21478]

By the way, I am talking about the wiggly line around the circumference, not the wee missing chunks which are nothing at all and not worth worrying about.

[Guest Hooli]

I hadn't even noticed that!

Only way to know is take it off & check the inside I'd say. I had a tyre die on the goona due to a pothole bending the chocolate wheels. It looked fine outside but half the rubber inside the tyre was rolling round loose as dust.

[myglaren]

Is it RONG to be a bloke and use bubble bath?

 

Used some this evening for the first time since being 3 years old and it seemed a weird thing to do

Better than using Swarfega in the bath.