Ask a Shiter

[sierraman]

Unless it’s something a bit more in depth I’d just borrow/buy a cheap reader. What you’ve got there would be handy if you’ve got a spare laptop. I say spare cause a lot of this software is riddled with viruses. A cheap reader should be easy less than a tenner.

[aerodynamically_challenged]

I was servicing the brakes on my Volvo today and I noticed that the brake pistons had two parts, a cup shape part like a normal piston and a smaller cylindrical part that is loose in the middle, anyone know why this would be? also do many other cars have this? my best guess is that it's something to do with reducing vibrations or maybe some sort of anti-seize mechanism.

[twosmoke300]

1.8 petrol vectra ? I’d be checking the breather pipes into the throttle body . The small one goes into a tiny hole and blocks up easily

[castros_bro]

Someone I know* who in unemployed is planning to go on a 1000+ mile (1600+km) one way trip to the Iberian Peninsular for some random reason and has purchased a suitable vehicle   got some cheap wheels from a beige webshite.

 

The cheapest ferry over to France is a "day return trip" but obviously the return part would not be used.

 

Has anyone tried this and is there any fall out like getting a "fine" on a credit card for not obeying the Ferry rules? 

[DodgeRover]

No you just have to pay again to come back

[DSdriver]

Should this be rescued?

Renault 19 by Jean-Pierre Declemy, on Flickr

 

This is in a yard near where I am staying. The owner has died. That is all I know at the moment but could find out more if anyone is interested in it.

[pilninggas]

Someone I know* who in unemployed is planning to go on a 1000+ mile (1600+km) one way trip to the Iberian Peninsular for some random reason and has purchased a suitable vehicle   got some cheap wheels from a beige webshite.

 

The cheapest ferry over to France is a "day return trip" but obviously the return part would not be used.

 

Has anyone tried this and is there any fall out like getting a "fine" on a credit card for not obeying the Ferry rules? 

the T+Cs usually state you will get charged the full, worst case whack if you dont use the return crossing to make the offer valid.

 

get it read fully or your card will be charged.

[doug]

Should this be rescued?

Renault 19 by Jean-Pierre Declemy, on Flickr

 

This is in a yard near where I am staying. The owner has died. That is all I know at the moment but could find out more if anyone is interested in it.

The truck? 

[SierraMikeHotel]

There's an Autoshite member who has written a couple of books - one about driving rental cars in a silly manner and the other about quality control in car factories - what's his username?  Or if you see this can you PM me please?

 

Ta muchly!

[DSdriver]

The truck? 

Erm... I suppose if you could get the truck started you could put the car in the van and the van on the back of the truck.

[DSdriver]

No you just have to pay again to come back

Yeah but you won't get a cheap return unless you have a card registered to an address in France

[DodgeRover]

the T+Cs usually state you will get charged the full, worst case whack if you dont use the return crossing to make the offer valid.

 

get it read fully or your card will be charged.

If this is the case use a prepay credit card loaded with just enough to pay for the trip, they can whistle for the rest.

[Guest Hooli]

Should this be rescued?

Renault 19 by Jean-Pierre Declemy, on Flickr

 

This is in a yard near where I am staying. The owner has died. That is all I know at the moment but could find out more if anyone is interested in it.

The truck maybe, the car no.

[cort1977]

If this is the case use a prepay credit card loaded with just enough to pay for the trip, they can whistle for the rest.

 

They will also assess your car, my sister went to college in Bordeaux and arrived at Dover with a 205 packed to the gunwhales and they point blank refused to let her on with a cheap day trip ticket.

[drum]

I think I asked this before, but I forgot the answer so apologies.

 

All my moderns seem to wear the front tyres on the inside edge.

Are they too much toed in or toed out?

[artdjones]

Toed out.

[DodgeRover]

They will also assess your car, my sister went to college in Bordeaux and arrived at Dover with a 205 packed to the gunwhales and they point blank refused to let her on with a cheap day trip ticket.

I can't see how they can do something like that within their terms and conditions unless it's loaded to such an extent that it's unsafe? Other than the catch all we reserve the right to refuse travel to anybody for any reason, after all she could have been dropping it all at college then going back to the UK.

[Guest Hooli]

I think I asked this before, but I forgot the answer so apologies.

 

All my moderns seem to wear the front tyres on the I side edge.

Are they to much toed in or toed out?

I side meaning inside? Toed out too much unless there are other faults so they've got too much camber.

[Tamworthbay]

P&O tried to stiff us on a bike trip many years ago on a trip to the Dutch GP, the price for one rider and a bike was more than for two and a bike. So all the one up riders just booked with a false pillion, just took a mate happy to give passport details. When we got to the port we claimed there had been an outbreak of food poisoning. It’s bloody stupid but you just need to play the game.

[cort1977]

I can't see how they can do something like that within their terms and conditions unless it's loaded to such an extent that it's unsafe? Other than the catch all we reserve the right to refuse travel to anybody for any reason, after all she could have been dropping it all at college then going back to the UK.

 

I think it just came down to 'we don't believe you and refuse to let you on'.  Can't really remember, it was 20 years ago scarily.

[drum]

I side meaning inside? Toed out too much unless there are other faults so they've got too much camber.

Yep, inside. I should really read my own posts before submitting them. Now edited for spelling and typing errors.

 

I'll try toeing in and see what happens.

[artdjones]

 

Buy one of these.It takes all the guesswork out of it,and you will save it's price over and over.

[DSdriver]

The truck maybe, the car no.

What would be the plan (its in sw France)?

[tobyd]

Does anyone know if flywheel magnets (on motorbikes) can be replaced?

 

 

Mine has some breaks but rather than shelling out €lots for a new one or waiting around for someone on ebay to go through the hell of removing it I wondered if its something that can be fixed with new magnets and gloy? Not even sure what to search for?

[twosmoke300]

I’ve jb welded them on in the past but the correct position and polarity of the magnets is critical . Well on a small two stroke they are . Any cracks end up reading as another separate magnet and really messes up the ignition source coil .

There is a company just down the road from me that’s started to repair them I think . Bradford ignitions , in cornwall ( confusingly )

[tobyd]

smart, cheers! I'll give them a call in the week. I wondered about DIY repairing but since i don't know how strong the original magnets are i'd just be buying something on spec and jb welding them in and hoping for the best. Replacing out the stator and RR and fire damage wouldn't be all that desirable.

[Guest Hooli]

On a related note to that, drill sharpeners are in again at Lidl.

[twosmoke300]

Dormer or Hertel . Get some proper cutting fluid at the same time.

[Richard]

I think out of the national chains Cromwell Tools would be the place to go. You definitely don't want to be using the same drills for wood and metal and mid-range wood bits (i.e. a name you've heard of) should be fine for most DIY purposes. 

[Guest Hooli]

Proper wood bits are a lot easier to centre & don't drift as you start them. So as said it's worth having both.