The grumpy thread

[High Jetter]

Also, do we have a paper knife thread?

[chaseracer]

9 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Also, do we have a paper knife thread?

Oddly, no.

[comfortablynumb]

Took 'delivery' of a BMW at half one this morning.

Dogs were amazingly impressed!

Guess that's another 20' + of fence needs replaced, again 🙄

Noone hurt, and occupants didn't do a runner, so should get an insurance payout, eventually...

 

[myglaren]

12 hours ago, ruffgeezer said:

Broken my letter opener today - an old one from a long defunct local Agricultural firm.

Haven't found anything reasonable to replace it with online either.

 

A minor grump, granted. I'm more annoyed at myself really.

I still have mine, one I made in metalwork class, 1962.

Can't remember making anything else.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, myglaren said:

I still have mine, one I made in metalwork class, 1962.

Can't remember making anything else.

You must have made a coat hook too.

[Yoss]

14 hours ago, ruffgeezer said:

Broken my letter opener today - an old one from a long defunct local Agricultural firm.

Haven't found anything reasonable to replace it with online either.

 

A minor grump, granted. I'm more annoyed at myself really.

 

1 hour ago, myglaren said:

I still have mine, one I made in metalwork class, 1962.

Can't remember making anything else.

 

12 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Also, do we have a paper knife thread?

Seems like a good time to start one. After these two the posts should start flooding in. 

[Remspoor]

18 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Also, do we have a paper knife thread?

Yes on page A4

[comfortablynumb]

After his brush with the NIP, and forthcoming speed awareness course, mk1 son is brushing up on his highway code knowledge.

Decided to do one of their quizzes.

Steering lock is (a)  a device to stop the steering wheel being turned or  (B) distance between left and right steering movement.

What device helps you to change gear

He put (A) and ' the clutch'

Apparently that's wrong, it's (B) and ' the gearstick,'

Nothing like a bit of ambiguity 

And he's conscientious and trying. God help those who don't!

Edited April 26 by comfortablynumb
Additional

[richardmorris]

22 hours ago, ruffgeezer said:

Broken my letter opener today - an old one from a long defunct local Agricultural firm.

Haven't found anything reasonable to replace it with online either.

 

A minor grump, granted. I'm more annoyed at myself really.

I use a screwdriver at work, but have a nice wooden one at home my sister brought back from New Zealand made up of several different woods.

[richardmorris]

10 hours ago, myglaren said:

I still have mine, one I made in metalwork class, 1962.

Can't remember making anything else.

I made a toilet roll holder. It’s in the shed holding small things with loops.

[Snipes]

Neighbour's running their washer dryers at 02:07am

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, Sir Snipes said:

Neighbour's running their washer dryers at 02:07am

TBF, they are encouraged to do that by the energy companies offering cheap rates at night.  PITA though if you have close neighbours.

[Snipes]

Fucking hell it's running again at 6:30!

[comfortablynumb]

1 hour ago, Sir Snipes said:

Fucking hell it's running again at 6:30!

Time for a quiet 'word'?

[Bren]

I finished my gates and did some weeding. I then remembered that I had the oil and filter for the mondeo but not had chance to do the job.

I still had the pela out from lad's astra. After two and a half hours it had pulled out about two litres. To be fair it took hours to suck three and a half litres out of the astra.

There's a reason I hardly ever use the pela. Because it's pants.

[GeorgeB]

7 minutes ago, Bren said:

I finished my gates and did some weeding. I then remembered that I had the oil and filter for the mondeo but not had chance to do the job.

I still had the pela out from lad's astra. After two and a half hours it had pulled out about two litres. To be fair it took hours to suck three and a half litres out of the astra.

There's a reason I hardly ever use the pela. Because it's pants.

They work well if you get the engine hot.

[Bren]

5 minutes ago, GeorgeB said:

They work well if you get the engine hot.

I am fairly certain the instructions are not to.

[Bren]

Just now, Bren said:

I am fairly certain the instructions are not to.

Never mind. I'll get the ramps out next week.

[Markeh]

Only I could book a week of sunshine abroad to destress and find the forecast for Nottingham is miraculously better than Turkey for most of the week!

[Split_Pin]

2 hours ago, Bren said:

I finished my gates and did some weeding. I then remembered that I had the oil and filter for the mondeo but not had chance to do the job.

I still had the pela out from lad's astra. After two and a half hours it had pulled out about two litres. To be fair it took hours to suck three and a half litres out of the astra.

There's a reason I hardly ever use the pela. Because it's pants.

They're not pants,  the thin lance is obviously not going to work on cold, thick oil. You'll be there for 8 hours. Always run the engine for 5 minutes. It does the extractor no harm whatsoever.  I've had mine since 2018 and carried out many oil changes this way.

 

[Bren]

13 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

They're not pants,  the thin lance is obviously not going to work on cold, thick oil. You'll be there for 8 hours. Always run the engine for 5 minutes. It does the extractor no harm whatsoever.  I've had mine since 2018 and carried out many oil changes this way.

 

The astra was warm when I did the oil. It still took an eternity. Modern oils are thin and flow well even when cold otherwise there wouldn't be much protection.

Some swear by them. Others - like me have had mixed results. The fittings are all ok - there is plenty of suction.

[Split_Pin]

I find it doesn't work on about half the cars I own/have owned because there's a baffle or something stopping the lance getting to the bottom of the sump.

[wuvvum]

My Middle of Lidl special oil pump has worked pretty well the times I've used it.  I always get the oil warm first, unless it's hot enough to affect the structural integrity of the plastic in the pump it's unlikely to cause issues.

[vulgalour]

The van is dead.

[Supernaut]

I have a Screwfix analogue of a Pela.

It works perfectly on both the Megane and the BMW, and several other cars I've tried it on.

 

As said above, make sure the car is hot when doing it.

I changed on the oil on the BMW after a good thrashing and it sucked out the 6.5L from the sump in a matter of minutes.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

On 27/04/2025 at 02:07, Sir Snipes said:

Neighbour's running their washer dryers at 02:07am

I believe that if you're in Gravesham there's a byelaws that restricts people from running domestic appliances in shared buildings after 2200...

I used to have a flat there and the flat above me put their (unbalanced) washing machine on at 2230, right above my head.  So I went into the corridor and turned off their mains supply in the meter cabinet.  Job jobbed.

[captain_70s]

46 minutes ago, vulgalour said:

The van is dead.

Permanent or temporary?

[vulgalour]

Kind of both.  It's repairable but not in the time I have.  It did something terminal to the engine while crossing the Humber Bridge, smoke and noises and warning lights and everything.  Definitely can't recommend it as an experience.

[paulplom]

My partner once broke down in the middle of the Tyne Tunnel at rush hour. A brand new toyota chr just cut out and wouldn't restart.

I bet she was fucking popular 🤣

[loserone]

What's the plan for it then @vulgalour?