What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[David Stepney]

Now that my new exhaust has arrived, I spent this afternoon fitting it. Also fitted a new pin and bush to the one track rod end, as there was some play on it. Not a lot, but I thought it best to do it now rather than leave it. Then gave the interior a good vacuum out and cleaned all the upholstery. It's surprising just how messy the Motoring Dog can be! His dog blanket is now in the wash.

It the weather isn't pouring with rain tomorrow, I shall wash all three vehicles.

David, maybe you could fit the dog into the washing schedule as well as a sort of preemptive strike?

Alas, Mark, it being the UK rainy season, washing the dog is a Sisephian task! 24 hours after a bath and he looks as if you haven't bothered.Fortunately, being a 'Staffy', he is short coated. I don't know how I would cope if he were a Spaniel!

[Ferg3]

  image.jpeg (Size: 100.13 KB / Downloads: 442) I have just bought my first Seven, and first pre-war car.....a 1933 AP.  I have mainly been a motorcycle person, so used to old British mechanics, but much learning to be done!  She starts well but wont idle except with too fast tickover, so I guess I reach for the slow running adjustment next.  Stood facing down an inclined drive and am getting oil dripping through the starting handle nosecone after running stationary, but  I gather that is a common foible.  Now looking at lubrication charts.  Greasing every week!  Really?  What is necessary for occasional light use?  Indicators and running board rubbers ready to fit.  the fun starts!?

["Slack Alice" Simon]

Welcome to the Austin community, Ferg.

You have reminded me - I must do mine.   Probably did it 4 months ago and maybe 500 miles?   I don't count, these days.

It is a really good exercise, though - you get to know the car, and see things that need attending to before they get to be problems.

So worth doing a few times to familiarise yourself with the car.

Greasing also may be a problem in itself.   I have changed the nipples for modern ones, and use a modern gun.   Even then, the grease doesn't always emerge from where it should, and this may need following up.  

Pay particular attention to kingpins, best done with car jacked up and I use oil, rather than grease.

Oil from the nosepiece?  probably, on that sort of angle, though I think there may be a felt seal that is supposed to stop it, and check the sump isn't over full.

Not idling?   Check the linkages - are they properly down on the stops?   And whilst you are doing that, make sure the throttle closes quickly and without resistance.
Another new owner near me found that the rubber mat under the pedal was preventing the accelerator returning, and could have jammed it open.

Disconcerting in an unfamiliar vehicle.

Indicators - in fact, any electrics - run earth wires back to as close to the battery as you can get.   And, on a nice car like that, fit lights and switch without any additional holes if you can.

Keep asking the questions, and enjoy the Austin.

Cheers,   Simon

[Howard Wright]

Welcome Ferg

I notice starting handle is hanging at the 6 O’clock position.  It should rest at the 9 O’clock.  In doing so it brings in to play a small leather washer that may help with oil loss. However the notch in the nose cone that holds the handle at 9 O’clock is more often than not worn away.  The chances of the leather washer being intact is also slim.  There is a good article on the Cornish A7 website describing a repair.

I’ve got round the problem by fixing a small brass angle to one of the radiator support bolts. It can be swung out to hold the lever at 9 O’clock and swung back for starting.

Looks a nice car and I’m sure you’ll have fun with it.

Cheers

Howard

[David Stepney]

Welcome to the forum, Ferg. Your tourer looks to be a very nice car.

Yes, your starting handle should be at the 9 o'clock position when not in use, although the catches in the casing get worn and the handle escapes! This happens on my 1933 RP saloon.

I grease and oil mine every 1000 miles and it seems quite satisfactory. There are about a dozen grease nipples and several places where oil can attention is required including the brake cross shaft and steering draglink ends I wipe grease into the brake cable ball ends and on the front brake cable compensator. One thing I always put a drop of oil to are the rear brake cam bearings. They are supposed to be oilite bushes, but mine seize up if you are not careful.

With regard to the tickover, I had a similar problem when I first had my car. It turned out that my carb was a 'bitza', made up from two different types of 26VA carb. It appears that, although the float bowls fit both types of carb, they are internally different and fitting the wrong one gives you tickover problems. There is a thread on this including how to identify whch carb is which. (Search 'Carburettor Problems' started by me on 10.04.19).

Hope this helps.

[Stephencrisp360]

Finally got the rear axel oiled!!! Just a rewire to go then a road test.

[Ferg3]

Thanks everyone!  Is there any one book or manual that is useful to follow regards routine stuff?  A few books came with the car, but the most useful one is dated 1945 and geared towards serious daily driving, and quoting use of oils long since defunct!  Obviously there is lots of great stuff here about specific issues.  Luckily, the little beast seems to have been well cared for.  The V5 shows ONE previous owner to me!

[Parazine]

The V5 shows ONE previous owner to me!

Not to mention the 20 uncaring owners prior to 1978 (transfer of records to the DVLA)!!

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Thanks everyone!  Is there any one book or manual that is useful to follow regards routine stuff?  A few books came with the car, but the most useful one is dated 1945 and geared towards serious daily driving, and quoting use of oils long since defunct!  Obviously there is lots of great stuff here about specific issues.  Luckily, the little beast seems to have been well cared for.  The V5 shows ONE previous owner to me!

Doug Woodrow's book "The Austin Seven Manual" is the nearest thing to a Haynes manual (see here: https://www.theaustinsevenworkshop.com/p...ven-manual), and well worth buying. Some criticise content, but that is the easy bit, as I am sure you will understand.

The best recommendation I can give to you however is to join your local A7 Club - whereabouts are you based?

[Ferg3]

I am in Kent.  I gather there is a group down here and since I bought the car (from Wayne Horn of Ticking Tappets nr Canterbury) I have found a local enthusiast who has several Sevens, so will dig him out.  Yes, no documentary history before the DVLA record, but PO owned the car from 1964.  But its back home, as it bears an old Canterbury plate.  thanks.....book on order!  BTW, Wayne has the TV cameras round this week to film one of those car restoration programmes.....but on a Seven.  Keep an eye out for it, but when and where???