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Post by Peter on Jan 5, 2022 10:01:57 GMT
Managed to get to the 'shed' today, (Tuesday) and got some fluid into the system, bleeding single handed is a problem without either a vacuum tool or an Easi-bleed but I have a 60CC syringe and sucking it through with that, Fluid in the front callipers again, just need to get some more air out, rears still need another bleed too . Managed to get the mystery of the none starting Suzuki AN400 cleared up, some bloody idiot ( Oh!, only me working on it, ). put some paper towel in the inlet manifold to keep crap out and put the carb' back on with it still there so one inlet valve jammed with paper, my son-in-law did the same trick on his BMW 525TL.) , head off and cleaned up, I had to buy a valve compressor kit on Amazon for 32€ so not here until Friday, I don't know why I never had a kit before?. Mother in law stuff still on going, sister in law coming down from Denmark to make sure she gets a pick of the estate, SO it really highlights the need to have all your ducks in a row, will, clutter, etc. We all have about 75% of our 'stuff' we don't need, never use and can do without and as for a will, well, only 55 don't need to worry about that yet, really? You never know.
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Graham Wood
E.O.C. Chairman
Webmaster
User name = RAM
Posts: 547
Location, Town please: Southport, U.K.
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Post by Graham Wood on Jan 5, 2022 12:10:00 GMT
Can't you grab an illegal immigrant to press and hold down the break pedal ? for a few quid ?
Oh, forgot, they pass through Spain to come to Dover from France at a rate of 500 to 1000 PER DAY, in rubber dingies ( misspelt on purpose ) and are given a place to live, a mobile phone an 3 meals a day ( truth )
You may be able to catch one, you never know !
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Post by Peter on Jan 6, 2022 12:11:43 GMT
They gone through here having crossed from Tangier but get work in the 'plastic sea' where Spain grows a lot of it's fruit and veggies up the coast. at least the buggers get put to work. In Denmark my sister in law said all 7000 Afghanis have work as they have a shortage of labour.
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Post by Peter on Mar 15, 2022 11:57:34 GMT
I Know I said I wouldn't buy any more equipment but rather sell off a lot of what I have leaving just enough to finish the SS and maintain the cars I have but I caved in and bought a vacuum pump kit, I must say it makes short work of bleeding any fluid, just pump it up and open the valve and whoosh, fluid. only 23€ on Amazon. Only critic is the bleed nipple adaptors are too big for most brakes I do (the Wilwood one are tiny) so the pipe has to be fitted directly on and whilst the pipes are a nice fit and tight they are a bitch to dissemble to pack the kit back in the case, screw-on would have been better. I found out that having the gull wing doors open for long periods is a bad idea, they warp and now I can't get them closed so having to prop them open at the front and hope they warp back. Also bought a new 'smart' battery charger with a "repair" and "pulse charge" functions, seems to work, I tried it on a YTX9-BS motorcycle battery that was failing to charge to it's capacity, seems to have recovered from not taking a full charge to being fully charged. I have a pile of old batteries so plenty to try. The bloody Suzuki AN400 is driving me nuts, new battery and fired up straight away. stopped it and when I turned it over again it jammed after one rev', I can wind it back with the crank nut but jams at TDC so something has gone, again, so head off, again.
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Post by Peter on Mar 21, 2022 14:13:33 GMT
Suzuki turned out to be the cam sprocket on the crank loose,
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Post by chrisbailey on Mar 21, 2022 15:05:32 GMT
I have that same vacuum pump kit. They are not too bad. I had a dead hand after pumping my rear brakes. I think the easy bleed kits are better but you need to make sure you can get a cap that fits your master cylinder, make one up if its not in the kit. I had fun blleding my frint calipers, then I realised it was because I had the calipers fitted on the wrong sides so the nipples were on the lowest part of the caliper.
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Graham Wood
E.O.C. Chairman
Webmaster
User name = RAM
Posts: 547
Location, Town please: Southport, U.K.
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Post by Graham Wood on Mar 22, 2022 9:53:12 GMT
I had fun blleding my frOnt calipers, then I realised it was because I had the calipers fitted on the wrong sides so the nipples were on the lowest part of the caliper. Silly Billy,
Even the simplest things evade us sometimes, when we know air travels upwards though liquid -- we know it, but does not always register, & so much to remember. Which is why you always write "Top", "Front" "Back" on things, but then we forget to do that ! I too forget that which I know, should know, but it just does not always register somehow. ( No, it's not my age - our brains must be full ).
Enclosed is some info in a pic' I supplied recently to someone.
click for larger view.
1) Insert caliper bolt and check for free sliding, left and right. Note 4 is a dust gaiter to prevent dirt getting onto slider
2) Are where the disc pads travel along as they wear down. Scrape with screwdriver and grease. Top 2 and bottom 2.
3) You NEVER hang a caliper from the brake hose. You suspend it with a wire.
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Post by Peter on Mar 24, 2022 14:23:02 GMT
Finally and very regretfully I sold the BMW E30, only made 3,800€ on it but I loved that old motor but it means one less to worry about and one less to spend cash on. More SS time.
Mother in law pop her clogs at Christmas so we have 10 months of ITV and insurance on her 1988 Honda Civic wreck before we scrap it and it is a wreck, not a straight panel on it but mechanically flies through the ITV (MoT) every year.
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Post by Peter on Mar 24, 2022 14:25:06 GMT
I have that same vacuum pump kit. They are not too bad. I had a dead hand after pumping my rear brakes. I think the easy bleed kits are better but you need to make sure you can get a cap that fits your master cylinder, make one up if its not in the kit. I had fun blleding my frint calipers, then I realised it was because I had the calipers fitted on the wrong sides so the nipples were on the lowest part of the caliper. Not a problem on the Wilwood 4 pots, they have a nipple top and bottom inner and outer 4 in all per calliper, of course one only uses the top ones,
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Post by Peter on Apr 6, 2022 14:16:34 GMT
Managed to get a couple more things done; Centre of dash back in place but lost the lower part of the gear knob, it is there, somewhere. Throttle cable replaced with better, more flexible cable, Tested the 'new' battery and it didn't pass the test on my new charger, tried 'pulse' charging etc but sulphated due to lack of use, They certainly do not like to sit unused for too long and trickle charging each time I visit didn't help either. Spent ages on the bench grinder taking a couple of mm off of the 46mm socket to fit the crank nut on the Suzuki. Bloody Brexit it biting me again, I need to fix/replace the Mercedes 722.7 automatic gearbox on my 2001 A170CDi but the best fixers are in the UK, but not only has shipping shot up but there would be import duty and tax on it both ways which would cost more than the car!. Main problem at the moment is the hydraulic clutch, I have fluid at the master cylinder outlet but don't seem able to draw any through to the slave, weird! Was not a problem before.
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Post by austin20 on Apr 6, 2022 18:03:17 GMT
I've had similar problems where the flexible hose between body and gearbox had delaminated inside. It didn't leak but did not pass fluid either! It's worth a look. Try and see if you get fluid where the rigid meets the flexible. Other problem check the pipe has not been a victim of wrongful Jack attack!
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Post by Peter on Apr 10, 2022 19:03:35 GMT
THAT WAS MY NEXT CHECK AT THE JOINT BY THE GEARBOX. JACK ATTACK WOULD BE DIFFICULT AS THE LINE RUNS DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TUNNEL, LIKE THE REAR BRAKE LINE ON THE RIGHT.
I DID WITHDRAW THE THROTTLE CABLE AFTER 20 PLUS YEARS OLD AND HORRIBLE, I AM GOING TO INSTALL A THINNER INNER WITH A TEFLON LINED OUTER INTO THE CABLE TUBE CONTINUOUS TO THE CARBURETORS.
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Post by Peter on Apr 15, 2022 14:07:49 GMT
Not much done but progress is progress. made new gear shift and handbrake boots in reed, same materiel as dash and recovered handbrake handle and gear knob (Simoni). Went to fit it as the gear shift ring joins the front and rear sections via allen bolts but can't find them and being Easter all the shops are shut. Managed to get the new trim in place and everything locked together. Laying on my back with my feet in the back windows was not fun but I did get the main connector, LEDs, radio and speedo connections connected. Just need to finally fix the side pods onto the centre which will be fun again on my back. This just shows the new gear knob and handbrake trim.
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Post by Peter on Apr 28, 2022 13:14:01 GMT
Final part of the interior trim apart from door cards. The hand brake cover. I tried to reflect the front part and I think it isn't too bad , not as good or detailed as I would wish but I am lowering my standards a tad to get things done.
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Post by Peter on May 12, 2022 11:09:04 GMT
Despite making a sealed cap for the 3 way reservoir and forcing air into it there was still no flow out of the clutch slave so I removed the flexible pipe and lo and behold both ends were blocked, solid with rubber from dissolved pipe so I made a solid copper one for now and it all works again. I will buy a brake line as soon as I find one that fits as there is a little movement when the clutch operates and I don't want a fracture on the solid pipe happening.
Slow work on the door cards, just getting the look I want without major fibre glass work or buying more material (against wife's rule) is difficult.
LOST! 2 x 4.3" monitors for the blind spot 'mirrors', cannot find the darn things anywhere so may just scrap the idea and fill in the holes.
Likewise the VW Golf door latch for the left door, missing, the right one with it's solenoid is there but the left, gone!
Amazing how stuff carefully put in a safe place can get lost so easily.
'New' battery has failed. I keep a trickle charge on it when in the 'shed' but it doesn't have the power it used to have and will not charge over 12,3 volts, tried "repair mode" on the new charger but still not up to 13v+. that makes 3 batteries in 8 years and still not had a long run, just a few start ups.
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Post by Peter on May 20, 2022 13:01:20 GMT
Going back over stuff done a decade or two ago, now got the clutch working but too much play, brake pedal too far back and throttle too far forward so changing from throttle to brake isn't a smooth slide across. Gear-shift lever needs to be adjusted forward an inch or so. Seat belt mountings on outside needs to be redone as too far forward so I will mount into the side of the body with ample reinforcement. Some of the dash wiring has a mind of its own so need to pull the console again to check. might switch from the military connector which is a bit big and go to a Molex 11 way.
Right door catches on the roof so that needs adjusting, again and still need to fix side pods to centre of dash/console. Then after tea!! At least the brakes all work now.
The blind spot cameras are having to wait, I have them working using a spare screen but the 4.3" monitors have gone missing, I found the bag I think they were in and no screens so someone has them and is wondering what they are for. I was thinking of using the 'front camera' input on the radio and a on/off/on switch to select left or right but that rather losses the reason for having them.
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Post by Peter on Jun 7, 2022 12:53:03 GMT
I need to get the electrical connections redone on the dash to console using 6.3mm spade blocks as the small pins on the military connector were to small and the wheels back on fast. why? well it seems I have SOLD THE SS.
At 76 and following a trip to the cardiologist yesterday and with at least a year to go before I could even conceder going through the very stressful procedure of getting it Spanish and legally on the road I have to call it a day.
Good news is you lot will be seeing little of me as I will be in the background more but I will be keeping an eye on a couple to see if they actually do get on the road.
The other half of the Spanish Eagle owners club has offered to buy it (subject to wife's approval) rather than break it for the VW parts so I can repair my Mercedes A170 and pay back tax of 2,200€ or buy a newer car than the 1988 Honda Civic I am driving. He has agreed to 6,000€ and it is his. At least it is a runner.
Actually rather fancy a Harley Davidson 883 instead of my old 1999 Suzuki Bergman 400.
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Post by chrisbailey on Jun 7, 2022 20:58:53 GMT
Have my fingers crossed your sale goes smoothly, but will be a bit sad to miss your progress updates and all your eagle knowledge.
Hopefully you will still be visiting the forum. I intend on getting a move on with my build as I have just got done with the house jobs.
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Post by Peter on Jun 8, 2022 14:32:26 GMT
Have my fingers crossed your sale goes smoothly, but will be a bit sad to miss your progress updates and all your eagle knowledge. Hopefully you will still be visiting the forum. I intend on getting a move on with my build as I have just got done with the house jobs. The thing that scares the hell out of me is how bloody fast I got to this age (76) from 55,
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Post by Peter on Jun 14, 2022 10:03:53 GMT
The deal is done and Ukhozi is sold, being collected later this week. Electrics were - are the sticking point in getting it ready to go as I don't want Jose Miguel to have a nervous breakdown, little things like the soldered joint branching off to power the reverse light switch was dry so took a while to find it and repair, now reverse camera works too but digi-dash doesn't so back to that today, tomorrow morning, early is wife's Corsa in for em missions and rear bearings for MoT (ITV. Wheels back on as brakes and clutch now OK and speedo pick up cable secured. Door catches are just a hole as I left that for Jose to sort out but I fear I will be getting a lot of calls and for 6K€ I don't mind too much. So by the weekend and after 28 years I will be Eagle SS-less. Harley Davidson 883 custom in a couple of weeks. Gona be great cruising with the son-in -law. Not to much 'mid-life crisis but a late in life crisis. And what the hell!
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Post by biggles1 on Jun 15, 2022 19:29:48 GMT
Good luck with the Sportster, Peter. I've had four and really enjoyed them. All mine have been the old solid mounted engine models (pre 2004). All 1200cc bulletproof, simple, reliable bikes. If you're going for a later model, you'll need to keep it on a smart battery tender if you don't use it every day. The alarm / immobilisers eat batteries very quickly. Post up a few pictures, when you get it.
John.
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Post by Peter on Jun 26, 2022 12:56:09 GMT
Finally got to visit my friend Jose Miguel de Linares in Malaga, some 10 minuets East of the harbour. Unfortunately my phone battery that has been doing the GPS bit finding it had died so no photos. Should have taken my Pentax K200.
He has a super 'man cave' in a storage unit complete with hi-gloss floor and white walls and a on suite and mini kitchen in a separate room in the back corner with a mezzanine floor for storage.
In there under some impressive poster, banners and signs made by himself mostly is a beautiful blue BMW 750i E32 in full Alpine trim.
A replica Paris/Dakar Yamaha enduro and of course the red SS.
A few months ago Jose bought the car from a guy in Madrid 530Km away and drove it home with only a short stop on the way, brave man and puts some of you guys to shame.
The car is interesting in that I don't recognise it as a 'true MkII, yes it has the 928 separate nose but it has early MkI side windows (with 3 x 6mm holes), no internal tubing in the body and a separate roll bar behind the seats. fuel tank up under the rear deck/window, the rear window is glass and has a small 'eyebrow' which hangs over the top of the glass by about 3cm and seems to be vented to the cabin which seems a good idea.
The engine lid has the ribs opened nicely and there is a F40 style wing which is a bit on the heavy side and looks like it is part of the body as there are no signs of a joint. Side scoops are opened but not connected to engine bay, yet.
Doors are MkI without the extra reinforcement of the MkIII and the bottom strut support is very 'agricultural' 'L' shaped slab of rusting steel, soon to be improved on.
the bonnet is standard VW style with the normal single key lock at the rear.
Headlights are weird and more like the Nova with rectangular units fixed, I can see no indications of where the cross tube might have been for pop ups so I can only assume it never had any.
A pair of spotlight have been plonked on the nose and ruin the line of the car and are coming off.
The windscreen is the best part, it looks very new with the latest kite mark, obscuring band and plastic edging, functional but scruffy wiper pentagram does the job but needs tidying up.
Inside the seats and dash are 'sufficient' but will get updating'
Engine wise it is a standard 1600 twin port unit with single carb', heater tubes an all and really scruffy but runs well, two dents in the fan shroud show where the lid hits it.
Wheels are nice slots but will need some TLC before they get pitted. Goodyear tyres keep them off the floor. The front wheels are nicely centered and have clearance but the rears foul the back of the wheel arch and that will need fixing too.
I will get Jose to do a detailed photo shoot as soon as he stops playing with Ukhozi next week.
The grua, (recovery truck) with extra planks is booked for Thursday afternoon, (only 80€ from Elviria (East Marbella) to East Malaga is so cheap we couldn't believe it), so come next Friday my SS Ukhozi will be in there too and I know it will get finished properly and be great but Jose Miguel will need to learn some skill for sure. he has hinted I may have to 'visit' him a few times though. I had the engine fired up Saturday and it runs great but needs serious carbs' tuning as it will not tick over and the odd spit from #3. It doesn't sound like a 'normal' VW chug chug either. With the lighter crank, flywheel, rods, etc it spins up much faster and smoother than a standard VW.
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Post by Peter on Jun 30, 2022 19:16:12 GMT
The SS has a new home in Malaga. Jose Miguel de Linares Solares came with a truck and it is now snug in his collection in Malaga. I have a standing invitation to visit and help out so not gone entirely.
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Post by terryrob on Jun 30, 2022 19:34:34 GMT
It has a very nice new home and has good company.
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Post by Peter on Jul 8, 2022 11:59:54 GMT
What an empty shed and heart look like, missing Ukhozi a lot already. Good news is the Suzuki got some premium time and is running again, pissing oil out of the left crank seal (easy fix for 11€) but running again.
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Post by Peter on Jul 29, 2022 11:36:47 GMT
Empty space but the SS is in a very nice garage and as soon as I get time after the following I will spend a day or three up in Malaga 'helping' Jose with it. The garage is about to be filled again with my dead 2001 Mercedes A170CDi. I will undertake an engine/auto gearbox removal and repair, a big job for a couple of younger, fitter guys but I do save over a grand in doing it myself.
Parts from China have cleared customs after a heart stopping week where at DHL clearance aduana, (customs) they questioned the declared value of $150 (actually cost $766, Shhh) but finally arrived at DHL Malaga sorting at 10.25 this morning from Seville so should be out for delivery tomorrow. shipping wasn't too bad by DHL $180 and tax was $51, Dollar and Euro are about same at the moment. Buying stuff from UK is about the same in tax etc but prices are really high now so might as well wait a week more and save a lot.
Sport seats, reclining, from Alibaba are from about $75 so for a pair and shipping and tax you are looking at $280 a pair which is less than one from a UK shop. .
"Mercedes make their own gearboxes", they say BUT, Made by Siemens with parts from all over including China where I bought a new 1st K1 clutch and a recon' TCM. and the car is a Chrysler anyway.
Bit of back pain but I just work through it, managed to change the brake pads on the old Honda Civic Tuesday and still able to walk, just.
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Post by Peter on Aug 3, 2022 10:46:35 GMT
Garage work held up for a couple of weeks as the water pump on the Suzuki has a crack in it and leaked so 53€ and one on the way from eBay. More time to clean up and make even more room.
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Post by Peter on Oct 21, 2022 18:39:50 GMT
Down but not out, thanks to my younger brother in Alabama who has bought a CIMBRIA. Crazy bugger is tipping into it and done more in a month than most do on a year including new left floor ( dropped 4") moving gearshift back. And tackling really bad doors with metal internal frame.
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Post by Peter on Feb 1, 2023 12:51:16 GMT
On the Cimbria, Bob has made a removable section between the seat and the pedals so whilst in his pit he can work up under the dash, cool idea.
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