rusty_wingnut

Why do people slate defender interiors so much? The front of my 90 is spot on for big mileage, drove to Tong, did a P&P and drove back. Large mileage over a weekend. Found it fine, no aches or anything like that, 70mph nearly all the way, 30mpg on MTs. What more can you want?

Thanks Steve. They look decent enough have to be worth a go

Ah yes, I see you have amended your original post

Well only one way to find out I think Smokey Looks like I will go for them unless anyone has any horror stories? I can't face having Special tracks, they're too common and although good off road I always managed to follow my mates (who had special tracks) with my Saharas. My logic is because the Recip trail has similar tread, but with a more aggressive sidewall I should gain when climbing out of ruts, without compromising the grip.

squirt some engine oil down the bores and crank with the starting handle gently as you don't want a piston ring seizing.

What's the verdict then? I currently run Insa Sahara's and get on well with those, hardly ever get stuck. Is the Recip a step forward as it's got a better sidewall? Should I just go all out and buy Special Tracks? I have a set of road tyres, General TR's. I am looking for an off road tyre with some road handling still left, I do pay n plays and greenlaning. I fancy a go at a couple of these amateur class challenges cropping up. I normally run on 235 85 16, but am looking at 265 75 16. Any opinions welcome, thanks.

well well well, friction and pressure units were both excellent, slave was fine, but my reinforced arm had one of the pins that retain the release bearing come loose and was flapping! Lucky I had a new arm which was beefed up on both pins, and both swivel points, fitted with a new slave I had on the shelf and all is well again. Nothing beats changing a clutch outside during the coldest period of the year in near blizzard conditions

I got them in my 96 300 and managed to use the original clamp

yeah seen that Western, I have the standard unit, but am getting a 130 plate ASAP tomorrow. The one in it was a Valeo 130 plate and has only done 14k miles.

the original is made of plastic, I want to knock one up out of aluminium bar on my lathe. I have no clue of the type of aluminium I have, apart from it's a 4" OD solid off cut is it worth trying to heat treat the carrier once machined? I am worried about the hammering the carrier will take and potential deformation.

Forgot to add, I will be making my own aluminium release bearing carrier, using a new plastic one to poach for a bearing.

Great start to this little epsiode, Bearing hasn't arrived due to this wonderful weather and my local parts supplier don't know the difference between a normal Tdi Defender clutch and a 130 variant.

full rad cover over the radiator with cardboard, fan off. Never gets too hot. Lovely and warm in the cab. 300tdi 90 sans clutch

Indeed, Andy does fit into this category

agreed with FF most pointless exercise IMO, everything you fit a Tdi for you lose. Driving my 90 without a turbo was horrific If you wanted a trip to the south coast I can reccomend a friend's company who will do a blinding job on it.

yes, this has been done and the problem seemed to go away, but after being parked up overnight the problem has returned This can't be related to the weather surely?

not that I can see, all is as it should be. I will check those bolts though, cheers

The clutch on my 90 has developed a weird problem. It was all new around 15,000 miles ago, the arm was reinforced but wasn't brand new. It used to have minimal free play and released on very little travel of the pedal. But recently the pedal seems to have around 2 inch of freeplay (feels like it isn't connected) then I come up against some resistance and the clutch releases (pedal halfway to the b/h) I have checked fluid levels and adjustment, all seems fine. Is this an adjustment issue? or should I be opening the thing up and fitting new bits?

Should of moved over to let a superior vehicle through! In alls eriousness though, surely ABS does not matter, it's tyres and the level of grip they produce that counts in this weather? My 90 on Saharas can brake a lot later than another 4x4 ( Hilux) as his ATs don't dig in.

not a drop in my part of Surrey (Epsom) yet

Bring it on, no work tomorrow!!!!

I have had some thoughts regarding the clutch and flywheel setup on my 90. I fancy having the flywheel lightened, to get a slightly faster pickup time and without costing too much in the way of torque. My 90 has a VNT so produces a fair bit of power at lower revs than a normal 300tdi and I wonder if lightening the flywheel will be beneficial? This might be a bit of waste of time potentially but might also give me a larger range of useable revs.

I was going to offer you my 11L Defender 200tdi block but sounds as though you are well sorted

Standard is definetly best

No probs mate! Hope you got it sorted!