We decided to give Hay a miss this year, partly because of the weather (turned out nice after all!), partly for family reasons but also because the dynamo on the RK was playing up. Seemed to be charging at a low rate, sufficient to close the cut out and ignition light but insufficient to show a positive charge on the ammeter. After fiddling with the brushes for a while yesterday it suddenly started charging properly. Don't know what I did!
12-08-2019, 10:55 PM (This post was last modified: 12-08-2019, 10:57 PM by Tony Griffiths.)
Went for an evening drive in the Chummy which, to my surprise (considering that it ran perfectly a few days ago), started up on three cylinders. To see if it would clear, my 11-year grandson and I drove round the block; but the trouble persisted and so, arriving back after a few hundred yards downhill (on the overrun) to the house, parked up. Of course, on restarting the engine the accumulated, unburnt fuel in the exhaust ignited and with a suitable crack, flames poured from the exhaust - this to the great delight of Leo. The trouble was traced to No.4 plug, a 200-mile old NGK which Leo, without any encouragement, successfully removed. On testing, the plug was dead, not a "spark" of life..... so Leo put a new one in and off we went, one smiling boy at his achievement. His comment on seeing the engine? "Grandad, it's no bigger than a shopping bag!".
Got family here at Rekkers Towers so haven't been out in the RP for a bit. Too busy entertaining grandkids. Managed a short run up and over the local cols with my Son in Law for a few minutes respite and to put a few more miles on the engine. Will drop the oil later this afternoon when it has cooled down a bit.
Today I was visited by my Nephew so we went to the Preseli Hills this evening for a photo session, a round trip of about 30 miles.
Having done all of 250 miles so far I am starting to master the double de clutching, not loosing too much speed on the hills changing down.
I am learning to live with the noise from various sources, hoping to keep on the road till winter sets in and can sort them out then.
16-08-2019, 01:40 PM (This post was last modified: 17-08-2019, 06:10 AM by Mark McKibbin.)
Took the special for a 30km run to lunch as after 2 weeks of rain the sun had came out. One bit of the drive is a long descent of about 250m over a distance of 4km mostly in third during this time I noticed a rumble you feel rather than hear that only appears on overrun. It might be one of those things that I put up with, initially thought it was the tailshaft but i'm back to the rear axle. As the whole car was rebuilt it could be anything.
As I forgot to take a photo on the trip here is the car back in the garage .
After over a year off the road I've rebuilt the leaking SU fuel pump, changed the petrol filter and fired up the engine over the last week. Yesterday I changed the oil and filter. Sadly the filter was slightly too small and I dumped A LOT of fresh oil on the yard. Plenty of cement has soaked it up and I will get a filter the right size. Memo to self: do not use the one recommended by Halfords for the 850cc Mini. It must be from another car.
Today I took it out of the garage, brought it home, washed it and went off to fill up with petrol so I can use it over the next few days. Spent half an hour talking with a couple of enthusiasts, one with a Cadillac De Ville and the other who was trying to sell me a small Lanchester in between looking at the Austin and reliving their mis-spent youth.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,230 Threads: 33
Reputation:
7 Location: Salop
Car type: '28 GE Cup. '28 AD Chummy '30 RL Saloon. '34 RP Saloon. Too Many toys!
Since the Market Drayton Transport Fesival proper is cancelled I did not waste my time in steaming the traction engine. Instead we went to the pub with some friends who had bought their steam roller.
17-08-2019, 10:05 PM (This post was last modified: 17-08-2019, 10:13 PM by Tony Griffiths.)
Down the unmade roads...on a lovely summer's evening. Climbed out of Stoney Middleton in top gear with ease - David, does this car really have a 4.9 axle?