Not too cold and damp today, so I got SWMBO's Punto up on ramps and set about changing the power unit lower reaction link. My previous attention to the manifold nuts/studs had sorted the worst bit and the 3/8 drive deep sockets I got at the NEC last week made light work of getting them off. As I had hoped the flexible section in the front pipe meant that once free of the manifold I was able to pull it out of the way far enough to get the 'little end' bolt out, after taking the weight of the lump with a trolley jack and block of wood. The 'big end' had what seemed at the time the longest bolt in the world. Breaker bar and surface drive socket shifted it again and then it was a case of patiently working it out with a ratchet. Amazingly re-assembly was literally a reverse of the procedure. The big end bolt felt a bit graunchy so I worked it in and out to clean the thread. Also realised that a bit of sideways leverage was required between gearbox and sub-frame to line it up properly to ease insertion. All bolted back up again to suitably pip squeeking torque and a bit of copper grease put on the manifold studs in case for the next time they need to come off. The acid test - fired it up and no 'clank'. Round the blockk and no clunking on putting the gas on and off abruptly. On close examination you could see that the big rubber bush with slots in the 'big end' had started to split away from the alloy link so allowing everything to thrash forwards and backwards too much. Probably been going off for ages. Long Johns and woolly hat and lying on carpet saved me from getting too cold, damp and stiff. A bit tired and achy, but happy. SWMBO even made me a ham & cheese toastie for my lunch afterwards. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Toldja. <huffs on nails, polishes on dustcoat lapel> Nothing to beat that smug, warm glow of satisfaction. Except possibly a BJ while watching Wainwright's Walks featuring Julia Bradbury wiggling across the fells.
Or Countryfile where she's currently doing the Irish equivalent of Wainwright .... never knew she was born in Dublin
Spent the day servicing the Jag (fluids, filters, timing) and shake down runs after the engine swap - sorting bits and bobs such as an airlocked heater, a dynamo that started adjusting itself, putting the interior back in (I think it all went back together in the correct places this time - no mean feat), sorting a track rod end boot that had popped off, rerouting some stray wiring and general get ready for the MOT on Tuesday. I have also discovered the early Mk2 engine I have in there as a replacement is exceptionally early - the Mk2 3.8 ran from LA1xxx to LE9999, mine is LA1451, predating LA1500 (Jan 1960) which had a major change to sump/crank seal assembly. A major down side to this is it's almost impossible to access the dipstick - or more to the point put it back in the little hole hidden behind the exhaust without dropping the dipstick, coating it in shit or burning yourself - or all three. There was a modification in Feb '61 which I will try to lay my hands on. Fortunately it was reasonably warm (for November) here in Brighton so work was done in shirt sleeves - and Fiona cooked me a curry for tea.
No arguing with that. I was jolly glad I had got the diagnosis right and managed to get it done before the big freeze we've been promised. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" | | Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
