Orange Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 We all know the feeling..... driving along the motorway and something goes wrong. This time it was in the company car... A trip to work is normally quite uneventful along the M20. This morning was different. Mother Nature’s sprinkler system had been activated and the lorries were kicking up a mist of spray. There was I, quite happily trundling up the middle lane (overtaking two lorries) at some miles an hour when the driver’s side wiper blade/arm decides that it’s going to slip on its spindle. It was quite happy to wipe the back of the wing mirror, but not the screen!! So.....in a few moments I’d managed to slow down, get to the hard shoulder and get out to investigate. Remembering I’d got no tools on board, I’m thinking “how do I fix this, then??” I got the keys out of the ignition to open the bonnet to get at the mechanism to see if a nut had come loose (had it all apart last week for a new windscreen), but nothing obvious apart from a collection of small metal filings on the valence. “How do I fix this??” I thought to myself........................................... Jangling the keys in my hand with lorries rushing past in the pouring rain I had an Einstein moment!! My keyring happens to be one of X-Eng’s finest and hence has 13mm and 10mm spanner cut-outs. GENIUS!!! Took the arm assembly off to see that all of the splines on the spindle and the arm have disappeared and the whole thing relies on friction to activate. Obviously the removal and refitting last week had disturbed the ‘bond’ that had been created over 5 years of abuse as a company car (at this point I add that I’ve only had it for 3 months). Did the 13mm nut up F'ing tight and took a slow trundle to work with the wipers off!!! I can’t praise this simple idea enough!! Nice one Si!!! Saved me 2 hours of sitting on the motorway embankment in the rain and the company a recovery charge. Sorry for the mildly OT post, but credit where credit is due and all that!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbarton Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Reminds me of the time I was stuck in a layby in a Cortina, no tools and closed up points. A quick scavage round yielded an iron bar and a half-brick, which I used as a hammer and drift to open the points sufficiently to get on my way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeSheds Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Even tight, my no-spline wiper wouldn't grip, but a bit of welding wire (located axially) up where the splines should be works quite well... :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Warman Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Blimey that was lucky, Does anyone know if Simon still do those keyrings? (I'm sure he'll be along soon to let us know) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark90 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Jangling the keys in my hand with lorries rushing past in the pouring rain I had an Einstein moment!! My keyring happens to be one of X-Eng’s finest and hence has... ....a bottle opener. So I cracked open a cold one while I waited for the big yellow taxi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Blimey that was lucky, Does anyone know if Simon still do those keyrings? (I'm sure he'll be along soon to let us know) I think he still has a few left! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I always have a 4" adjustable spanner as a keyring. It has proved very useful but when I last booked a flight security wanted to confisgate it as an offensive sharp impliment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WALFY Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I think he still has a few left!Si Cost??? Or do we have to accost you at events or shows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigSi110 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Oooh!! Me, me, me, me, me, me. Pleeeeease!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 ....a bottle opener. So I cracked open a cold one while I waited for the big yellow taxi In hindsight and after the day I've had, that would have been a better plan!! But, alas, the co. car has no fridge, so it would have been mildly chilled at best Must remember to pack a beer into my work bag every morning..............you know..............just in case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciderman Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 It was the most handy bit of kit we used at the Muddy Truckers last year , Around the bonfire cracking open some very cold beers , Trouble was everyone wanted to use it and I had my Land Rover keys attached to it . Nice one Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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