I've been a naughty boy...

Discussion in 'Show Us Your Bit On The Side' started by theBusmonkey, May 17, 2015.

  1. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    I went down but had to book in, they'll do a 're-test' at short notice.
    The fellow who failed him on Friday wandered out to the car park, said "ah, you've fitted poly bushes, give me 5 minutes"...
    & 5 minutes later wandered out with the bit of paper.
    I thought at the very least he'd have hit it with a hammer or something. I must have looked very confident haha
     
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  2. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Just doing the one side, for now, has made a huge difference. It must have been bad, well there was nothing left in one of the bushes. It doesn't thump over bumps anymore.
    Mrs Monkey has just stolen him to go round to the pub this evening so I can't fiddle anymore:(
     
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  3. maybe later when she gets back then....:D
     
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  4. PS...you never told me you played the violin....
     
  5. They do look rather new and purposeful. Useful to have an engineer on standby!
     
  6. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    That man is the biz. He's a magician with a lathe &, as a bonus, works for Grolsch!

    He's happy for me to go in & bash about with a hammer & grinder but as you say he's there if I need something a bit more technical.

    Lots of business comes his way from the power station. It's way too expensive to get new machinery in to Ratcliffe so Huey just repairs the old. I believe there are some old school engineers on the forum & I'm in awe of those kind of skills.
     
  7. my dad's uncle was a turner, and his hobby was making scale working model steam engines....complete with tracks and carriages....he made a few for various local councils for kids to ride around on...shame I never met him...sounds like a proper fettler:thumbsup:
     
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  8. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Typical morning greeting across the car park:

    "How's it going Huey"?

    "Ah, you know...round & round" :D
     
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  9. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Aside from doing about 2000 miles in the last 3 weeks!, here's a quick update of the slow progress...

    @Dicky & I did some ARB wrestling and, despite the dampening storm, installed poly bushes across the front. Nice & tight now...Steering rack bushes next...;)

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    Last Monday the rear 5 windows were tinted. After much debate & finger wringing we decided on a low level of tint. We're looking for UV protection, a bit of security but still with the ability to see out. I'm very pleased. Excuse the dirt on Big G but he hasn't been washed due to all the miles we've had to do:oops:

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    And finally, we've got a lodger. She dug out one of Mrs Monkey's geranium pots & is currently tending 12 eggs.
    We'll be able to watch the pike & crows feed when they hatch:(

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  10. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Oh, another family member has arrived...:oops:
    ...a bit of summer fun, although Mrs Monkey is not impressed to say the least:eek:

    I don't think it'll be a permanent member, but by god those torques in 4th & 5th are fun:D

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  11. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Well, it's been a while since an update to this thread really coz there's been nothing to report.
    Used every day, Big G copes with everything we throw at/in him.
    So tonight on the way to buy a new mattress this happened...

    ... 22082016668.jpg

    It's hard to see but that's 300,000 km. Awesome! :hug:
     
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  12. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    a couple of months ago mine went through 00000 and I missed it!
     
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  13. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    Gutted. Did you notice .5 mile later?!
     
  14. You went to buy a mattress on a motorbike?

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    Last edited: Oct 15, 2019
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  15. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    No, 10 miles...
     
  16. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Due to all the recent attention to Chip, we thought it best not to ignore Big G. You know how sensitive they are:rolleyes:

    I'd noticed following the poly bush install on the wishbones that there was still a faint knocking coming from down in the depths.
    When we did the VC all those months ago one of the diff mounts was a bit crusty so I had a good feeling that it was the culprit. We've saved some pennies so went for the Powerflex bushes. At the same time, with winter coming, Mrs Monkey authorised a full set of mupflaps.

    During the week a box of goodies arrived and after placating some village clients that I'd let down due to Chip's engine swap over-running slightly I set to this afternoon.

    Replacement diff mounts. There are 3, 2 rear & one at the front & all sounds good. Prop shaft will go back on soon as weather is changing.:D
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    Then, the light was fading so there was only time to do the front flaps. There are 2 types available, SA ones which bolt through the wheel arch, and these syncro ones which allow you to keep the little arch spat things.
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    That should keep him happy for a while...;)
     
  17. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Couldn't wait. Had a bit of time this evening as a door I've been fettling for a customer hadn't completely dried & therefore will have to be hung tomorrow, so after work today 4wd was reinstated.
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  18. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    This has been part of our tool kit for the last few months...
    P1010007.jpg

    A common issue with these old vans is wear in the oilite bush that supports the central shaft of the starter motor that the pinion gear sits on.
    This allows the shaft to flap about & consequently the starter fails to operate.

    Our fix has been to smack the starter with a bit of 2x1 & the above mallet but this was becoming a bit tedious.

    I've had a self supporting starter motor for about 3 months :oops: & finally decided to fit it.

    large_b5618dff821a3aa324c021eda7cb19cc.jpg

    Easy job on a standard T25, a complete PITA on a syncro with the rear diff lock mech & rear mounted fuel tank.

    Procedure was:
    Remove rear wheel & get van up on axle stands
    Drop engine by lowering right side support bar by 2 inches
    Remove dif lock mech
    Remove throttle body & associated gubbins in engine bay
    Undo starter bolts & wrestle the old unit out
    Instal new starter
    Put other stuff back on...

    This took 4 hours!!

    Here's the little darling in situ looking upwards from behind the rear wheel...
    P1010005.jpg

    ...and from inside the engine bay, the shiny hump centre right of the picture.
    P1010006.jpg

    As you can see, access is limited but after a lot of grunting, swearing & under seal removal from hands & eyes the van now starts on the button.
    With Chip going into his winter storage barn next weekend, Big G becomes our regular car & at least now he'll start when we need him to:thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2016
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  19. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Big up to Big G for passing his MOT today.
    No advisories, so I celebrated by giving him a wash :rolleyes:

    Interestingly we've done a knats' under 10,000 km this last year & he was our daily run-about until just before Xmas. :hug:

    Happy days & now I can get on with the next instalment which is to drop the gearbox out & send it off to Aidan Talbot for reconditioning.
    It's booked in for early March so we've got Dubfreeze to attend & then it's out with the spanners & jacks again...
    Fancy a weekend on your back covered in oil @Dicky :eek:
     
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  20. That last line is a bit dubious!!
     
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