Ask a Shiter

[dollywobbler]

Hi Caffiend. I've discovered that the only real way to learn is just get stuck in. Forums are great for queries, as is a good manual. The biggest problem is having somewhere to work. It's incredibly different to have a garage/workshop where you can just down tools and come back to a problem later and not have to worry about packing up. Any chance of getting your hands on a lock-up? You've already got two cars, which REALLY takes the pressure off. When the car is in bits, it's getting dark and you need the car working to get to work in the morning, tinkering is rarely fun!

 

This place is good too. I've seen a lot of encouraging advice, but nowt beats just getting stuck in. A couple of years ago, I would never have thought I'd be ripping hub assemblies apart and rebuilding/replacing brake calipers. You soon learn that it's all just undoing bolts and fiddling with things a bit really. The only real problem is keeping safe - good axle stands, decent mechanics' gloves (I find these excellent for avoiding skinned knuckles!) and goggles if you're grinding.

 

Actually, I'll edit this to say find a good specialist who's happy to have you hanging about the place. You'll learn an awful lot. In this situation, I do try and send the odd job their way though as it feels like creative theft otherwise!

[dollywobbler]

Hi Caffiend. I've discovered that the only real way to learn is just get stuck in. Forums are great for queries, as is a good manual. The biggest problem is having somewhere to work. It's incredibly different to have a garage/workshop where you can just down tools and come back to a problem later and not have to worry about packing up. Any chance of getting your hands on a lock-up? You've already got two cars, which REALLY takes the pressure off. When the car is in bits, it's getting dark and you need the car working to get to work in the morning, tinkering is rarely fun!

 

This place is good too. I've seen a lot of encouraging advice, but nowt beats just getting stuck in. A couple of years ago, I would never have thought I'd be ripping hub assemblies apart and rebuilding/replacing brake calipers. You soon learn that it's all just undoing bolts and fiddling with things a bit really. The only real problem is keeping safe - good axle stands, decent mechanics' gloves (I find these excellent for avoiding skinned knuckles!) and goggles if you're grinding.

 

Actually, I'll edit this to say find a good specialist who's happy to have you hanging about the place. You'll learn an awful lot. In this situation, I do try and send the odd job their way though as it feels like creative theft otherwise!

[cobblers]

Arch liner

 

Nah thats fine. Id be tempted to repair it DRIFTU style by drilling some holes and stitching it back up with cable ties, just so you can be sure it doesn't get pulled under the wheel at speed which is pretty scary for both the driver of the car, and anyone following (ask me how I know it's happened 3 times, too.)

[cobblers]

Arch liner

 

Nah thats fine. Id be tempted to repair it DRIFTU style by drilling some holes and stitching it back up with cable ties, just so you can be sure it doesn't get pulled under the wheel at speed which is pretty scary for both the driver of the car, and anyone following (ask me how I know it's happened 3 times, too.)

[vulgalour]

I didn't know where else to put this but... Why didn't BL ever make an alloy wheel featuring the BL fan as the design? If I win the lottery, I'm getting a set made.

 

[vulgalour]

I didn't know where else to put this but... Why didn't BL ever make an alloy wheel featuring the BL fan as the design? If I win the lottery, I'm getting a set made.

 

[Albert Ross]

It's not a fan, it's a plughole.

[Albert Ross]

It's not a fan, it's a plughole.

[trigger]

[trigger]

[vulgalour]

hah! I had forgotten all about that similarity.

 

Caffiend: You're welcome to play 'put the Polo back together' if you're anywhere near me (I have no idea where you are) but it might be a bit like the partially sighted leading the blind as I'm still learning too.

[vulgalour]

hah! I had forgotten all about that similarity.

 

Caffiend: You're welcome to play 'put the Polo back together' if you're anywhere near me (I have no idea where you are) but it might be a bit like the partially sighted leading the blind as I'm still learning too.

[cobblers]

the partially sighted leading the blind.

 

With a "total wipeout" theme, This would make a pretty good gameshow.

[cobblers]

the partially sighted leading the blind.

 

With a "total wipeout" theme, This would make a pretty good gameshow.

[ashmicro]

Cheers boys. It seems solid, but I think I'll do the HE DONE GONE SIDEWAYS fix with cable ties.

 

Ta muchly

[ashmicro]

Cheers boys. It seems solid, but I think I'll do the HE DONE GONE SIDEWAYS fix with cable ties.

 

Ta muchly

[Caffiend]

You soon learn that it's all just undoing bolts and fiddling with things a bit really.

My big issue is putting it all back together again so it works. The car is just so much more nerve-racking and expensive - and less portable - than the occasional dead household appliance that I've taken screwdrivers and allen keys to (if they're broken already, what's the worst that could happen?)

 

Actually, I'll edit this to say find a good specialist who's happy to have you hanging about the place.

One of the first Qs I asked Rob (at Chevronics) was whether he is open weekends, as a lead in to asking if I could do just that . He's not, unfortunately. Thanks Volksangyl, but I'm guessing Northern Wastes is well beyond Watford Gap - I'm in Hertfordshire. Otherwise that would have been perfick!

 

I'm a bit doubtful about the safety/security of my local lockups and neighbours have spoken negatively of them - but I'm beginning to think I might have to give one a shot if council will let me take a look without committing to the £50/month first.

 

I need to JFDI and I know it - but I'se skeeeered. Someone looming over my shoulder barking at me not to undo 'that bolt' unless I want the entire gearbox to drop into the road would be good!

 

Thanks all, there will be a useless girl thread after next payday when I've bought axle stands and a trolley jack to add to my basic spanner/socket sets (this payday accounted for by welding >.<)

[Caffiend]

You soon learn that it's all just undoing bolts and fiddling with things a bit really.

My big issue is putting it all back together again so it works. The car is just so much more nerve-racking and expensive - and less portable - than the occasional dead household appliance that I've taken screwdrivers and allen keys to (if they're broken already, what's the worst that could happen?)

 

Actually, I'll edit this to say find a good specialist who's happy to have you hanging about the place.

One of the first Qs I asked Rob (at Chevronics) was whether he is open weekends, as a lead in to asking if I could do just that . He's not, unfortunately. Thanks Volksangyl, but I'm guessing Northern Wastes is well beyond Watford Gap - I'm in Hertfordshire. Otherwise that would have been perfick!

 

I'm a bit doubtful about the safety/security of my local lockups and neighbours have spoken negatively of them - but I'm beginning to think I might have to give one a shot if council will let me take a look without committing to the £50/month first.

 

I need to JFDI and I know it - but I'se skeeeered. Someone looming over my shoulder barking at me not to undo 'that bolt' unless I want the entire gearbox to drop into the road would be good!

 

Thanks all, there will be a useless girl thread after next payday when I've bought axle stands and a trolley jack to add to my basic spanner/socket sets (this payday accounted for by welding >.<)

[catsinthewelder]

The VW forum that I lurk round on runs 'techenders' events twice a year at a campsite in Leicestershire. They're a great idea involving getting keen amateur (and the odd pro) spanner wielders of various abilitys together.

 

A weekend would involve meeting at the site on Friday then getting drunk while watching some of the really keen types start something major on one of the vans. The Saturday would have the experts showing the beginners how to do a basic service while those middle ability types got on with things they hadn't tryed before, safe in the knowledge that theres a few experts on hand to sort it out if it goes tits up.

 

Drunk again Saturday night then hopefully make sure everthings reassembled on Sunday morning ready for home.

 

Could this work for BX's?

 

I'd be up for it and I can think of a few of the BXC/BXP who might be too

[catsinthewelder]

The VW forum that I lurk round on runs 'techenders' events twice a year at a campsite in Leicestershire. They're a great idea involving getting keen amateur (and the odd pro) spanner wielders of various abilitys together.

 

A weekend would involve meeting at the site on Friday then getting drunk while watching some of the really keen types start something major on one of the vans. The Saturday would have the experts showing the beginners how to do a basic service while those middle ability types got on with things they hadn't tryed before, safe in the knowledge that theres a few experts on hand to sort it out if it goes tits up.

 

Drunk again Saturday night then hopefully make sure everthings reassembled on Sunday morning ready for home.

 

Could this work for BX's?

 

I'd be up for it and I can think of a few of the BXC/BXP who might be too

[dollywobbler]

Sounds a great idea. Though from what I've seen of BX events, there's always some serious tinkering going on! Last one I was at, one car had all of its suspension spheres replaced. How many other classics can you overhaul the suspension in a field in such a short amount of time?

[dollywobbler]

Sounds a great idea. Though from what I've seen of BX events, there's always some serious tinkering going on! Last one I was at, one car had all of its suspension spheres replaced. How many other classics can you overhaul the suspension in a field in such a short amount of time?

[catsinthewelder]

I really should try to get to more Citroen stuff, it just always seems to be miles away

 

We were close to attempting bodyshell realignment at the Citroen National at Gaydon last year but were let down by lack of rope. The trees looked a little skinny for purpose too

 

Sod it, I'll bosh a thread up on BXC and see what happens

[catsinthewelder]

I really should try to get to more Citroen stuff, it just always seems to be miles away

 

We were close to attempting bodyshell realignment at the Citroen National at Gaydon last year but were let down by lack of rope. The trees looked a little skinny for purpose too

 

Sod it, I'll bosh a thread up on BXC and see what happens

[vulgalour]

Caffiend: Hertfordshire is a bit of a trek from Bolsover. Best bet is to do the simple stuff first I reckon. Take something off that's easy to get to and put it back on again, following instructions in a book if you can, that's pretty much how I started. Now I'm doing all sorts of brave things and it gets less and less scary as time goes by. I can't always rely on someone to be there to help me do a job so getting stuck in seems to be the best option. Last year, I'd never even set the timing or changed a distributor, this year I've done things like fitting a timing belt, removing and refitting a water pump and getting an engine to run that wasn't running without breaking anything. If in doubt, label things as you remove them and take lots of photographs with a digital camera, those two things have been life savers for me on some of the jobs I've done when the Haynes Book of Lies has been next to useless in decyphering what I'm looking at when coming to put things back together.

[vulgalour]

Caffiend: Hertfordshire is a bit of a trek from Bolsover. Best bet is to do the simple stuff first I reckon. Take something off that's easy to get to and put it back on again, following instructions in a book if you can, that's pretty much how I started. Now I'm doing all sorts of brave things and it gets less and less scary as time goes by. I can't always rely on someone to be there to help me do a job so getting stuck in seems to be the best option. Last year, I'd never even set the timing or changed a distributor, this year I've done things like fitting a timing belt, removing and refitting a water pump and getting an engine to run that wasn't running without breaking anything. If in doubt, label things as you remove them and take lots of photographs with a digital camera, those two things have been life savers for me on some of the jobs I've done when the Haynes Book of Lies has been next to useless in decyphering what I'm looking at when coming to put things back together.

[Cavcraft]

The VW forum that I lurk round on runs 'techenders' events twice a year at a campsite in Leicestershire. They're a great idea involving getting keen amateur (and the odd pro) spanner wielders of various abilitys together.

 

A weekend would involve meeting at the site on Friday then getting drunk while watching some of the really keen types start something major on one of the vans. The Saturday would have the experts showing the beginners how to do a basic service while those middle ability types got on with things they hadn't tryed before, safe in the knowledge that theres a few experts on hand to sort it out if it goes tits up.

 

Drunk again Saturday night then hopefully make sure everthings reassembled on Sunday morning ready for home.

 

Could this work for BX's?

 

I'd be up for it and I can think of a few of the BXC/BXP who might be too

 

If you substituted mechanical work for polishing I'm sure at least one person would turn up.

[Cavcraft]

The VW forum that I lurk round on runs 'techenders' events twice a year at a campsite in Leicestershire. They're a great idea involving getting keen amateur (and the odd pro) spanner wielders of various abilitys together.

 

A weekend would involve meeting at the site on Friday then getting drunk while watching some of the really keen types start something major on one of the vans. The Saturday would have the experts showing the beginners how to do a basic service while those middle ability types got on with things they hadn't tryed before, safe in the knowledge that theres a few experts on hand to sort it out if it goes tits up.

 

Drunk again Saturday night then hopefully make sure everthings reassembled on Sunday morning ready for home.

 

Could this work for BX's?

 

I'd be up for it and I can think of a few of the BXC/BXP who might be too

 

If you substituted mechanical work for polishing I'm sure at least one person would turn up.

[Caffiend]

The Saturday would have the experts showing the beginners how to do a basic service while those middle ability types got on with things they hadn't tryed before, safe in the knowledge that theres a few experts on hand to sort it out if it goes tits up.

As posted on BXC, I'm in, whether it's French cars/Citroen/BX specific or not. Depends on timing/location (Leicestershire sounds good to me, reasonably central on these fair isles).

[Caffiend]

The Saturday would have the experts showing the beginners how to do a basic service while those middle ability types got on with things they hadn't tryed before, safe in the knowledge that theres a few experts on hand to sort it out if it goes tits up.

As posted on BXC, I'm in, whether it's French cars/Citroen/BX specific or not. Depends on timing/location (Leicestershire sounds good to me, reasonably central on these fair isles).