Chip

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by theBusmonkey, Jan 2, 2014.

  1. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    haha, I fell asleep re-reading that. But if it helps ;)
     
  2. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Speaking for myself, yes it does. DC electrics can go very wrong and many people new to it think that it's relatively benign. One's previous experience of DC shock/power might be checking a 9v battery with your tongue. :D
    Mind you, I can't talk, IIRC I don't have a single fuse in my solar system. :eek:
     
  3. You own the Solar System? Are you God?
     
    Zed likes this.
  4. I knew it!!! No one man could know so much about bay's without some kind of extraterrestrial power :D:D:D
     
    davidoft likes this.
  5. Not even from the reg to the battery?
     
  6. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Yes I really must sort that out.
     
  7. Used to be a weeze getting new engineers to see how many 28v camera batteries they get pressed together end to end. Being 5 inches long usually you dropped them with shock before you ran out of arm length!:burp:tuesday_wildchild
     
    Merlin Cat, theBusmonkey and Zed like this.
  8. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Yesterday & today! Good days, one with the help of @Dicky, & one without.
    Yesterday. Brake caliper refurb. We have ATE calipers & the NS one has been knackered for 2 years, resulting in 'rolling management'.
    So yesterday we did it. Popped the pistons, cleaned it up, replaced the seals, bolted it all up & bled the system.

    This is my church...
    P1070877.jpg

    All exposed & some nasty scoring on the cylinder which may come back to bite us in the future...but ah well...
    P1070878.jpg

    New vs old. probably a good call as the old pistons were mullered. Probably all that bar action we'd inflicted on them over the last 2 years.
    P1070879.jpg

    Snug as bugs. We put it all back together, Dicky supervised the up & down pedal action & there were no puddles this morning. So all's good!
    P1070880.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2016
    SeanOC likes this.
  9. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    & today. Pop top assist struts arrived a couple of weeks ago & feeling flushed with the success of a brake job bleeding well done, if you'll excuse the pun, I horsed in with the 9mm drill.

    Rivnut insertion. A twitchy process that involves big leverage & some beer.
    P1070881.jpg
    However, those that know me will understand there was some 'consideration' before that drastic stage was reached.
    The lower brackets required fettling to alter the ball joint angle. Due to the curve of the roof I felt a 90' bracket put too much stress on the....well see for yourself...
    P1070882.jpg

    The 'induced' curve on the bracket allows for a more natural angle in the lower ball socket...
    P1070885.jpg

    ...and that's reflected in the way the top one lays.
    P1070888.jpg

    The final result is pleasing. I wanted the angles to look right.
    P1070887.jpg

    The struts follow the angle of the rear most hinge & the rear of the roof. So are we happy?
    Yes & yes (& no). It's a black art specifying the lift of each strut. This relates not only to the weight but, more specifically it seems, to the point of lift..the fulcrum if you like...
    Brainier brains than mine probably could have worked out how many newtons lift are required to support a Westy roof with 'x' weighted solar panels at a point 1560cm from the rear edge....
    I couldn't. So guessed.
    It's easier getting it up, wey hey, than putting it down, but that will probably ease with use...don't it all:D
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2016
  10. Looking good sir!

    What pop top canvas have you used?
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.
  11. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Why thankyou alanchester!
    It's the acrylic fabric jobby from Go Westy. If it wasn't so badly fitted in the first place we wouldn't be replacing it in the autumn.:mad:
    It's wind & rain proof & comes in a variety of colours. It's also expensive & doesn't breathe like the cotton ones:(. I'm having a dilemma regarding the replacement.
    This Samba article sort of helps but the colour choice in cotton doesn't match the bus paint...
    Here's the link to Ron Salmons write up on the Bus Depot.
    It's all very confusing & I'm tempted to bite the bullet & order another grey one from Go Westy in the States coz at least we know it fits & have been impressed with the wind & rain resistance (& the colour).:confused:
     
    alanchester likes this.
  12. I've just taken delivery of a grey one from VW Heritage but still to fit, so can't comment on it.
     
  13. I've got a Wolfsburg West one. Very impressed with it.
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.
  14. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    I'd be interested in seeing how you get on with this. The colour looks good & it'd be a lot less hassle than importing.
     
  15. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    They only do tan or yellow don't they Andy?
     
  16. Can you tell us what specs you used for the struts? So that other people without brainier brain than yours, can just try to guess using your feedbacks as reference. :)
    And you would go for a bit less lift if it was to be done again? (Installing it at the exact same spot on the roof of course)
     
  17. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    I will JB. ;)
    I'm going to have a word with bertiebot & do a write up on where all the bits came from, how the angles are worked out & the best way to instal them.
    The company I got the struts from have offered to tune the struts to the ideal strength as they appreciated it was a bit of an experiment.

    In our case the solar panels made the roof heavy, but they are evenly distributed so I think once we've got these struts adjusted correctly, the suppling engineers will be able to work out the ideal strut for standard Westy rear hinge, UK supplied, retaining the H frame:thumbsup:
     
    Cov1987, agaric and MorkC68 like this.
  18. Nice, thanks!
    I have lamentably failed at "calculating" the lift required for soft closing top opening shelfs recently. So I kind of share your pain (at a much smaller scale).
     
  19. sANDYbAY

    sANDYbAY On benefits-won't sponsor!

    I like the angle you've installed the struts at, it makes it look like they were original. :thumbsup:
     
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  20. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    It's Mrs Monkeys' birthday this weekend so we're off to sit in a field & eat grapes & drink Prosecco.
    So, before the rain comes later :rolleyes: I've changed round the thermal screens, polished the hubcaps, fitted her a mirror (she has to look her best if I'm to take her out)....and fitted her a new tap in her kitchen.
    Lucky lady :beer:
    P1070891.jpg P1070892.jpg P1070894.jpg P1070893.jpg
     
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