[using your landy around Warickshire!!]

RYKNILD STREET

found this green lane..... does anybody have any more info or have used it? webpage is fairly old so wondering if this route is still open and legal

http://website.lineone.net/~byway/laneoflastweek.html

[Wheathils Farm, nr Wootten Wawen this Saturday?]

good spot.... having googled Aston Cantlow I've found its got the same directions as this Wheathils Farm. Great , i've wanted to go here for ages.... 4x4 Funday Limited apparently do events there but they always seem to be at Farley Quarry instead.

will you be there tomorrow treebloke?

[new bonnet catch]

im finally getting round to replacing the bonnet catch (im going to external clasp types as fed up with cable problems). 2 qns remain....

1) do i got for metal type as pictured above or rubber?

2) screw or pop rivet fittings?

your thoughts welcome folks.

cheers

dan

[Wheathils Farm, nr Wootten Wawen this Saturday?]

hi,

im not a member of Midland Off Road but have found they have an open event this Saturday at Wheathils Farm (near Wootten Wawen) this Saturday. Given i dont live far away i think i will pop down and have a look.

Does anybody know this site? if so, whats it like. im used to quarrys so wondering if this is my type of event.

Anybody planning on going this weekend?

cheers

dan p.s: AS ALWAYS ANY IDEAS FOR OFF ROADING IN AND AROUND WARWICK GRATEFULLY RECEIVED!!!!

[using your landy around Warickshire!!]

Interesting - whereabouts are they? I don't know of anything that looks worth doing, but I work in Alcester so it wouldn't be much hassle to investigate...

thanks both. those places you mention jonah all sound interesting - i could travel to those no probs. do you have details of routes? where do you find yours as ive tried Wayfinder and its a bit painful

cheers

dan

[Heater fan stopped working]

You don't say what or how old your defender is but I had a similar problem that was resolved by cleaning the crud out from under the wing (where the intake vent is) freeing the fan and then spraying it all with WD40

It might be something as simple as that

I have a similar problem buts its intermitent between altogether duff and fast although slow never works. Where did you clean all the muck out from?? access via the tope of wing or under the wing through bonnet?

[using your landy around Warickshire!!]

hey all, i bought my first 90 this summer and living between Warwick and Solihull have entertained myself at future 4x4 (avon dassett quarry) and ogx (sibbertoft site). the pay and plays are great fun and if you know of any other local ones id love to hear about them but....

.... i would really like to start green laning. ive had a taster with a few VERY short UCRs/BOATs round by me but nothing more than a few hundred meters. living in this area where do i go for some serious laning? ...or who do i ask?

ideally im thinking any part of warwickshire / northern worcestershire / southern leicestershire.

[new bonnet catch]

You could fit the military type bonnet clamps, got these on my 90:

thanks, i might go with those, think ive seen them going on ebay. did you pop rivet or screw on?

how do they work... do you just press the bonnet down so they catch and then release and they hold in place?

nice truck by the way, looks like it loaded with kit!!

[new bonnet catch]

Recently having a lot of trouble with the standard cable/catch and before replacing the existing components I want to consider other options.... can I fit the external clasp type that are fitted on the bonnet without use of cable etc?

anyone done this before or know where to get parts?

cheers

dan

[Headlights]

recently replaced mine on the 90 and went with the sealed units purely for the waterproof quality. i previously had one non sealed and never got any light from it since the lens was permanently covered in mud on the inside left behind from the latest water..... maybe i should just look for cleaner puddles/ponds

[Defender Rear Winch Mount]

not sure about the one pictured, found this one by equipe...

http://www.lrsoffroad.co.uk/shop.php?mod=p...93b2234f5056d3c

that looks a nice site by the way... where is it? see you are from west mids, im in warks so looking for somewhere new to go... sibbertoft and avon dassett at the moment.

good luck with the search

dan

[Seems cheap]

hmmm, does seem like a good buy!

excuse my ignorance but how does the seller benefit from the "scam"? just interested so i never fall foul of these tricks....

dan

[Overheating but why]

I suffered from very similar symptoms on my 90 2.5TD recently (although my threshold was about 40mph as 50mph in my truck is probably a bit ambitous )

Check the water pump - is it dripping water from the drip hole in the nose of the pump? This was my problem as internal seal had gone. Replaced water pump, bottle of K-seal to cure a few small leaks in the rad and all was fine!

as i say sounds very similar so check out my original post and replies....

http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopi...pump+nose\

good luck.

dan

[power steering pump]

my power steering pump is leaking through the front which I beleive to be the cause of stiff spots in the steering, particularly in getting a tight lock (well as much as a 90 can have a decent lock )

having read previous posts it looks like a seal kit is not the way to go so i'm looking for a (very) cheap and cheerful option so prob second hand / recon.

any ideas of best place to go? the prices on craddocks, famous four and paddocks scared me a little bit.

anything local to solihull/warwick/leamington would be extra handy to save on carriage.

thanks, dan

[rear prop shaft]

thanks for all your replies. diagnosis was correct - knackered diff pinion bearings.

i decided it was a little soon for me to me playing Mr Ametuer mechanic with important stuff like differentials so the friendly folks down at 4x4 R Us in Warwick have fitted me a second hand diff for £90 + an hours labour.

to make up for wimping out of this job I will be tackling speedo cable, power steering pump, and winch isolator switch at the weekend.

thanks again, dan.

[rear prop shaft]

Thanks Les. hope you don't mind, ive annotated your pic to show what i can see moving when i move the prop up and down...

would worn differential pinion bearings explain the vibrations and the muck coming out?

trying to work out if i can do this myself. when i bought my first 90 (3 months ago) id never done ANY mechanics. since then ive changed alternator, starter and water pump but a little nervous of the 'big important bits' underneath.

how difficult is removing the driveshafts, crownwheel, and pinion? does this mean removing the axle/diff?

do any of your useful "HOW TO's" cover this job?

thanks, dan

[rear prop shaft]

thanks for all your replies.

i noticed the vertical movement in the prop before driving it yesterday at which point it was at least 1 inch movement.

having read your replies ive checked this morning and movement is now only 2-3mm?!? BUT, that movement deffinitely comes from further back than the UJ (the round peice which i guess is the flange behind the UJ is moving when i move the prop).

if its the UJ/prop that needs attention then i would have a go myself next weekend but if its a case of the axle/diff coming off then i dont think i'm up to that.

[rear prop shaft]

Hi all,

You may have seen my earlier post. Ive got a virbation noise coming from somewhere along the drive train (i think). Very loud dry/graunching noise when moving (both when clutch in and out). I dont get noise when at a constant speed on a flat road going in straight line.

Most noise is when the truck is lurching forward or back (say when accelerating or engine braking). At this point is sounds like somthing is about to drop off.

So, this weekend (for the first time! ) I've changed my axle oils and greased UJs/prop shafts. Having discovered the my back axle only contained about a pint of muck i was hopeful that this would solve problem. It hasnt.

Sympton 1) Anyway, i have noticed that the rear end of the rear prop shaft (where it connects to the diff) can move vertically up and down by about 1 - 2 inch. The diff doesnt move, just the shaft.

Sympton 2) After a short drive today I came back and noticed that the area around where the rear prop connects to diff had been sprayed with muck (much like that I took out of the rear axle). Presumably this has been sparyed by the prop spinning whilst driving but dont know where the liquid muck is coming from.

Oh, and i heard some "squelching" noises from the undercarriage whilst driving today.

Ideas welcome..... (i am a complete novice though so please go easy on me....)

[diff and axle oils / grease]

in need of help again i'm afraid....

emptied both diffs (front was fine whilst the only thing the rear had in it was about half a pint of muck). will top back up tomorrow.

Held back on gearbox as couldnt work out what tool i'd need for the refiller plug (square socket???) - any thoughts?

My big problem came with greasing the UJ's. I have to be honest and say I dont have a clue what I'm doing here.... to the extent i dont know where to look for the greasing points and how to apply the grease once ive found them.

Having read some posts and the manual I do know that i should be looking for 3 on each prop shaft around the UJ (i dont even know if this is the joint at the gearbox end or the diff end?!)

Reading the manual it seems like there will be two different types of fitting (one with a nipple in place and one with a screw onto which I will have to put a nipple).

This is where I start to get lost.... can anybody provide me with an IDIOT (me, ) proof guide to greasing my shafts

pictures would be great, im currently working off this, feel free to take into Paint and annotate!

your patience in dealing with an ametuer like me is appreciated!!

[Prop Shaft Greasing]

thanks both, all good things for me to know before the morning!

things are starting to make sense now (I think)... on an ealier post I said that after the vehcile had been laid up (having a new water pump fitted) for 3 weeks following heavy off roading, the engine ran just fine on tickover then...

....the very first time I engaged gear and moved forward a few feet, I got a BIG plume of white smoke, followed by a rotating catching noise and engine cut out.

she then started fine but a couple of miles later all this vibration started. Sounds like the two might be related??? do you agree? any idea what caused the white smoke and what to look out for?

by the way, apart from the vibrations she drives fine!!

Dan

[Prop Shaft Greasing]

Hi all,

Thought i would ressurect this old post as I think it offers explanation to my recent dry sounding vibrations from the drive train.

Having read this post I'm pretty sure I'm suffering from a severe lack of grease / maybe axle oils too. Had 90 for 3 months, lots of off road use and never checked the grease (yes i know but im a newbie to all this...)

Tomorrows job will be to get hold of everything i need (i currently dont have any grease gun, nipples, grease etc) and get busy.

My main question is after hearing the horror stories of the shaft breaking off is this a case of if it hasnt already then I am ok or could i have done some damage by driving with the nasty vibrations (prob about 20 miles since it started). Any way of checking??

Other than this, any advice on what I'm about to undertake tomorrow would be appreciated!!!

Thanks

Dan

[diff and axle oils / grease]

Hi all,

Following an earlier post re some worrying vibrations coming from my 90 I'm reliably informed (by someone who knows a lot more than me) that its likely I need to do a full change of all oils/grease in my drive train. this causes me a few qns:

1) is there an article in the tech archive that would help? I've looked but cant see anything.

2) what does "all" the fluids include?

3) whats my shopping list from Halfords before i start on this?

Also, i had a full wading kit professionally installed a couple of months ago - shouldn't this have stopped wading causing a drain of my fluids and replacement with mucky water??

Thanks all,

Dan

[new water pump on]

Yesterday everything went back on... including new water pump and gasket. Thanks for all the advice.

Ran on tickover for 30 mins no problem, temp stayed where it should. Some steam out of the top of the radiator so put a bottle of RadWeld type stuff in.

Ran again for 30 mins on tickover and the steam stopped, temp still where it should be. Great.

Went to drive off. 1st gear, moved forward about 5 feet then...

1) engine raced as if throttle was stuck open

2) a catching noise started (just as if the fan was catching the cowl but it definitely wasn't)

3) a BIG plume of white smoke from engine bay (seemed to be mainly from the passenger side)

4) engine cut out.

Inspected engine and nothing looked amiss.

5 minutes later she fired up just fine. Any suggestions what the above might have been???... and is it anything to worry about???

>> i might need a new thread for the next bit........

Ok, so then drove for about 5 miles and a vibration started from low down at the front. Quite loud, can be heard above engine, sounds like something catching or vibrating. Not there when you put the clutch in. Vibration gets faster when you put more throttle on.

Stopped in layby and a very nice gentleman in a 110 stopped behind and helped me take a look. He said prop looked fine, bit of play in the front diff but couldnt see anything too exciting underneath. Said he could hear a bit of a vibration at back of engine but didnt know what it might be, suggested some kind of plate but couldnt see anything.

Anyway, i got home but dont like the sound of this vibration noise. Odd thing is, it certainly wasn't there when i parked it up 3 weeks ago, since then all i've done is put a new water pump on.

By the way, temperature fine throughout and no loss of power.

Wondering where do I look first?

[have i cracked my block?]

Today the everything went back on... including new pump and gasket. Thanks for all the advice.

Ran on tickover for 30 mins no problem, temp staying where it should. Some water vapour out of the top of the radiator so put a bottle of RadWeld type stuff in.

Ran again for 30 mins on tickover and the water vapour stopped, temp still where it should be Great.

Went to drive off. 1st gear, moved forward about 5 feet then...

1) engine raced as of throttle was stuck open

2) a catching noise started (just as of the fan was catching the cowl but it definitely wasn't)

3) a LOT of white smoke from engine bay (seemed to be mainly from the passenger side)

4) engine cut out.

Inspected engine bay and nothing looked amiss.

5 minutes later she fired up just fine. any suggestions what the above might have been???... and is it anything to worry about???

>> i might need a new thread for the next bit........

Ok, so then drove for about 5 miles until a vibration started from low down at the front. Quite loud, can be heard about engine, sounds like something catching or vibrating. Not there when you put the clutch in. Vibration gets faster when you put more throttle on.

Stopped in layby and a very nice gentleman in a 110 stopped behind and helped me take a look. He said prop looked fine, bit of play in the front diff but couldnt see anything too exciting underneath. Said he could hear a bit of a vibration at back of engine but didnt know what it might be, suggested some kind of plate but couldnt see anything.

Anyway, i got home but i dont like the sound of this vibration noise. Odd thing is, it certainly wasn't there when i parked it up 3 weeks ago, since then all i've done is put a new water pump on.

By the way, temperature fine throughout and no loss of power.

Wondering where do I look first?

[have i cracked my block?]

thanks.

just bought a draper torque wrench, £30. had a choice of one which did 10 - 80 nM and another which did 30 - 150 nM. having looked at the torque setting tables it looked as if i'll get more use out of the lower range so went for that one.

hopefully new water pump will arrive from paddocks tomorrow.