New shitter. 1982 Citroen VISA.

[dollywobbler]

I'd want an inertia cut-off though.

[Lankytim]

5 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

Until recently I used a very similar looking Facet pump on my carburettor Range Rover. My guess is it will be perfect.

That’s encouraging to hear. I’ve now bolted it to the inner wing, when I get some new fuel pipe I’ll get it all plumbed in. 
 

I actually got this thing to “run” today too, albeit on EZstart. With the engine turning over I fired some down the carb to get it running and simply kept giving it a squirt when it sounded like it was about to cut out. I think I managed 30 seconds or so of running time, enough to get the manifolds hot and convert the rain that had covered the engine as I was working on it to steam.  
 

To add to today’s excitement I’ve had an email to say the brake parts I ordered have been passed to the courier!  They’re still in Germany of course but hopefully I shouldn’t have to wait too long. 

[LightBulbFun]

4 hours ago, Lankytim said:

There’s been absolutely zero update with the dispatch of these parts, only that they’ve received payment. Hopefully that’s nothing to be too worried about.

In other news, I found this fuel pump that was liberated by me from some place I used to work at (I can’t think where). It works fine and should do as a replacement for the mechanical pump… unless anyone can think of a reason it won’t be suitable? Will it overfill the carb and spray fuel all over the place? 

 

4 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

Until recently I used a very similar looking Facet pump on my carburettor Range Rover. My guess is it will be perfect.

Ditto like wise I am using a very similar no name version in my Invacar and nothing has blown up yet  

(I have since trimmed the zip ties before anyone comments LOL)

[Lankytim]

3 hours ago, dollywobbler said:

I can’t see any issue with this set-up whatsoever.

That’s the spirit! 

[Lankytim]

Despite tracking showing that they’re still in Germany, look what just showed up! 
 

OMGOMGOMG!

They appear to be the correct items, cannot wait to fit them! 

 

[Lankytim]

Weird seeing shiny new parts fitted to such a scabby old barge. I should have the reservoir and get everything bled up tomorrow. Hopefully there’s no issue with the new parts and it’ll be another job ticked from the list. 

On closer inspection the one of the old calipers is a recon unit and the other appears original, both are partially seized. The recon one is slightly different to the other too, where the brake flex attaches is much deeper, the mating surface would need an extra long threaded section on the brake flexi to reach, which it didn’t have fitted.  Either way it’ now in a box with the rest of the stuff I’ve replaced. Maybe another Visa botherer can make use of them, they’d need a rebuild though!  

[Lankytim]

So…I assembled the rest of the master cylinder, filled it with fluid and bled it all up. We now have have brakes! Unfortunately the passenger front brake hose developed a large bulge and needs to be replaced. No problem… the 652cc Visa part seems to be different to all the other Visas however, the other Visas sharing the same part with the Peugeot 205, Citroen AX etc. I can get the right item from eBay but I’d rather get it from somewhere like ECP as I could get it myself, they only stock the other type though. Does anybody know if they’re interchangeable? By looking at images the only difference seems be the 652cc version is slightly longer, but I’m not sure. For all I know they could be the same part anyway. AUTODOC has the correct item for £4 odd but I CBA waiting a fortnight to get it. 

[MrSteve]

Citroen part number is 75492063 so you are looking for Delphi LH2135 / TRW PHB166 / QH BFH4376- there's loads on ebay for not a lot.

So long as the overall hose length is 352mm (+/-) you'll be fine.

Just wait until you do the the rear flexis- they are side-specific...!

[Lankytim]

Thanks to @MrSteveI managed  to order a Citroen AX front brake pipe from ECP for a budget busting price of £1.89, collect it and get it fitted to the Visa. The hose is identical to the part removed except the method of securing it to the bracket on the inner wing is different and uses a spring clip. Fortunately I had the bits I needed in my parts box and it was straightforward to install.  I bled the brakes a couple of times to make sure all the air was out as the pedal has a large amount of travel, the pushrod acting on the master cylinder is adjusted properly  so I recon it's just a feature of non-servo brakes and a narrow bore master cylinder. It's been such a long time since I've driven anything without assisted brakes, I think the last such car I had was an 1100 MK2 Escort which had terrible brakes as a result. Hopefully the combination of new braking components and a lighter car will ensure the Visa slows down with a bit more confidence than my old Escort did!   Either way, all of the wheels now brake with a satisfying sharpness and just as importantly release when they're meant to.  A job off the list, hooray!

[dollywobbler]

A soft pedal doesn't seem all that Citroen, even for a conventional brake set-up. It's a while since I drive Six Cylinder's Visa, so I'm struggling to recall exactly how it felt. Rear brakes adjusted up? Good progress though!

[Mrs6C]

Not sure if it was just a feature* of the C15 or applied to all Visa cars as well, but the LHD brake pedal route under the bonnet wasn't changed for RHD C15s. They just had several levers and extra connections added in to join them up with the RHD brake pedal. The brakes feel awful, as a consequence of needing to take up all the slack in all the joints involved... 

Possibly it is the same for your car, in which case TADTS... 

[dollywobbler]

Ah yes. I have driven a C15 and the brakes can be described as bloody terrifying! 

[wuvvum]

The red 10E I collected from Bournemouth a couple of years ago certainly had less than brilliant brakes.

The brakes on the 14TRS I owned back in my student days were very sharp, but I think they were servoed being a "posh" model.

[Lankytim]

1 hour ago, Mrs6C said:

Not sure if it was just a feature* of the C15 or applied to all Visa cars as well, but the LHD brake pedal route under the bonnet wasn't changed for RHD C15s. They just had several levers and extra connections added in to join them up with the RHD brake pedal. The brakes feel awful, as a consequence of needing to take up all the slack in all the joints involved... 

Possibly it is the same for your car, in which case TADTS... 

I think the petrol powered Visas have the master cylinder on the drivers side, mine at least has the pedal pushrod acting directly onto the master cylinder so there's very little in the way of any linkage that could develop any slack. I do remember the fun with the linkages behind the dashboard on the succession of C15s my Dad had. I could apply the brakes with my toes from the passenger side which he found funny for approx. 2 seconds the first time I did it. 

 

1 hour ago, dollywobbler said:

A soft pedal doesn't seem all that Citroen, even for a conventional brake set-up. It's a while since I drive Six Cylinder's Visa, so I'm struggling to recall exactly how it felt. Rear brakes adjusted up? Good progress though!

It might be worth looking at the rear brakes again, good call. 

[Fumbler]

1 hour ago, Mrs6C said:

Not sure if it was just a feature* of the C15 or applied to all Visa cars as well, but the LHD brake pedal route under the bonnet wasn't changed for RHD C15s. They just had several levers and extra connections added in to join them up with the RHD brake pedal. The brakes feel awful, as a consequence of needing to take up all the slack in all the joints involved... 

Possibly it is the same for your car, in which case TADTS... 

Reminds me of when I drove @Rust Collector's Skoda Favorit. It certainly takes some adjustment to the terrifying vagueness.

[dollywobbler]

Thinking about it, I think the 652 is probably the only RHD Visa that would have room for a brake assembly on the bulkhead near the pedal. On the others, the engine would be in the way as it's transversely mounted.

[richardmorris]

The only one I’ve driven is @Six-cylinders from home to the chevrons rally. Brakes didn’t cause me any thought and dad who also had a 652 club new in 1981 says the brakes were good then.

[Lankytim]

😲😲😲😲

[jamescarruthers]

OMFG you must be delighted! Well done!

[dollywobbler]

Yayus!

[Lankytim]

1 hour ago, jamescarruthers said:

OMFG you must be delighted! Well done!

Yeah I'm pretty chuffed, it's been a long time coming and I'm annoyed with myself for not getting it going sooner. The timing needs to be set correctly and the float in the carb appears to be stuck as with the engine off and the pump on fuel sprays out of the jets and down into the manifold which at least clears them out I suppose.

I drove the visa up and down the garden too, the first time it's moved under it' own steam for 10 years or so. The clutch is good but the brakes are absolutely lousy. More bleeding/adjustment needed there. 

 

 

[barrett]

'mazin!

[Mrs6C]

Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!!!

Fantastic to see and hear. Sounds lovely.

[Datsuncog]

Great success!!

[Lankytim]

This thing is now starting off the key and is running fabulously, the timing still needs to be correctly set though. An exhaust clamp was leaking and while I was at ECAS picking one up I also bought an oil filter. With the clamp fitted and an oil change the engine sounds exceptionally smooth. It’s slightly odd, maybe the original filter was partially clogged but it certainly seems to run better. The old filter didn’t want to come off and ended up full of screwdriver holes, it looked ancient! 
 

The only thing perplexing me at the moment involves stuck floats in the carb, they seem to be getting jammed somehow but obviously with the carb assembled you can’t see how. The engine will run smoothly then suddenly start running rough as fuel overflows and spurts down the inside of the carb and into the engine. I’ve bent the bracket that holds the floats but it hasn’t helped.  More fettling is required! 

[dollywobbler]

I've got the opposite problem on the Oltcit in that the needle valve for the fuel keeps sticking up, and blocking fuel. Maybe pull it out and check it's actually closing properly?

[Lankytim]

28 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

I've got the opposite problem on the Oltcit in that the needle valve for the fuel keeps sticking up, and blocking fuel. Maybe pull it out and check it's actually closing properly?

It appears to be closing fine, with the top of the carb upside-down (as pictured) the flow of fuel is cut off, if I lift the floats up fuel sprays out. When I removed the top from the carb I could also see the floats stuck under the level of the fuel. 

[dollywobbler]

I'm trying to think what could jam the floats, especially as it presumably hasn't been apart before. Maybe just try cleaning the pivot up a bit?

[Lankytim]

3 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

I'm trying to think what could jam the floats, especially as it presumably hasn't been apart before. Maybe just try cleaning the pivot up a bit?

I think the arm is getting stuck against the carb body near the hinge, I cant see how it's fouling anywhere else. The arm itself is very frail and easily distorted- I think it's just going to be a case of trial and error until it's right. 

[dollywobbler]

16 minutes ago, Lankytim said:

I think the arm is getting stuck against the carb body near the hinge, I cant see how it's fouling anywhere else. The arm itself is very frail and easily distorted- I think it's just going to be a case of trial and error until it's right. 

Good luck with it. Certainly sounds like you're getting there!