April 2022

 

April 2022

 

I almost did not do a post this month not because there was nothing to write about but I have a number of ongoing projects and the decision when to document them is the real problem in that when  is the time to do it as mostly they are parts of a complete whole but still unfinished. As usual there are some jobs around the house that have to be done. This month the cold side of a mixer tap in the bathroom had no cold water coming out of it. I had to make a castellated nut spanner to dismantle the tap, which was fine so the problem was in the supply. The problem was in the pipe between the isolation valve and the tap. To get to it I had to remove all the panels surrounding the sink to gat at the pipe with the blockage being a disintegrating fibre washer in the coupling. The washer had migrated into the pipe and took a bit of poking to get it out. Have you ever tried to get a specific sized fibre washer? I can assure you it is not easy. The solution was from an unusual source. Lidl has boxes of fibre and rubber washers and one, although not the correct size, did fit and is still doing the job. 

Next was the boiler service. I was told that it was kettling and would need a new heat exchange or a flush out. Neither would be done at the service. I was not impressed by what they covered in the service and told the engineer so. I decided that a flush would be done and got the flushing agent and inhibitor from Screwfix. I drained the system down as much as I could and put the cleaning agent in and left it for a week. This stopped the kittling noise straight away. The system needed to be drained and flushed three times with the fourth fill the inhibitor was added. What a palaver and it took all day to do it. At this time I was doing other things like working on an aluminium cover to fit below the spare wheel and when I finished that one a cover to hide the filler neck, sender unit and fuel pipe over the petrol tank.

In between was Easter and a visit from my brother Adrian. He arrived Good Friday and left on the next Wednesday. It was action packed. Saturday we went to Brooklands for the day. As we were approaching the car park we were flagged down by a steward and asked if we had booked. For what? A Classic Car day. They let me in on my BCMT card, British Motorcycle Trust, and were directed to a parking area along with lots of other classic cars near the bus museum. There were so many cars there I just had to take a picture from high up on the banking. I was promptly told off for doing that! 

Sunday we were off to the Citroen 2CVB national meeting near Ely in Cambridgeshire. At registration we were asked to join the line up of different models of 2CVs in the arena. I didn’t win any prizes but did get a few spares including a big spanner to tighten the drive shaft nuts. I was also introduced to people who could help me with my hood replacement on the El Cid. Another good day out. The front tyres were squealing on roundabouts and there were allot of them on the trip. The kingpins had just been replaced and things disturbed. Another job to do. 

Monday the relatives arrive from Assam with six large suitcases. Lots of presents and gifts for everyone.

Tuesday was our trip to Whitewebbs Transport Museum and another full on day out in the El Cid. After Adrian went home on the Wednesday I was trying to find someone to check the tracking and get it adjusted. I think everyone was on holiday that week. I was out of luck. How easy is it to do the tracking on a 2CV? Have a look on UTube. A vernier and a piece of string wrapped around all four wheels. I tried it and it does work. The most difficult problem was one rusted adjuster that took a bit of freeing up. It took a few hours of repeated tweaking and measuring that got the toe in of slightly negative to over doing it and then back to within range of zero to 3mm toe out. I set it at 1.7mm.

The next drive out was for Drive It Day on Sunday April 24^th. Again with the 2CV club on a country route criss crossing the Thames from Henley to Chertsey. Nice to see everyone again after Covid. Good day out and no squealy tyres.