Ask a Shiter

[Guest]

is it a case of having a 70 minute DVD-r with only 10 minutes stuff on?

 

Yes. You need DVD-RW. Even then I think you'd have to re-record the whole lot, not sure though.

 

Bear in mind that DVD-RW is a notoriously finicky format that won't play on all machines. You're better off going for a set of 5 cheap DVD-Rs that will run on everything from a pish £20 clartmatic funbox from Tesco right up to some kind of 4th dimension Meridian home entertainment system. It works out cheaper and you won't be tearing your hair out if you want to take the disc round to show the inlaws.

 

There's also DVD+R and +RW, but I believe that was some kind of attempt by Philips to conquer the reusable media market, which failed.

[Ross_K]

the DVD-R that i've bougt says record once, however as the footage i've got only lasts 10 minutes tops, can i put more on later, or is it a case of having a 70 minute DVD-r with only 10 minutes stuff on?

 

You can put more on later if you don't close the session on the dvd, however you'll only be able to watch it on a pc.

 

Why don't you get some mini DVDs? They're 30 mins long. Here's five for a fiver: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Pack-8cm-D ... 05-1885403

[DSdriver]

There has been another incident today where a tanker driver has filled up a petrol tank in a filling station with diesel. Why don't they have different sized connections to the diesel tanks? It works most* of the time for motorists.

[M'coli]

^^^That's the first one I've heard of for a long time - I suspect they don't usually need to have different sized connectors as your P45 would be enough of an incentive to get it right every time. This may be the result of the "turn and burn" working practices, though.

[DSdriver]

Luke Bosdet from the AA said: "It seems to be happening more often than we'd expect.

[Negative Creep]

What's the best way to test an ignition coil, and are the old 12v dizzy types universal?

[catsinthewelder]

I think you measure the resistance accross them with a multimeter, different coils have different values and if you fit the wrong one it will burn out after a bit (but will quite possibly get you home).

 

I know this after fitting the wrong one to my VW, it lasted a couple of years before dieing on a welsh campsite (and then giving the RAC technical helpline a morning long headache to sort out).

[Des]

If you connect a condenser across the coil terminals, connect batt pos (usually) to sw or whatever it's labelled as, ht lead with a 1/2'' to 3/4'' gap to batt neg, flash a wire between coil cb or whatever it's labelled as and batt neg, when you break this connection you should get a nice blue spark from the ht, it needs to be capable of making a fair jump in free air if it's to have a hope under compression in the engine, look and listen for the spark escaping in or on the coil. You can get a tingle from any of the wires here so maybe don the marigolds, and use jump leads or something to keep the battery a few feet from the sparks, just in case they cause it to pop.

[morris_ital_lover]

I have no idea where to ask this so might as well put it here....

 

I've found a copy of the 1986 (IIRC) Daily Express cars of the world, it's a brilliant thing rammed with chod and some total obscure rammel as well. I'm going to be scanner bound this weekend anyway would members like to see some of the beauties within? If so I can hopefully get a thread up on Sunday.

[cheguava]

I have no idea where to ask this so might as well put it here....

 

I've found a copy of the 1986 (IIRC) Daily Express cars of the world, it's a brilliant thing rammed with chod and some total obscure rammel as well. I'm going to be scanner bound this weekend anyway would members like to see some of the beauties within? If so I can hopefully get a thread up on Sunday.

 

Silly question. Yes please.

[KruJoe]

Get it done lad!

 

 

New Q:

Five year old stale pez drained from tank, (tank off,) it has left an ear-wax-like substance coating the inside. We jet-washed out what we could, and rinsed well, should we be worried about what's left?

If so, how best to deal with it?

Thankyouplease.

[DSdriver]

KruJoe: I await the answer with interest as I too have a similar tank

 

My Question: Is Luxobarges the new PM of Greece?

[M'coli]

Get it done lad!

 

 

New Q:

Five year old stale pez drained from tank, (tank off,) it has left an ear-wax-like substance coating the inside. We jet-washed out what we could, and rinsed well, should we be worried about what's left?

If so, how best to deal with it?

Thankyouplease.

[KruJoe]

Yeah, thanks for that Cameron

Anyone else have a bright idea?

[M'coli]

Most likely it's a waxy fraction of petroleum distillate that's present in winter petrol, so if it's probably originally from petrol, it will dissolve in petrol; try sticking a litre or so of fresh petrol into the tank and see if it dissolves some of it.

[Angrydicky]

Has anyone ever tackled a waterpump on a 2.5 KV6 engine? Is it as difficult as it sounds?

 

My dad is looking at this beauty on Evilbay at the moment. I've Just sent a message asking when the cambelt was last done, and if there's any service history.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-75-Conn ... 016wt_1344

[CreepingJesus]

Joe, chuck in the petrol (altho' I've used heating paraffin before) with a couple of handfuls of clean gravel/chuckies/broken slate. Let it work for an hour or two, then seal all the tank ports up fairly tightly, and shake it up, down and all around. With luck, the waxy crap and any rust flakes will pour out.

Flush it out with some more pez or paraffin (again, I've done this with a steam genny running a high concentration of paraffin) and leave it to dry. Lob in some tank sealer like POR-15, and all should be well. Supposing it was a metal tank in the first place.

 

Now: any of the Falkirk area posse know where there's some cheap temporary storage? The closer to Bonnybridge the better.

[tonedepear]

It's been asked before, I know, but I'm bummed if I can find it.

 

What's the most proven successful way of telling Swansea you've scrapped a car when you didn't get a COD or owt from the scrotes who ran it on a trailer and you didn't have the v5 to hand at the time?

 

Do I just write them a letter saying "Dear DVLA, this car has been scrapped, please don't rape me when the tax runs out, cheers" and staple it to the v5 or something?

[scaryoldcortina]

Has anyone ever tackled a waterpump on a 2.5 KV6 engine? Is it as difficult as it sounds?

 

My dad is looking at this beauty on Evilbay at the moment. I've Just sent a message asking when the cambelt was last done, and if there's any service history.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-75-Conn ... 016wt_1344

 

 

I suppose it depends what you call difficult! I'd say the age of the cambelts is irrelevent - the front belt has to come off to change the waterpump anyway.

[explosive-cabbage]

CreepingJesus said:

Joe, chuck in the petrol (altho' I've used heating paraffin before) with a couple of handfuls of clean gravel/chuckies/broken slate. Let it work for an hour or two, then seal all the tank ports up fairly tightly, and shake it up, down and all around. With luck, the waxy crap and any rust flakes will pour out.

Flush it out with some more pez or paraffin (again, I've done this with a steam genny running a high concentration of paraffin) and leave it to dry. Lob in some tank sealer like POR-15, and all should be well. Supposing it was a metal tank in the first place.

 

Thanks for that advice, most useful.

[explosive-cabbage]

Anybody know the law regarding car seats and MoTs?

 

My Lada Niva only came with 2 front seats, and a full set (almost) of seat belts. I only want to run it as a 2 seater, with a plywood box in the back for practicality. If I turn up for an MoT with 2 front seats will I fail if the car was designed to have both front and rear seats? I understand that to pass all seats and their fixings and seat belts must be securely fastened in, but if seats and belts and fixings are completely absent does it really matter?

 

Thanks a bunch in advance

[skattrd]

I'm sure some-one who knows more on this will pipe up ...

 

My rally car passes the MOT fine and has a stripped out interior, no rear seats when it did originally have them. Working on the same principle I'd think the Lada should be ok

[CreepingJesus]

You'll be ok with the removed rear seat situation. I've known a few people do the same with trackday hacks, and trials 4x4's without any problem in that regard.

Further to the tank cleaning routine, I should say that I've done this on my lonesome with some motorbike tanks (and the last one I recall was a titchy BSA Bantam tank ), so you might not want to be doing that solo with the Lada's tank! It's worth getting it right round the tank, 'cos the upper surfaces inside are just about guaranteed to be rusty.

It can also be done with nuts, bolts, nails and screws in the petrol, but hey, small stones are free (depending where you get them) and can always be deposited back among the oil stains on the drive. No-one will ever know...

[ashmicro]

It's been asked before, I know, but I'm bummed if I can find it.

 

What's the most proven successful way of telling Swansea you've scrapped a car when you didn't get a COD or owt from the scrotes who ran it on a trailer and you didn't have the v5 to hand at the time?

 

Do I just write them a letter saying "Dear DVLA, this car has been scrapped, please don't rape me when the tax runs out, cheers" and staple it to the v5 or something?

 

Yes is the short answer old chap. It means a ACTUAL person reads it. I've done it. Similarly, a young friend of mine recently passed her test, and the examiner spelt her name wrongly on the form (he spelt her name Tazmin and not the correct Tasmin) . Letter written, by me in fountain pen, job jobbed.

[Ross_K]

You were lucky.

 

My name's still spelled wrong on my licence after 13 years. Even after sending the twats in Swansea my passport as proof they had fucked up, they would still send back a shiny new licence with the wrong name.

[willswitchengage]

Very O/T but does anybody know the procedure for buying deactivated guns in the UK? There are plenty of online dealers and a couple of shops in York that sell them, but I don't want to really try something spesh like saying HOW MUCH 4 MAGNUM M8? Came into a little money so I'm looking ideally for an AK, like Clarkson, they seem to swap hands at about the £300 mark. A friend of mine took half a dozen of his to University so I can't imagine they're that difficult to get hold of. Would ideally prefer one of the older deactivation spec where much of the weapon can still be disassembled (AFAIK nowadays practically everything is welded shut).

[TimothyClaypole]

I look on here once in a while for the day I can spare the cash for an M1 Garand.

 

http://www.milweb.net/classifieds.php?type=16

 

Think the ones that mention "old spec." are the sort less messed with?

[Ross_K]

Take a stroll to the Post Office on giro day with this beauty:

 

http://www.deactivated-guns.co.uk/deact ... _1886.html

 

Deactivated AK47 Assault rifle fitted with grenade Launcher. A superb looking bit of kit. This launcher attachment really transforms this already iconic weapon. Both are available separately AK47 (£295) and Launcher (£495) The launcher will cock and dry fire. The AK47 is deactivated to current specifications with a moving trigger, and is partially strippable. Also available with bayonet and scabbard.

[Cavcraft]

You want to watch that 'cock and dry fire' business you know, happens to us all after a few shandies at some point.

[Pete-M]

You want to watch that 'cock and dry fire' business you know, happens to us all after a few shandies at some point.