1006 replies to this topic

[Carlos W]

You're meant to be good with sorting fires

[grahama]

Hi all,
 
Little more progress over the last couple of days in between rain showers.
 
Firstly the tech section have helped me massively as always figuring out why I wasn't starting and burning wires.  The diagram I posted is the set up for both ballasted and non ballasted coils together. Putting the white wire to the -'ve terminal stopped everything and created the short that burnt the wires.  I cut the loom open and dealt with the wires.
 
2015-06-19 16.09.12
 
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Just need some loom tape to finish off and all will be as good as new.  I cut the white wire for non ballasted coils out completely as If I change to a non ballasted coil I will run the wire in a separate loom.  Extended the good sections of the crispy wires with the correct colours this time too !!
 

 
I put the loom back in and just connected the starting side of things.
 
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All ready for the gearbox test.  Ran first time after I reset the timing as I had done it on the exhaust stroke and was getting a proper crappy banging run before this.
 
Off I went !!
 
https://www.flickr.c...57654716347696/
 
Not sure about the driver side running weaker than the passenger side but have again asked in the tech section.  I can hear it dragging on the new pads so am assuming it is that.  It goes into all gears including reverse but it is tight going in,  as it the clutch isn't quite disengaging the drive fully.  I have had to shove it into gear a couple of times !!
 
It is a new clutch so does it have to bed in at all and I set the throw out to 6.5mm as in Haynes??
 
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Last bit my dash.
 
I got it for about £20 from fleabay and was very pleased.  veneer is flaking off a bit but the binnacle part is in great condition.  I have flicked off the loose veneer and clear coat and am trying some body filler to fill in the gaps.
 
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I intend to wrap the dash so just need it flat,  hopefully the body filler will stick well enough,  it seems to stick to everything else like crap to a blanket so fingers crossed.  Will sand and see !!
 
 
Thanks all for now,  feeling less bad about the burnt wires as it was an easy fix in the end but now it's clutch woes !!!
 
 
Graham

Edited by grahama, 22 June 2015 - 09:31 PM.

[grahama]

Hi all,

 

Another step backwards yesterday.  Just not happy about the clutch action so I had to remove the wok to see what was going on.  Jacked the engine up after removing the starter and clutch side engine mount to try and reveal the wok bolts.  Lots of lost skin later I had it off although getting the bolts back in is going to be a challenge!! I also marked up the bolts as some are coarser threads than others.

 

 

 

 

 

I had a new arm but it wouldn't move in the plunger properly, probably due to old plunger wear so I have decided to replace the plunger and release bearing and clevis pin.  Once out I examined the parts and they are a tad worn.

 

Old and new arm

 

Collapsed bearing

 

plunger wear

 

 

The wear alongside the collapsed release bearing might explain why the plunger had no extra threads showing passed the lock nut. 

 

Not much of an update but a necessary job, hopefully it will clutch feel better once refitted if I can get the bolts back in !!

 

I also have an oil leak from the timing cover which needs sorting so that is looming in the near future too,  another awkward bolt to get out but it has to be done.  Not looking forward to removing stuff again !

 

Plodding on,

 

Graham

[grahama]

Hi all,

 

Clutch parts arrived today,  all shiny and the release bearing looked better, like this

 

 

You can see the inner part of the bearing goes past the cage and so the threads when all assembled again poked past the lock nut.

 

 

 

The clutch travelled until the lock nut moved in and touched the clutch case which is how I think it is supposed to work ???  Will re bleed it again just to make sure all is ok on that front.

 

Now the other thing that is holding me up driving it down the road,  a dreaded oil leak.

 

 

Off with the water side of things and then the pulley after locking the flywheel, boy was the pulley on tight,  had to knock it off with a screwdriver.

 

 

 

 

Not a pretty sight and I could probably live with it but while the mini is still off the road I thought I would deal with it.  It leaks when the engine is running and drips from the bottom of the timing cover, a common leak area but hopefully just that.  The block is dry as in the inner face of the flat plate the cover sits on so it suggests the half moon seal is seated ok and not leaking.

 

 

The screwdriver shows the lowest point where the oil pools and drips from, it pools on the outer lip of the cover, suggesting a nut leak to me,  but am open to suggestions.  The pulley oil seal is dry on the outside but with the pulley off you can see oil on the shaft, is this normal??

 

 

The oil flinger I think needs replacing after being bashed off again but was oily inside and dry outside which also suggests the pulley oil seal is ok

 

 

It does seem that I am going backwards at present as there is no point in moving on until these bits are sorted unfortunately. Hopefully I can find the leak over the weekend but holidays are next week so might not get it finished !!

 

Regards,

 

Graham

[Ben_O]

Good luck with it Graham. Nothing worse than a finished car that leaks oil

[hughJ]

Hello Graham! It has been a long time since I have been on here. On my summer holiday and thought I'd just have a wee look. Great to see you still at it and looking good. As usual you are taking care and sorting things out thoroughly. It was just so nice to come on and see yourself, Neil and Carlos still working away. I feel bad I just don't come on the forum now. It use to be a nightly thing watching you. We were doing the same work together for such a long time. I'm still using mine. It is a bit rustier. Needing a couple of jobs on it but it runs very reliably. You are nearly there. I must keep an eye on you!

 

Kindest wishes, Hugh

[grahama]

Thanks Neil,

Nice to hear from you, glad all is going well still, had it going forwards and bawkward a but only a foot !!

Nearly there, when I get back from hols I will be cracking on properly

Graham

[Ben_O]

Hugh called Neil Graham in another thread and now you called Hugh Neil in this one

[grahama]

Am in Spain Ben, so a bit squiffy most of the time lol. Sorry Hugh lol

[grahama]

Hi all,

 

couple of weeks till away again for a wedding so thought I'd better try and find the leak.  Stripped the timing cover side of things and found this

 

,

 

 

 

 

 

No gasket !!  No wonder it was leaking oil at a rate of knots.  Gasket bought, blue hylomared and put back on hopefully all will be ok when I run it this week.  I have however put the radiator back on and not tightened the fan retaining bolts up so that has to be re done.  Getting a bit sloppy now !!  Mashed up the fan belt pulley lock tab too as it was difficult to turn down, but it should be fine,  all torqued up properly.

 

 

I got some aluminium plate, 1 10mm and one 6mm to make conversion plates for the quick release boss.  Measured and drilled, roughly cut out until I am ready to fit but you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got a centre cap too but have to figure how to set in place permanently.  Should look good when all set in place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still plodding on !!

 

Graham

Edited by grahama, 29 August 2015 - 01:20 PM.

[Carlos W]

Keep at it mate, you're nearly there.

[Ben_O]

Keep at it mate, you're nearly there.

He needs a list

[Carlos W]

 

Keep at it mate, you're nearly there.

He needs a list

 

You sound like my wife.

 

She makes lists of lists

[grahama]

List is made Ben lol, just need time ! Water in next, new battery and then glass!

[grahama]

Hi all,

 

well the list is sort of done but I am not following it to be honest lol. I have started to refurb my set of minilites.  Rather scrappy peeling clear coat on 4 out of the 5 but at £56 I wasn't complaining.  Scrape, sand and a bit of primer later...

 

 

 

 

The set are off the tyres now and well on the way to paint.  I decided to do the interior first on the actual car as once the windows are in it will be a lot dryer in there.  Aerial needed first tho so a hole was drilled in the roof and it was threaded down the driver side A pillar.

 

 

 

 

Headlining next, just the old original one as I just want it to get done and I can get a new one later on down the line.  Contact adhesive and pegs did the trick but it was a struggle on my own.  Set the front first

 

 

 

Next day, the rear and the next, the sides.  came out well really,  a little heat to help it stretch to fit but nice and tight and it will be fine for now.

 

 

 

 

 

It's a tad mucky but I will clean it up a bit.  I am quite pleased with the result and the odd crease that is visible should disappear once the window rubber goes in,  which is next.

 

 

Still plodding on,

 

 

Graham

Edited by grahama, 12 October 2015 - 04:18 PM.