I want to learn but not destroy my bus in the process ...

Hi all,

I would pay someone, real actual money for them to teach me some of the basics of maintenance and tuning my 1979 US Westy (2.0L and FI).

Anyone know of a course I can do, or of anyone who could help me? I managed to trouble-shoot a condenser / points problem last winter, but it took me months. I'm a bit reluctant to do the timing myself as well. I don't want to mess things up. I would like to be able to remove the engine myself at some stage as well.

Is there anyone around who wants to pass on their knowledge?

This is just a cry for help really!

Thanks

Stu

 

where you based, as you will be better with someon close to you

 

Attend the next Techenders event probably not until next year now but well worth attending

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm based in SE London.

I wanted to go to the Techenders weekend this year but I was working in the end. Don't think it's the sort of thing the wife and kid would be interested in so I'd have to arrange a weekend's pass as well. We all know how rare those things are.

I'm close to Alan Hills in Crystal Palace and one time chatting to him about how I wanted to do more myself, he said he had considered running a short course, but he never got enough people to say they were interested. I there are any Londoners who fancy this, we should get together. I'll probably call them and see what sort of numbered we would have to talk about anyway.

Stu

 

some people are naturally good at mechanical things and some people are better off leaving alone. thats just the way it is. routine maintenance is mainly logik and being thorough without cutting corners. buy a manual, haynes / bentley etc.
get some basic tools and make sure you get feeler blades. work through each serivce step by step. follow the book. haynes give a spanner rating for difficulty which may be useful.
dont start with running faults or complex FI issues, walk before you run!
once you have an understanding of how everything works and what it all does it will become clear.
most colleges do a basic car maintenance course in the evenings and there is always here if you need a bit of advice.
now go and get your overalls on!!!

 

sent you pm.

 

nothing better than reading a few books - Jim Muir, Tom Wilson, Bentley manual (haynes if you're desperate) Learn about how things look and should fit from the descriptions then have a go at dismantling something and putting it back together.

Whilst very well engineered these buses are based on ancient technology and are surprisingly simple to work on