Oakmaster

Ive been using a variety of chargers to keep my motley collection of vehicles in 'Volts' (and amps), But being naturally 'close' (tight, cautious, Northern ) I've always used the Aldi / Lidl chargers - based on 'Folklore' that these were a rebranded CTEK charger. They are not! I borrowed a CTEK charger for a week, and brought back to life a variety of batteries I have 3 Land Rovers, S1 to Puma. (she has a BMW that never causes a problem) a VW T4 camper (plus 'leisure' battery) a VW Fox (for when the girls are back home) a variety of Golf trolleys (with batteries, owned by the BMW driver) a whole load 12V Computer / server batteries which I was hoping to make into banks and replace the Jump Starter, and leisure battery, and 3 lawn mowers with batteries (although 2 of them don't have mower decks, so technically are not lawn mowers) So with this may vehicles, I have a couple of 12V compressors which also need power. This is a lot of batteries! Life on top of a cold, rural, and exposed hill has taught me that every vehicle not in daily use needs a trickle charger, but the Aldi / Lidl chargers do not resume in the event of the mains being interrupted they revert to stand-by. luckily the CTEK charger doesn't revert to 'Doing F-all' when the mains fails, it just picks up on where it was before, I have 6 Aldi / Lidl chargers, that trickle charge the vehicles, - but they don't bring dead batteries back to life. I have a small pile of batteries that the Aldi / Lidl chargers didn't resuscitate, waiting to go to the scrappy, so I tried the CTEK MXS 5.0 on them, it brought half of them back to life, some had been out there for year. Worth pointing out though: The CTEK charger cost almost as much as the Aldi / Lidl chargers put together. If anyone is still reading, I have 2 questions: 1 For the smaller batteries, is there a way of making a simple test rig to see how much charge they hold and for how long? 2 Can anyone recomend a simple trickle charger, that wont over-charge the batteries, but will resume after an interuption in the mains thanks B

here is my predicament - Ive had my 110 3.5 V8 rebuilt (everything) and it included a S Steel exhaust throughout inc manifolds, I have a chance of a 4.6L V8 to swap-in, - What (if anything) do I do about the exhaust?

Will do

My idea is to use a white LED replacement for the 21W / 5W bulb in a rear Tail / Stop fitting, but with a white lens, in place of the usual sidelight fitting. I agree that an incandescent 21W would melt the lens

Can anyone tell me the type of of bulb base that fits into the standard landrover 110 / SIII rear Stop - Tail lamp fitting? cheers

has anyone used, or thought about using a clear white LED Stop / Tail bulb, in a clear lens bulb holder mounted in place of the front side lights? so as to achive a DLR on the front without mounting extra lights Do you have a circuit diagram or any other advice? You could simply use a relay to turn off the 21W, or brake element when the headlights come on

Yes - the problem is its ME saying it in that thread

Im not so sure - I thought that they were different threads and so-on - not sure if they electronically compatible? thats the great thing about Forums like this, eventually you will find somebody who does know? Thanks

I have e-mailed them and will let you know what they have to say many thanks

You are correct - there was a thread somewhere (i thought on here but I cant find it) - I also looked at the RS components sensor, but it was not a like for like replacement - in fact it was quite different. Im slightly surprised that one of the smarter people on here, haven't made some sort of adaptor for it. I'll try to track down the Sheffield place thanks B

Fascinating read - Dogged determination Land-Rover style. I was in the group who had a spare on the shelf, but after 12 years I found it and dragged it out to use on my V8110 rebuild. (new Galv Chassis and Bulkhead, new LT 85) The problem is I didnt have a Speed Sensor (having robbed it for my other 110) - I ordered one up form Devon 4x4 and probably just missed the last one they sold. I waited for 10 months, and then gave-up. 2 years down the road I'd like to know what people are doing about this? are they simply adding to the 'On the shelf' club, or cutting out the electronics (Id wondered about having the switch operate a relay to feed the solenoid (with another relay, fed from the reversing light switch to disengage the O/D when you select reverse? wasnt there a thing about not having the O/D engaged when in reverse?) Any help advise and comment gratefully received. thanks

care to share? B

I sort of do that, but hold back on asking too many as I dont want to waste their time!! so I limit it to two - but the end result it that they waste my time - by ignoring me and not responding. Its the same story with the main dealers, I was once in a position to buy a new 110 (Im a builder but I scrub-up) I visited 3 main dealers where I was ignored, then treated in a very condescending manner, then told I couldn't have what I wanted (A Blue 110 - FFS!) So I didn't buy a new one! Compare this experience with the BMW Main Dealer (My Wife is a Doctor and likes BMW - been trying to convert her, she did have a Disco 2 as a winter car, because the BMW could not gain traction on the drive (lope 1; 100) At BMW they are all over you in an instant (quite disturbing really!) As I understand it now we dont have 'proper' Land-Rovers, JLR are eliminating these mid 20th Century dealerships in favour of new shiny BMW style poodle parlours.

Im sorry - Id didn't make myself clear - I do send my order or query in the evenings / Sunday afternoon, but if there is a single question or variable (Is this in stock? is this the right part number?, queries we often have with Land-Rovers, then it gets ignored

I often go to work thinking I must order some bits for the week-end, and the next thing I know - they day is gone and its 6;00pm Id like to be able to place my order / enquiry by e-mail, and know that it will be taken care of. However 19 out of 20 times the email is ignored, and I have to remember to chase-up by phone, usually too late to get it in time. With 6 vehicles on the drive, I do spend quite a lot, and find it remarkable that so many Landrover suppliers just ignore these requests. Does anyone have a recommendation for a reliable supplier who can cope with web based commerce? thanks

I love the way we get into the minutiae of the detail - Thanks for the above info, I had one on my Stage 1 V8, 109, and would dearly like on for my 1989 110 which started as a 2.5 Diesel? any help welcome - cheers B

Such a good question - if you want to fit a larger tyre than 750-16 or 235 85 R16 then to retain your lock to lock turning circle - you need to move the center-line of the wheel rim outboard (the off-set) to allow a full range of movement. (You can achieve the same with non standard wheel rims that have a bigger off-set - this links with the Forward Control thread that is running along side this) There are others who claim that the wider 'stance' that comes from the increased track-width, makes the vehicle more 'planted' and adds to stability / improves handling - Rather than say Bollox - I've never noticed this - Id leave this to the 'Drifters' and power-sliders to explain how 30mm of additional off-set becomes significant. Lastly - there are all those (probably the majority) who just love that way spacers make their pride and joy look - and who are we to judge -

I cant say Ive seen any deterioration in either handling or wear, and ive got them on 2 vehicles - Previously I was using Forward Control rims which exhibit the same effect. In 10 years of driving my V8 Stage 1 S111 - as a daily driver (and for work) I didnt have to replace the wheel bearings (running Forward Control Rims NB Not 1 ton rims)

We know 'Therapists' !!

Sorry - did you say discrete?

How often should you re-waxoyl a chassis / bulkhead etc.? Vehicle was waxoyled from new, used daily on country lanes Would you clean the old coating off, or re-coat on top?

How often should you re-waxoyl a chassis / bulkhead etc.? Vehicle was waxoyled from new, used daily on country lanes Would you clean the old coating off, or re-coat on top?

Has anyone any experience with these? Defender rear wheel arches http://www.lokari.de/epages/62716287.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/62716287/Products/IKF-0879-0880-B

Nope - they dont respond to emails, I sent a short message with a question for three Sky Tags I wanted to place an order for - Nothing, Zilch, nada!

Any advice on the best Seat Covers, and where to buy them? I was given (very unexpectedly) a set of Mellville and Moon covers for Christmas, for my CSW – they are great, but pricey. Id like a set for my 110 Truck Cab too, and thinking canvas, but open to advice on the pros and cons. cheers