9713 replies to this topic

[DClarke1954]

Received the "Used Good" steering column inner shaft just before lunch.

I think "used good" is Swahili for "rusted to feck but might be OK".

 

Anyway, I spent an hour or more removing the worst of the corrosion and as the splines on both ends were fine It has been installed.

Slackened the rack U-Bolts and began the dance of despair working at arms length with a thing that's about as easy to aim as an angry cat. 

More by luck than judgement I am sure, I managed to get the alignment right first go and the nip-up bolt slid in place easily.

Don't you just love doing up that bolt 1/16th of a turn at a time in the that little panel recess?  

Column all fully re-secured and then the rack U-Bolts done up again.

Amazingly.... now when you move the wheel by just a smidge the wheels begin to turn.  Not the 10-15 degrees required before.  

[Designer]

Hi all,

 

Took the Moop out for a run through the country and along the A3 she performed beautifully.

A bit intrigued though must have a small fuel leak somewhere as when put away in November she had about an 1/8th of a tank in her.

Nothing when we tried to start her, put some fuel in and she started instantly.

I did change all the rubber fuel lines to new ones before putting her to bed for the winter so will need to check all the connections.

On the way to getting the fuel a Black Mini Van with gold grill was stopped at the traffic lights at the start of Robins Way never seen it in Walton-on-Thames before. So hi to ever it was.

 

Paddy

[Abbot]

Today was very productive.  Replaced LHS top and bottom ball joints.  Special note to buy extra shims as I ran out before getting to RHS.  Also fitted new front wheel bearings both sides.  I rented an impact Driver to loosen the stub axle nut made life a lot easier.  Also it took me some time to rig some transport straps wrapped around the wheel to stop it turning when i torqued it up.

[Stewart8210]

Went to work today first time in my 96 Equinox. Going to work is special enough as I work from home, but good old Mini fired up fine and got me home (after I'd mastered the immobiliser) Workmates loved it

[DClarke1954]

My wife asked for a lift to the Drs.  

I was happy to oblige and off we set in the mighty mini.  

As we passed the Openreach building with its gaggle of workmen standing smoking and drinking coffee all heads turned to follow our progress down the street.

Brings a smile to your face that does. 

Edited by DClarke1954, 05 March 2025 - 02:04 PM.

[DClarke1954]

Today I took "GWEN" (GWN 287N) for an MOT.

I am pleased to say that the old gal passed. 

[Designer]

Hi,

 

Great news DClarke, a great relief.

 

Took the Moop out again today with my daughter, I did most of the driving as she has a bad arm. Oooo for power steering.

Took her up Box Hill and for good measure returned to the A25 via Betchworth along to Dorking and then up to the top of Ranmore and back to Walton-on-Thames. She ate both Hills as if they were a light snack.

We were well chuffed, temp gauge was just below normal for the whole of the round trip.

Up Box Hill stuck behind a brand new Electric SUV. Driver did not know the width of the car and kept stopping each time a car came down in the opposite direction. We pulled over and stopped to let him/her get far enough ahead so we could have a good run for Moop. Left it five minutes but still caught the obstacle again just before we got to the top only to find him/her overtaking two roller bladders on a blind bend "IDIOT". Hats off to those two roller bladders if they had skated up the whole of the hill. I was exhausted just watching them for ten yards or so. 

 

Paddy

[bluequinn]

I bent my driver's side wiper arm so the blade now actually touches the screen over its entire length. It was a bit dicey in the rain before that!

[IronmanG]

Had a big shed clear out and a proper clean and polish before a quick drive around town. I've got 4 boxed 6x10 black revolutions if anyone is interested that I got from minispares about 3 years ago and never ended up fitting.

[petey81]

I had an annoying rattle. Found the alternator adjustment bolt loose which was causing the fan belt to slacken! Plus replaced the bushes on the servo, changed the bar bushes and had a nice drive around Surrey Sussex Kent borders!

[imack]

Fitted two new A032R's by hand as 10" wheels wouldn't fit the tyre machine at work. Changed the brake and clutch fluid, and gave it a blast down the lanes, amazingly without meeting any cyclists!!

[Designer]

Hi

 

That was because you could fit in the cycle lanes that they don't use.

 

Paddy

[Midas Mk1]

Fitted two new A032R's by hand as 10" wheels wouldn't fit the tyre machine at work. Changed the brake and clutch fluid, and gave it a blast down the lanes, amazingly without meeting any cyclists!!

Don’t envy you, nearly broke my back the other month changing 4 a008’s with just tyre levers, same situation machine at work wouldn’t do 10’s, luckily the balancer just got them on.

[imack]

I made a fixture using an old drive flange so I could bolt the wheel down securely while using tyre levers. Old school Dunlop TL3 tyre levers are so much better than modern tyre levers when charging tyres by hand. The ends are so slender with a different profile at either end, making it easier to hook the end of the lever between the tyre bead and the rim. Could do with some better rim protectors though, some that match the diameter of a 10" wheel. Balanced them on my bubble balancer, no vibration at illegal speeds.

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Edited by imack, 09 March 2025 - 01:33 PM.

[GT Jimmy]

Had this plastic boot board/liner lying around the garage for years, today I gave it a good scrub, repaired a couple of cracks with araldite and an old pair of work shorts and painted it with an old rusty can of black paint that's probably been in the garage even longer

 

 

 

Still looks rough but it's a bit shinier