24th Feb 2010 - Brakes almost 99% there.....

BRAKES
A few weeks delay since the last post but now the brakes are finished bar bleeding the system. Shuttle safety valve relocated to the inside of the offside chassis rail alongside the gearbox.

Twizzle dropped by with his brake tool kit so between the two of us (while I was getting Twizzles 'new' homebrew wood stove finished for my garage - it was cold and Twizzle needed 'heat') we almost finished it in the afternoon. Though last weekend I did have to beg an odd length of Cu/Ni pipe for section from Rob 'Minivin'. Also replaced the clutch pipe with a new run - shame not to?

The Mk1 'Twizzle' wood stove on it's first test run

 So that just leaves bleeding. But as we ran out of time and light on Sunday this will be delayed for a while.

PROPSHAFTS

Now we have a heated garage (see above) I can get on with a few 'indoor' jobs during the evenings. The first being a strip-down and rebuild of the original propshafts.

In the case of the rear prop there was so much play at the rear end of the shaft this one is basically US. Not much use for anything accept for scrap. But I did find that as it accepted the small RTC3291 UJ's it's a early model shaft. So I either need to buy a complete new (prob S3) one or hunt for a good 109 prop rear section as the front end is 100%.

The front had no play but the bearings were dry/rusted in position and on their way out. This prop turned out to be a later large spacing yoke which takes the larger RTC3346 UJ's. So I need get some of these.

BODYWORK/REAR TUB

The strengthening bars on the underside of the tub have now been re-attached after getting a copious coat of black Waxoyl. Lou gave me a hand fitting the M6 stainless fasteners to secure them in position (stronger than rivets!). Next job is to bolt the tub down once I have pulled the rear loom through the chassis rail.

FUEL SYSTEM

I have yet to finish the return system back to the tanks (no surprise there?). But I do now have another military fuel tap. So that is going to be mounted below the existing one so I can then select the tank to return the fuel to ;)

WINDSCREEN
I had a post on the Series 2 forum letting me know that the heated windscreen has also arrived. So off to 'Boggies' on Sunday evening to pick-up mine/Twizzles and a couple of others to save them the trip to Aylesbury.