1977 Princess 1.8 HL

[RobT]

7 minutes ago, phil_lihp said:

It was foretold!

Not the first time something has gone over my head!

I'll get the Metro done at some point then.  Probably...

[danthecapriman]

Nice! Looks the dogs danglers just sat there! 
 

It’s great that there’s still a few people around that do stuff like this. Imagine what a ball ache it’d be if you had to do it all yourself without the knowledge, skills and tools.

[vulgalour]

Not the only Princess out in that horrible rain, guess who was on errands when it hit.  Bet yours was SIGNIFICANTLY more waftastic though.  Looks so much better sitting up at proper height, I don't know what it is about Hydrasag cars, they always look like the most knackered things ever when the suspension has dropped, even if its dropped evenly.

[phil_lihp]

Well that went well.

Went for a drive and all was well, ride and handling are a lot better but I'll get the tracking done to finish it off.  

On my way home though, I got a surprise when this happened...

I managed to get home by holding it up and mostly getting the gear I wanted, the view from underneath confirms that something ain't right.

I'm guessing some bolts have gone missing, when it's drier I'll investigate as this is a bit of an obstacle to actually driving it.

[vulgalour]

That'll be the bolts and/or bracket that go through the rubber bobbins.  It's possible they've rotted out, or the bolts have fallen out, which is letting the selector box drop down like that.  Should be an easy fix at least.

[phil_lihp]

I hope so, I should probably stick something underneath it as it won't be doing the selector rods much good with all that weight hanging off them.

[vulgalour]

Or tie the gearknob to the steering wheel with a shoelace.  The assembly isn't that heavy.

[dozeydustman]

likes for getting the old thing back up and running, dislike for gearstick falling out.

[phil_lihp]

Straight from the horse's mouth...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hydrosuspension

 

[phil_lihp]

1 hour ago, vulgalour said:

Or tie the gearknob to the steering wheel with a shoelace.  The assembly isn't that heavy.

Presumably it won't be a permanent fix unless I use a good quality bungee cord?

[vulgalour]

well yeah, you want something with a bit of boing otherwise it's going to make your turning circle even worse :P

[phil_lihp]

Quick shift yo.

Fixed it.

A poke underneath to clarify what's going on...

Can't work out what's missing here.  Rubber bits are just buffers, there's what looks like a bolt hole in the bit it must attach to but nothing corresponding on the shift mechanism.  Haynes is not much help.

I walked the bit of road where it happened but didn't find anything useful.  Any thoughts?

[plasticvandan]

Pretty certain those round rusty discs in the floor are the threaded portion of the rubber mounts that have sheared off.

[Mr Pastry]

2 minutes ago, plasticvandan said:

Pretty certain those round rusty discs in the floor are the threaded portion of the rubber mounts that have sheared off.

This.  Typical BL, TADTS at some stage.

[phil_lihp]

I thought that but they don't appear to be damaged, there's a bolt on each bit's opposite end and the tops are rounded studs, the rubber bushes have dimples in them to match the studs in the mounting bracket.

[SiC]

Yeah those look like exhaust rubber bobbins, except one end has failed.

Just hope the other end isn't seized in!

[plasticvandan]

Yes,standard rubber bonded cotton reel mount,reliant engine mounts are the same,the rubber detatches from the bonded metal plate.

Get a chisel on the bits in the floor and hopefully they will unscrew.

[phil_lihp]

Ohhh...I think I get it.  So there's a captive thread in each one and they've both split at the weakest part where the rivets are?

[Mr Pastry]

Just now, phil_lihp said:

Ohhh...I think I get it.  So there's a captive thread in each one and they've both split at the weakest part where the rivets are?

Yes, the rubber just tears away from the plate.  They are not really meant to be used in tension. 

[phil_lihp]

Super, thanks chaps, I was overthinking it as usual.  Seems rather obvious in hindsight,

I shall look for some suitable replacements, I'd assume anything of similar dimension with a bolt through it would work.

[Mr Pastry]

Just now, phil_lihp said:

Super, thanks chaps, I was overthinking it as usual.  Seems rather obvious in hindsight,

I shall look for some suitable replacements, I'd assume anything of similar dimension with a bolt through it would work.

You've lived a very sheltered life, not knowing about those!  You could possibly use a through bolt with a rubber doughnut (for example a household door stop) above and below the gearbox plate, but it needs some flexibility for noise/vibration insulation.

[plasticvandan]

No,needs to be a rubber bonded mounting,is,two studs bonded into the rubber,so the middle is flexible,a bolt through the middle effectively means bolting it solid to the car,and the rubber will do nothing.

Google cotton reel mount etc.almost certainly unf thread.

[plasticvandan]

Something like this,obvs check the thread size,poss vulg will know for sure.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Exhaust-Bobbins-Rubber-Mounts-Mounting-5-16-UNF-Choose-Pack-Size-/201674931049

[phil_lihp]

2 minutes ago, Mr Pastry said:

You've lived a very sheltered life, not knowing about those!  You could possibly use a through bolt with a rubber doughnut (for example a household door stop) above and below the gearbox plate, but it needs some flexibility for noise/vibration insulation.

Never heard of them before, every day is a school day!  This car is also by a considerable margin the oldest one I've ever owned and my abilities with a spanner are somewhat amateurish.  I also have other excuses if anyone would like them but those are my favourites.

3 minutes ago, plasticvandan said:

No,needs to be a rubber bonded mounting,is,two studs bonded into the rubber,so the middle is flexible,a bolt through the middle effectively means bolting it solid to the car,and the rubber will do nothing.

Google cotton reel mount etc.almost certainly unf thread.

Brilliant, thanks very much, this is massively helpful.

[phil_lihp]

1 minute ago, plasticvandan said:

Something like this,obvs check the thread size,poss vulg will know for sure.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Exhaust-Bobbins-Rubber-Mounts-Mounting-5-16-UNF-Choose-Pack-Size-/201674931049

Cheers, will get the old ones off and do some measuring.

[SiC]

Multipack because modern ones are so shit quality they'll just fail again soon anyway... ?

[phil_lihp]

I'll have to check the size but these look like a strong contender.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini-Gear-Selector-Bobbin-Mount-Rod-Change-PAIR-22G2205-Standard-Rubber/184387328313?hash=item2aee575939:g:67AAAOSwSkpdps30

[Mr Pastry]

1 minute ago, phil_lihp said:

I'll have to check the size but these look like a strong contender.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini-Gear-Selector-Bobbin-Mount-Rod-Change-PAIR-22G2205-Standard-Rubber/184387328313?hash=item2aee575939:g:67AAAOSwSkpdps30

They look good - I was going to say there is a range of sizes so they may not be actual exhaust bobbins, they look larger,

[Christine]

Dab of  Screwfix no nonsense superglue and jack it up and leave it for ten .... Same bobbins fail on a T4 undertray !  Last about a year ....then do it again  .Sikaflex might work but it'll be 24 hr wait  by which time new ones will have arrived....

[phil_lihp]

I'll take a punt on those Mini ones, they're cheap enough and ETA for delivery is Friday so if they're any good I might have it fixed at the weekend.