[Any experience changing propshaft UJs?]

Has anyone ever been able to get the caps out by "tapping" the yolks with a hammer? I keep seeing this method quoted in instruction books etc etc and I don't know anyone who's ever managed it

I have on Range Rover props ... always using a dead blow rather than a steel hammer which makes a lot of difference. And it's not a 'tap', more of a 'gentle smack'

I get fed up fiddling with sockets ... though a press rather than a vice would make me less fed up!

AndyG

[tube bender]

I have just bought a Sealey 10-ton pipe bender. Most of the comments on this make was good. Yet to use it though - still waiting for my new chassis.

Les.

If this is the same as the machine mart one, my mate bought one and the hydraulics work well. However the formers were cheap and the walls flex too much on 2" blue band so the pipe deforms ... he took it back and hired a good one for the day instead! Cheaper, quicker, better results - three cages in the day plus the odd roll hoop!

AndyG

[We have a BIG problem with the website server]

... shillings shaken, farthings fetched, donation donated ...

AndyG

[Red diesel]

I was told today that by the end of next year (I believe) duty free 'red' diesel is to be removed from Britain.

How the hell are those using red diesel going to put up with that? Construction plant, machinery, generators, farm equipment and machinery, diesel trains (I believe) all run duty free and the only way to pay for it is to increase prices of goods and services to the consumer ... poor old us, we'll have to pay more tax again ...

AndyG

[First RTV with AWDC]

Exact wording of the AWDC link given says:

"6.4

(a) be equipped with a positive method of

throttle linkage closing in the event of linkage

failure by means of an additional external

spring to each throttle spindle."

So the inference is that if there are already three springs there must now be four!

However looking through the ALRC regs which were updated in November last year (see www.alrc.co.uk) there is no mention of throttle return springs any more (that I can see) so my previous post holds true as the ALRC regs were updated as a result of MSA regs changing ...

So for AWDC you need extra springs but for MSA/ALRC you don't ... probably

AndyG

[First RTV with AWDC]

Could I ask again please to see the regulations word for word because certainly the MSA does not demand two springs on one throttle lever.

mike

I can cause trouble in an empty house.

I also believe this has been relaxed such that there only has to be a spring on the final linkage - an existing one will do. This rule probably originated with rod-type throttle actuators with the spring at the pedal end and numerous places to fail with the throttle left open ... been superceeded by modern technology 'the cable' or 'the wire'.

And as many people already know it makes sod all difference with a V8 when the link rod fails and jams into the manifold ... a hundred springs couldn't close the carb! Been there, rush hour, 2500 revs at idle as I hit the traffic queues!

AndyG

[black paint......problems]

I did exactly the same with mine when I rebuilt it about 5 years ago. Had a lovely respray in mica black, took it to a Breckland LRC meeting the first day I'd had it, when I jet washed it a few days later you could see the exact pattern of where all the mud had been. Looked terrible!

Brett

Note to self: I must remember to mention our special super-staining mud in the Club magazine ...

I must admit the 101's nato green still has some sand stain from the last East Anglian Off Road Show ...

Another note to self: must remember to waterproof 101 electrics before going this year!

AndyG

[Restricted Byways]

Not at all, "we" have till 2026 (I think) to get all the lanes on the DM. After that they will be lost. But have you had a look at the list of streets for you area? You will be suprsied to find lots of "new" lanes that you can drive. I know of quite a few RB (former RUPPS) that are still driven . I for one will still driving Green Lanes in 20-30 years time.

Paul

I was under the impression that 2026 is now completely irrelevant as the NERC act has halted the general reclassification procedure. All routes have effectively been classified overnight to their 'current' DMS (Definitive Map and Statement) or LoS (List of Streets) status, any RUPPs becoming Restricted Byways (RB). The only RoW in flux are those reclassifications actually being worked on at the enactment date (not those that are on file but have yet to be started). Generally therefore any route shown on the DMS and not a BOAT is at best a RB and illegal to drive.

As I posted some time ago, an oddity is when a route appears on the DMS as a bridleway (or under) but is on the Council's LoS as a UCR - the route has still technically been lost to motor vehicle use unless one of a few exemptions can be proved. The main relevant exemptions can roughly be seen as:

1) created specifically for mpv (mechanically propelled vehicle)

2) main use being by mpv

3) extensive use by mpvs for the previous five years

I am currently in discussion with DEFRA as to whether any exemption has to be proved before mpv rights are granted or has to be disproved before mpv rights are lost ... Fundamentally the former means we must not drive until allowed to do so, the latter means we drive until we are told we can't. NERC has created a massive can of worms, especially if the former is the case and part of a major highway also happens to have historic footpath rights ...

For further details try

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/cl/nerc06.htm and/or http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countrysi...l/nercflow2.pdf

AndyG

[Handbrake cable]

Thanks for that Dan - Problem is it's an LT95 (I think - reverse is on the left and forward) and there is a lot of dried mud on the couplings.

LT95 4-speed is reverse on the right and back ...

AndyG

[Winch id query]

I have a Superwinch winch in the shed that I 'accumulated' with the model number 'E10 1574' on its plate. Looks like a commercial recovery winch,

24v, much like the E10p here:superwinch but I can't find this model referenced anywhere ... probably because it's old.

Any ideas on spec etc anyone?

More to the point is it worth stuffing on the dreaded eBlag? It has the solenoid pack but no rope or handset and is currently acting as something to trip over ...

AndyG

[Painting advice anyone?]

try and do it indoors, painting on the driveway is ****, especially if the paint takes a while to dry. eventually as night falls it becomes damp and the lovely finish you've applied can start to wrinkle. its also really annoying if it rains

Driveways are ok but difficult when the leadlight gets frozen to the gravel. Dark, freezing, not the most ideal painting conditions! The worst is doing a lovely coat of paint then finding several inches of snow on it the next day ... four days later the thaw reveals 'dark leyland blue' turns into 'light leyland blue mixed with sand'!!! Seems to make a good undercoat though!

shouldn't need ny special stuff, just a good brush ( i used a harris 'no loss' one because i am lazy). that combined with some dulux exterior gloss resulted in a good finish. that paint is pretty good, but it takes 2 days to dry. which was cool on the bonnet, wings and doors, but less cool on the bits which i couldn't bring into the garage. was even less cool doing the white of the roof as on the first night it rained and now i have a wrinkly roof thankfully its white so doesn't show to much.

I used foam rollers, the best brush I had for touching up (oo err) and 2 litres of Woco paint from the local agri merchants! Not perfect but well passable for an old Range Rover!

Four years later it's due for a repaint and it is going to be Tekaloid, probably with a bit of Flowrite (Owatrol et al) added which should take all the brush marks out and using brushes courtesy of my friendly contact at the Hamilton Acorn factory down the road. More of an electric blue this time, carefully chosen using a handy Pantone colour chart and the girls' opinions in the office!

AndyG

[trailer limits confirmation]

These things are usually about the maximums. In other words, if the GTW is 3500kg and the GVW is 2600kg then you can tow a trailer with MAM (Maximum allowable mass) of 900kg. Even if they are not loaded.

Chris

Hah! (I hear the creak of the can of worms opening in the background). In all cases the GTW and towing capacity of the vehicle are the obvious limiting factors. However from there on it gets 'fluffy'.

I've got documents hanging around somewhere that partially contradict one another but the basic outcome of discussions with the various Ministries and the Police was:

If you are a commercial the maximum tow weight limit is related to plated weights. Ie, actual train weight=GVW+trailer MAM, irrespective of actual load (as specified above). This was specified in a reply from VOSA I believe who declined to comment about non-commercial towing regulation.

If you are non-commercial the maximum weight limit is the actual weight of the vehicles - ie actual train weight=GVW+actual trailer weight. This was specified in a reply from the local Chief Constable of Police. The comment was made that if pulled over he would expect the entire vehicle to be put on a weigh bridge - ie 'ignoring' the plated weights (including the tow vehicle's GVW). Therefore it is possible that if the vehicle was not fully loaded this would be offset against the GTW, allowing a slightly heavier trailer to be towed as long as the towing capacity of the vehicle was not exceeded. To use the example above, an empty 3500kg trailer with a weight of 900kg could *not* be towed commercially but could be perfectly legal if non-commercial.

As ever, this is the interpretation of our local police force ... others may vary and nick you ...

Told you it involved cans of worms ...

AndyG

[Seized Drag Link Adjusters]

Hi all,

Despite soaking mine in CRC, bashing with hammers, heating, hoicking on vice grips, and various form of swearing at them... I still have seized adjusters on my drag link. Is there a trick to freeing them up? It seems that it's not an uncommon issue from what I can glean so hopefully someone can provide some much appreciated advice.

Thanks.

I assume you've actually removed the drag link and joints completely? I generally find beating the c*ap out of the threaded tube ends on an anvil works - can never move them whilst still on the motor ... even when the 3 foot stillsons start to twist the tube!

AndyG

[Q-Max Punches - how handy]

I used the adjustable rotary type of cutter in a pillar drill. Link

makes a clean hole in wood or metal, and is fully adjustable so you only need to buy one. and on top of that you can resharpen it.

Works great in a fixed drill press but is 'orrible if hand-held in a power drill ...

AndyG

[Future of Top Gear confused]

All very strange!

When TG 'finished' after 6 episodes I felt that things were odd. The 'growing fuel' escapade should have been completed the following week but wasn't ... where did it go? Why did it go?

I heard that there was a perceived problem with the programme 'doing it's own thing' and that the BBC management didn't like that rebellious nature despite the populatity. The whole team (production as well as presenters) are notoriously non-pc and approach things from a different direction to the norm so get up some people's noses who are too far up their own rear ends to find the 'off' button.

My personal feeling is that the train crossing article cut a bit close to the bone and severe questions were asked in the back rooms of the BBC ... I think it'll be back but on Channel 4, 5 or, heaven forbid, $ky.

AndyG

[Radio 2 Poll]

Beat me to it

Nominated 'hybrids and electrics' (both environmentally unfriendly).

Also sent stinking letter to Mr Vine about the explicit bias in the programme and website and explained that the poll results (whatever they are) will be massively flawed due to the biased statements in the 'invitation to vote'. I asked him to state that fact when he presented the results ... some hope I feel!

AndyG

[Help setting mixture on SU's please]

Thanks for all the helpful advice, I think that I've managed to get them to a reasonable state of tune, well there's no black smoke out of the exhaust and the fumes don't make your eyes water and your throat hurt any more!

Obviously not on a 101 then ...

AndyG

[wheelboxes]

Before putting wiper arms back onto splines, turn ignition on, hit the wiper switch and see if both splines roll over and back.

If all seems well in the Land Rover world, put the wiper arms back onto the splines so blades are inthe parked position... Hit the switch again..

Seems good to me. That's exactly what I had to do after the 101 wiped it's face instead of its eyes!

AndyG

[Building a shed]

It is worth checking the planning regs, but most 'free standing temporary structures' do not need planning permission. Something that is permanently attached to the ground will however need permission.

Bolts into a concrete pad do not count as permanent.

As I said though, check the local regs on the council website...

Mark

Don't know about other places but I belive the standard rule of thumb is if it's on a concrete pad it's permanent and you need the nod and wink from the Council Planners. Alternatively, keep the neighbours happy for seven years after that it's ok ...

[Yet another prob]

...

Oh dear I thought, how frightfully inconvenient.

...

Next I see a wisp of smoke from the dash.

Bo*!^@ks.

Due to the position had to unhitch the trailer and push the sod round and bump start it.

...

At least you could get it running ... my V8 RR got to work but decided to stop dead in the middle of a main Norwich street at rush hour that evening. Pouring with rain, dark and loom burning under the bonnet when the ignition was on. Insurance company had changed my recovery company without telling me so I was towed home by a mad bloke and had no lights, wipers, demister, pas or brake servo. My seat had developed an interesting crease in it 10 miles later!

AndyG

[Help setting mixture on SU's please]

Afternoon

I'm looking for advice on setting the mixture on my SU carbs, I've tried searching but can't use the terms V8 or SU as they're less than 3 characters.

Try google and search on 'tuning su', there are several guides.

AndyG

[Welding helmet tip]

When I got my Speedglas in Jan a friend advised storing it in a pillow case when not in use.

A month on the helmet is still like new when I use it, none of the usual dust and workshop debris

But I bet sleeping is awkward

AndyG

[DIY. Corrected radius arms.]

Guys, Guys, Guys.

My apologies I am aware of this from reading posts on this forum since i have become a member which is not all that long. I don't want to get involved in your politics. It's just a picture.

Don't worry Bruce ... just whisper 'Scor***n' and it'll keep some people happy.

Me, I've never used them so have no opinion worth sharing so

SCORPION SCORPION SCORPION

Is that a rocket motor on the end of a cigar shaped object I just saw take off? I think I'd better hide ...

AndyG

[The Grave yard]

God i forgot about them people with range rovers used to buy them thinking their fuel problems would be a thing of the past

Have not seen them for a while

In answer to the original poster ... I actually run two in a V8 but it doesn't look like many of the respondents actually do or have used them. I got results but unfortunately my results aren't relevant to a turbo diesel though!!

AndyG

[Welding, RRC, inner wings and footwells]

I had no idea the footwells were bolt in. Excellent. I bet mine have been welded in though ...... They look like a clowns trousers, so many patches..... And the carpet is wetter than an otters pocket.

It looks like I'll have plenty of practice with my new MIG, I might even get as good as Les by the time the thing is rust free.......

The footwells are welded to the bulkhead but screwed to the floor with spire nuts.

Though of course if your motor is newer than mine it might be different!

AndyG