31-03-2022, 04:51 PM
Running in!
Running in is hard to do - so might have sung Neil Sedaka in 1962, especially if he had a three speed gearbox to contend with.
The first hundred miles were done in the autumn and the second hundred have gone on this week with the onset of spring-like weather here in the west country, although today is much colder with wintry showers.
As the car is beginning to loosen up, it has paid it's first ever visit to a self-service garage and today I took it for a 45 mile round trip to the BA7C East of Bristol meeting along the A420, it's first major road trip since 1931. This meant a challenging climb away from Bristol on the way back - up Tog hill. An Austin Seven won't climb Tog hill on top gear, even going well so it's especially challenging for the Top Hat, which has a tight engine and a 4.9 axle. The challenge was to maintain a reasonable road speed in second gear without inconveniencing the modern traffic, hence the comments about running in is hard to do.
Here's the car, at the pub, meeting with some siblings for the first time ever.....
I made it there and back, without incident and covered 45 miles on just over a gallon of fuel. The car is "interesting" to drive, a little skittish (or was that the strong north wind?), not very powerful (still running in) and fairly quiet (for a vintage Seven). However, the all round visibility is excellent, best of all the body styles I think.
I'm still struggling to get the tickover and slow running even, having tried three carburettors and two magnetos. Any suggestions anyone? I cant see any air leaks before someone asks the obvious.
Running in is hard to do - so might have sung Neil Sedaka in 1962, especially if he had a three speed gearbox to contend with.
The first hundred miles were done in the autumn and the second hundred have gone on this week with the onset of spring-like weather here in the west country, although today is much colder with wintry showers.
As the car is beginning to loosen up, it has paid it's first ever visit to a self-service garage and today I took it for a 45 mile round trip to the BA7C East of Bristol meeting along the A420, it's first major road trip since 1931. This meant a challenging climb away from Bristol on the way back - up Tog hill. An Austin Seven won't climb Tog hill on top gear, even going well so it's especially challenging for the Top Hat, which has a tight engine and a 4.9 axle. The challenge was to maintain a reasonable road speed in second gear without inconveniencing the modern traffic, hence the comments about running in is hard to do.
Here's the car, at the pub, meeting with some siblings for the first time ever.....
I made it there and back, without incident and covered 45 miles on just over a gallon of fuel. The car is "interesting" to drive, a little skittish (or was that the strong north wind?), not very powerful (still running in) and fairly quiet (for a vintage Seven). However, the all round visibility is excellent, best of all the body styles I think.
I'm still struggling to get the tickover and slow running even, having tried three carburettors and two magnetos. Any suggestions anyone? I cant see any air leaks before someone asks the obvious.