Anderzander

Oops - I never thought about the gasket / RTV and it's so long since I pulled the box to bits that I can't remember which it was. Though it's a RRC box - so likely to be a gasket. Needs a membership on Aulro - but a thread on the preload here: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/1786903-post42.html

I had this conversation with James - I measured the non cross drilled gear I've taken out and the replacement gear - bearings too and it seems dead on the same. My assumption was thus that the preload variation is in the box rather than the gear - so I think the same shim for the same box is fine. It only my assumptions though.

I got one and for mine and seem to remember the types were detailed on the Ashcroft web site.

Mines similar - similar size too. I bought a 5l bottle of ultrasonic carb cleaning solution and that improved things. I started to type when it doesn't seem to work so well - but it's not consistent enough to really say ! Still well worth having though and a nice lazy way to clean my sockets too

I have a small ultrasonic cleaner, which is good for machine parts and so on - but have looked out for a 2nd hand table top dish washer to have in the garage, but they seem to command a premium.

Are the washers and bushes on a rear shock pin interchangeable with the pin fittings on the front ones? Also - am I right in presuming that most aftermarket defender shocks use standard size bushes and washers ? On the basis that they locate in the same holes and must bring some economies of production costs ? ......

I've shied away from the dishwasher after someone I knew ruined theirs - it had a white interior finish, which went grey ...

Can we not have some Amish type Barn raising event ? Where you drive over and we all don dungarees and get stuck in doing an engine swap.

Thanks Ralph - I'm on my mobile, which it doesn't show on. Rekab - I'm not sure how practical it would be to post one ? But if it's doable, perhaps you could PM me with a price ? Stephen

Might be a bit soon for me - I'm in the middle of a very expensive month ! Whereabouts are you ?

It doesn't have to be square - but it's too big and irregular to be covered by a round hole. An oval might work More than just getting one for this instance though - it's all part of a skill set i want to develop and build up the equipment to go with it.

Could you share a link to those goggles Bowie ? Topically I ended up in hospital a few weeks ago with my eyes. Something had got in one and caused some sort of bacterial infection. I went from fine on Friday evening to not being able to see anything out of one eye by Sunday. All fixed now - but it made me think I better make more effort to look after them. I'll miss them when they are gone!

I guess that depends the plane of the surface you are cutting ? The reason I liked the idea of the one pictured is that I can cut into surfaces that are vertical and perpendicular to the cutter more easily. Holding the normal angled ones against a flat surface would seem rather awkward ? Pro's and cons to each - but I suspect the angle (die grinder type) may pose more issues than the other....

In further thoughts - the cut off tools come with a guard, something I'd be missing if I just bought a mandrel/arbour. With safety in mind I think I'd better off just buy the tool. I also quite like the look of the straight ones - like this :

There's some of these on eBay for around £40 - 10mm x 330 belts. They look super useful !

Something like that would be ideal - I've now just been given a basic die grinder. It comes with two sizes of 'chuck' ? And a few stones. I've a load of burrs which I inherited from my grandad - so if I can get the discs it would be good set for me.

That's a good call - though the discs I linked up to above were safe up to 20k. I will be mindful of the speed though.

Thanks for all this help folks Can anyone point me to the mandrel (?) that will mount the discs to an air die grinder ? There's probably quite a bit of material to take out with a burr or a file - so a small disc would be a good start.

Oooo - they do little discs for them like this : http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=271829468623

Thanks Ralph - that's helpful. I shall commence my search !

Ahhh And what kind of cutter would you use ? A burr or a stone ? Or something else ?

I've found a hole in the end panel of my A-frame crossmember and it's quite a small area to get in and cut it square with a grinder. I don't have a plasma cutter - so I wondered what other folk use in that sort of situation ? I have a compressor and wondered if this is where an air saw would work ? Or is there a small air grinder ? Apologies for the ignorance !

Are there any changes in windscreen frames - from Td5 to earlier models? Mine is a bit scruffy - and the seals aren't great, so I was thinking I could pick one up and prep it to then swap the whole thing over....... But I'm not sure which ones would be suitable.

Would you share your method please ?

Ooo - I'd not heard of Albee, and they have a stockist near me. I'll check their prices out.