The grumpy thread

[Talbot]

7 hours ago, Agila said:

and an arc has a negative resistance property, the more power that goes into it, the lower its electrical resistance drops and the more power it takes, and this will run away until something literally blows up

Worth mentioning too that this is the reason why if you don't have an in-lamp fuse (as many don't) then when the lamp does go pop, it can take out the MCB/fuse in the consumer unit at the same time.  Took me ages to understand how a 100w incandescent lamp, which is 0.42A in normal service,  can blow a 6A MCB, which needs a lot more than 6A over a short time to pop it.

Then it struck me.

[N19]

1 minute ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Of the Indian fella, or the CX starter that I need?

The former! I'm afraid I know nothing of CX starters...

[Tadhg Tiogar]

1 minute ago, N19 said:

The former!...

Message sent.

[wuvvum]

Yesterday when heading out to pick bertiepuntocabrio up from the station I got held up due to a big smash on the bypass closing the main road out of town.  A car (couldn't see what it was as it was on its side) had hit a Tesco lorry, or the lorry had hit the car.  Found out in the local paper today that it was fatal - the driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene.  Not sure how it happened but it is an arsehole of a junction, especially when it's rammed with dopey tourists trying to get to the beach.

[Popsicle]

Well fuck my old boots. Yesterday 4 out of 6 cars not working, today 5 out of 6 not working. The high mileage Zafira that I had a feeling of impeding doom with, wouldn't start this morning, battery flat as a pancake. No prior warning, did 500 miles in it yesterday, nothing left on draining the battery. Also I had a booking at the tip first thing so I'd loaded it up to the roof last night. Guess where my jump leads are? Yep under the floor beneath all the crap I'm taking to the tip. Time was also of the essence as I'd a 400 mile job booked to do straight after the tip run. Fired up the Vectra, as its only got a fucked wheel bearing, lined it up with Zafira and hurriedly started getting stuff out the boot. Included in this stuff for the tip was two empty 25 litre tubs of black roofing sealant and our old deep fat fryer carefully placed in a bag. Can you guess were this is going? In my rush to get going the horrible sticky remnants of the roof sealant and deep fat fryer managed to poor themselves all over the boot, hatch seal and into the well where the jump leads where!

To make matters worse an hour later when I turned the car off, it wouldn't start - battery goosed. Managed to get a boost of someone then on with my 400 mile job, constantly saying to myself 'don't turn the car off, don't turn the car off'. Ordered a new battery on my travels from ECP and got daughter number 1 to pick it up for me. Really couldn't be arsed to change it when I got back and fully expecting ECP to have given her a battery for a smoke detector by mistake as my last few orders have been ridiculously wrong! 

TLDR: I still hate cars

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Visited an auto electrical shop at Hanger Lane. They had four CX starter motors. None were correct. 

Unshielded starters are like feckin' hen's teeth. 

Can ye not find an old school repairer? We had a guy locally who fixed/re-wound/repaired starters & alternators but retired now. Must be someone round your way, or B'ham?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

14 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Can ye not find an old school repairer? We had a guy locally who fixed/re-wound/repaired starters & alternators but retired now. Must be someone round your way, or B'ham?

The Hanger Lane shop is an oul school repairer as well. He reckons he can turn round a repair in about two hours, if the starter proves repairable. Trouble is, we've only got the one, and that's in the car because Garage Dubois-Loizou need it in there in order to move the car around the premises.

[High Jetter]

So, it works sometimes? Can't they push? (Gallic excuses to follow)

[Tadhg Tiogar]

5 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

So, it works sometimes? Can't they push? (Gallic excuses to follow)

It works if they bang the starter with a hammer first. They could push it, but it's easier if the suspension is "up" first, which means running the pump, which means starting the engine..... Can you see where this is going?

[High Jetter]

Yup. But I'd still look to find someone to repair, if replacement is so tricky. Sounds like sticky brushes and/or a dirty comm.

[Floating Chimney]

9 hours ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

It works if they bang the starter with a hammer first. They could push it, but it's easier if the suspension is "up" first, which means running the pump, which means starting the engine..... Can you see where this is going?

The CX can easily be held "up" by small pieces of wood. Front 5x5cm, back 3x4cm, all 10cm long.

[wuvvum]

Just had a 'phone call from my boss - knew something was wrong immediately as it's unheard of for her to call on a Sunday.  One of the girls in my team died suddenly yesterday - not sure why yet, they think it may have been a blood clot, nothing the paramedics could do.  She was a month younger than me, and she's left a husband and two young boys behind.  Won't even be able to have a proper funeral because of Covid.  Feeling a bit numb tbh.

[Wack]

any sort of public job must be a pain in the arse these days , just doing your job and some twat has to record it for social media innit 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3617731568239545&id=100000082116995&sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=2tZwhSUs44bTnZfY&d=n&vh=e

[barefoot]

'Not a bother Dave, I'll be back with a price for you on Friday'.

Is it just me? Contractors that look the job over, promise to return with a quote and then disappear, never to be heard from again. Just tell me you if don't fancy the job, don't like the look of me or even if you don't think I've pot to piss in, but don't just vanish. Do you really think I'll just forget you came? I won't, I'll leave you a really shitty internet review, although I didn't post one the other night because covid could have been causing bloke problems.

[mitsisigma01]

On 8/15/2020 at 11:41 PM, Tadhg Tiogar said:

It works if they bang the starter with a hammer first. They could push it, but it's easier if the suspension is "up" first, which means running the pump, which means starting the engine..... Can you see where this is going?

Do you have a tow bar on your CX?

. 

. 

. 

. 

Could be the answer..... 

[Cheggers]

Just had a 'phone call from my boss - knew something was wrong immediately as it's unheard of for her to call on a Sunday.  One of the girls in my team died suddenly yesterday - not sure why yet, they think it may have been a blood clot, nothing the paramedics could do.  She was a month younger than me, and she's left a husband and two young boys behind.  Won't even be able to have a proper funeral because of Covid.  Feeling a bit numb tbh.

Sorry to hear that Wuv...tough times.

[Tickman]

1 hour ago, barefoot said:

'Not a bother Dave, I'll be back with a price for you on Friday'.

Is it just me? Contractors that look the job over, promise to return with a quote and then disappear, never to be heard from again

We had a few plumbers that did that sort of thing. The best* being one that as he was leaving said to the Mrs, keep in touch.

What? We want a plumber to quote and then do the job not a fucking penpal.

I learnt a lot doing that job myself.

[puddlethumper]

The problem these days is that there are not enough tradesmen. The old school guys are retiring

and there is not enough younger people coming in to replace them so those that are left can pick

and choose. I'm certainly not excusing those who quote and then disappear. Round my way you'll

be lucky to get one quote never mind the three that people are advised to get. Any tradesman that's 

good works on recommendation. When I get a call it's from a recommendation so they know, more or 

less, what I cost and that I do a proper job, and I'll go round and have a chat and give them an estimate.

I don't ever remember not getting the work. 

[Dippy]

On 8/15/2020 at 9:40 PM, Talbot said:

Worth mentioning too that this is the reason why if you don't have an in-lamp fuse (as many don't) then when the lamp does go pop, it can take out the MCB/fuse in the consumer unit at the same time.  Took me ages to understand how a 100w incandescent lamp, which is 0.42A in normal service,  can blow a 6A MCB, which needs a lot more than 6A over a short time to pop it.

Then it struck me.

Thats probably because most cheap domestic fuse boards only take “B” curve circuit breakers, fit a “c” curve breaker and it should solve the problem.

I would personally also fit a 10A type c mcb assuming cable size and max zs are ok.

[Talbot]

There's absolutely no point in fitting a 10A type c to a lighting circuit.  All you're doing then is reducing the level of protection afforded the circuit, as the short-circuit current needs to be higher and for longer before the breaker pops.  If anything, that might make an exploding incandescent lamp worse.

It's not really a consumer unit issue.  It's a shit lamp issue.

[Floatylight]

Next donor's lad has just bought himself an 05 Clio Dci for £450, this morning he was pleased as punch tonight less so, he went out and filled it up came back with diesel pissing everywhere from underneath, had a look with I'm and its pissing out of the sender seal, had bits of newspaper jammed in there and obviously been out a few times as all the fins have been knocked off the locking ring.. 

What a twat seller, can be difficult to buy a new seal or at least use an tube of sealant..

The street looks like the Exxon Valdise has grounded!! Currently out there with our pressure washer trying to clean up..

[MikeR]

another welcome sight  this morning ..

the cat has shit all over the yard and  puked under the outdoor seat ....

cleaned it up , hosed down the yard .

 

cat got a bath as well .. its now sulking some where

 

[Wack]

Just watching a programme about cops on C5 

Copper gets called to a guy brandishing a knife which he threatens the copper with so the guy gets the dog , only he slashes it across the face cutting an ear off then attacks the copper , even thogh the dog is badly cut he still responds to the command and goes in again , copper gets stabbed in the hand but the dog gets a grip of his wrist and he drops the knife 

He gets arrested but unfortunately died on remand , shame 

Then 

They stopped a guy in an unmarked car doing at least 40 in a 20 , he gets out , seems OK, lot of cash in the car so they question him , as soon as they say are there any drugs in the car he's off in the car with a copper still hanging onto the door , it ends up with the copper deciding if he doesn't let go he's dead ,so he lets go at speed, broken wrist multiple lacerations 

Gets to court , judge starts his summing up , protect the police etc etc they think yes he's going down 

No , suspended sentence , where the fuck do they get these people from.

 

 

 

[sheffcortinacentre]

Like the one asking what type of bus was it one of those you get on at the back?

When/Where was this is you ask? London in the 60's? Nope Leeds early 2000's!!!

[Talbot]

2 hours ago, Wack said:

the copper deciding if he doesn't let go he's dead ,so he lets go at speed, broken wrist multiple lacerations 

Gets to court , judge starts his summing up , protect the police etc etc they think yes he's going down 

No , suspended sentence , where the fuck do they get these people from.

After the recent case with PC Harper being killed by being dragged behind a car for over a mile, I suspect very much that it has opened the eyes of many people to the genuine dangers that are presented to officers and some of these oxygen thieves might get some stiffer sentencing.

Can but hope.

[Wack]

6 hours ago, Talbot said:

After the recent case with PC Harper being killed by being dragged behind a car for over a mile, I suspect very much that it has opened the eyes of many people to the genuine dangers that are presented to officers and some of these oxygen thieves might get some stiffer sentencing.

Can but hope.

All the copppers were quite young , they’ve learned a lesson , next stop any suspicion keys out of the ignition I’d think.

where did all these scumbags come from , an hour watching this programme saw acid thrown at a crowd of people including a copper, one stabbed and one dragged up the street 

Fuck tazers and pepper spray , these cunts need a bullet 

[Saabnut]

Back home after basically 4 months away from home working. Opened door, no power. Check box, RCD has tripped, reset and all good. Ah, that will have been the storms that resulted in the train crash 4 miles from me on Wednesday last. Still, no prob....... bugger! The freezer! Yep, freezer full of soft food. Refrozen it but it will all go next bin day.

Went to phone a friend (yes, he is still a friend despite me getting him to collect chod for me) and no phone. No internet either. Arse. Drove up the drive to use my mobile to report it but followed the links to where it said are you sure, if it is your end it will cost multi millions in call out fees. Decided to do more checks. Sure enough, turns out the master socket at the back is OK, so I have a phone again. More checks and it is obvious the front plate that splits the phone and ADSL is borked. Twenty two minutes on hold to Bastard Twats and eventually they inform me that they only cover to the master socket, so the front plate, printed with BTs name all over it, is nothing to do with them so they will send an engineer but I will be shafted in return. Could not be bothered to argue (both my phone and internet are supplied by BT so it is theirs no matter what) so decided to sort it myself.

In the distant past, when my phone line was dug up on one of the many occasions, my master socket was changed and the engineer said it was just to update it as there was nothing wrong with the old one and he left it behind. I have never touched phone stuff but how hard can it be? Figuring the engineer would be no more expensive if I borked everything, I removed the old one and refitted the ancient one. Phone worked, but when I plugged in the router cable, it killed the phone. Replaced the cable, and all seemed good. Switched on my router, and the power supply is dead. A phone call to my friend, a borrowed router and I am back online. Three days that has wasted......

[angle]

On 7/7/2020 at 4:54 PM, angle said:

The ultra shonky XM that lived on my road has been missing a few weeks, presumed dead. 

At the same time, someone new has moved in round the corner. 

There goes the neighbourhood. Bloody gentrification. 

Woo! I'm assuming it's needed some fettling, not that you'd know it. Good job, slightly odd Jimmy Saville lookalike neighbour! 

 

[mitsisigma01]

What about the Austin, does that belong to some local weirdo as well

[somewhatfoolish]

On 8/15/2020 at 11:32 PM, Tadhg Tiogar said:

The Hanger Lane shop is an oul school repairer as well. He reckons he can turn round a repair in about two hours, if the starter proves repairable. Trouble is, we've only got the one, and that's in the car because Garage Dubois-Loizou need it in there in order to move the car around the premises.

Have you apprised GD-L of the fact the starter could be fixed in half a day and be off their premises and not need shuffling about if they facilitate this? Left hand, meet right hand.