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Post by stonedaddy on Aug 21, 2015 8:13:51 GMT
That had me rolling around laughing, I almost squashed my baps! On a serious note, Carol don't do that because of the seriousness of the situation I may need to borrow them for back up and use them for air suspension shortly. .... Tom ....
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Post by stonedaddy on Aug 21, 2015 8:34:13 GMT
On a real serious up date, the axle is still in my garage untouched by human hand for a few days. I thought we would have been working on it flat out today has my mate said get ready for a swift decamp to the lock up garage. Something must have come up has it as not happened. I am worried now it may be a weekend job and it could cost me my day out at the pub on Sunday. It will be a big decision on his behalf because he is a big p*ss head and loves his Sundays. So the wait goes on. .... Tom .... OK enough of above drivel lets get back to the buns and bap's ....
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Post by billieblue on Aug 21, 2015 9:21:15 GMT
Ooo, that sax intro takes me back to when I was a young thing! Very carefree but not much dough.....
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Post by n brown on Aug 21, 2015 10:53:50 GMT
Ooo, that sax intro takes me back to when I was a young thing! Very carefree but not much dough..... ahh those carefree days of flour power !
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Aug 21, 2015 11:27:18 GMT
Ooo, that sax intro takes me back to when I was a young thing! Very carefree but not much dough..... ahh those carefree days of flour power ! those days when things where self raising and nothing needed proving
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Post by edina on Aug 21, 2015 13:49:31 GMT
ahh those carefree days of flour power ! those days when things where self raising and nothing needed proving That kneaded saying Barrie. There was a lot of cin amongst the young ‘uns then, especially round Bath and Chelsea, but in currant times things seem batter.
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Post by n brown on Aug 21, 2015 14:51:29 GMT
i was going to ask Mrs B to comment , but she's having a Spanish holiday- she scone to Fingerolla ,went with a club sandwiched between 2 nans. she just fancied loafing about somewhere toasty.
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Post by edina on Aug 21, 2015 16:18:46 GMT
i was going to ask Mrs B to comment , but she's having a Spanish holiday- she scone to Fingerolla ,went with a club sandwiched between 2 nans. she just fancied loafing about somewhere toasty. Reckon that one takes the biscuit Nigel. She didn’t fancy Madeira then? Still, there’s nowt like a warm brownie, spect ‘er’ll bring you back a stick of rock.
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Post by stonedaddy on Aug 24, 2015 20:56:19 GMT
Set back .. We got the lock up garage, but the van was resting on the wheel so I jacked it up and took the wheel off and put some packing in the bump stop to keep it off the wheel arch for its trip to the garage. While doing this I had to clean some heavy dirt build up off and got the shock of my life. The old axle fixing plate is different to the ones on the new axle. This is a major blow has they look the same until I cleaned the muck off and my existing one went behind the damper and had a bit of extra length and it has two extra holes in it. After I wiped the tears away I got back onto the supplier who insisted it was the right one. I said its got six holes in the plate and only four in the one he sent. he said I've been taking these axles off for 20 odd years and I have never seen one with six holes. I then took some photos of the two axles and sent them him. He later phoned and said he has a traveling mechanic who will phone me which he did. This guy said there must be a way of making them fit. I said yes but you need some damn heavy steel plate and welding gear and different holes drilling in it. He said he is in Oxford at the moment and should be coming up to Blackburn shortly and he will call in and look at it. No doubt this guy will need paying. Then my mate who got the lock up said there is a fabrication shop in the same building and his mate may know a way of doing it. Not sure when that will be. Also the guy who supplied the axle said he is getting another one in tomorrow and he will look at it and see if it is any different and if it is he will send it off straight away. After the last delivery straight away meant about two weeks and I ended up picking it up in the end, so not optimistic. So looks like plenty of action going on behind the scenes but it leaves the van going nowhere in the foreseeable future. . Oh if only it was an ordinary axle with ordinary springs which I could have bought and changed easy. Perhaps these AL-KO axles rarely break down but when they do its a nightmare. .... Tom ....
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Post by n brown on Aug 24, 2015 21:08:39 GMT
Tom,if it helps at all, another Tom,Tom Hanks was asked if being seriously loaded made his life any easier. his reply was 'no ,it's still one fecking thing after another ! '
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Post by billieblue on Aug 24, 2015 21:23:56 GMT
Nice one Nigel! Blimey Tom, I can't stand the stress! I'm so sorry it's still not sorted, God knows you're trying your damnedest! And the clock is ticking!
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Post by campervanannie on Aug 25, 2015 1:39:36 GMT
Words almost fail me Tom but still through all this trauma your glass remains half full, of optimism not beer silly.
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Post by penny13 on Aug 25, 2015 6:05:26 GMT
I am thinking when it gets done it will be a proper good job sending hugs from us xxx
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Post by jennyp19 on Aug 25, 2015 9:28:03 GMT
Oh shhhhhhht!!!!!!!!
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Post by Firefox on Aug 25, 2015 9:32:35 GMT
There's probably a way of doing it especially if you can get two of the holes to line up. Then make a template of the size of bracket plate from the new mounting out of say 4mm plate, weld that all round to the existing plate on the chassis, lining up on the two holes. Then drill out the other holes in the existing mounting using the sandwich plate as a template, then bolt on the axle, the bolts going through the three pieces. It's not something you want to face at this stage though
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Post by billieblue on Aug 25, 2015 9:43:13 GMT
My thoughts exactly Jenny!
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Post by stonedaddy on Aug 25, 2015 16:54:56 GMT
Update, I have just come in after taking the wheels off for the 900th time and measuring everything again. Its easy to measure the new one because its out in the open. The old one is a different matter has its in situ and everything is in the way of the ruler. It also gives me the willies, when I am under it looking up at those heavy break drums and that big axle. Even though I have a 3 ton trolley jack, two six ton axle stands, and the vans scissor jack, and a little 3 ton hydraulic jack supporting it on one side alone, I keep thinking it will come down and chop my head off. Anyway I am certain with a lot of messing and cutting two six inch pieces off the old axle plates and welding them onto the new axle plates, it will extend it to make the new one into a six bolt sub frame. That should make the extra two holes fit the chassis. That will hold it in place while we re-drill the rest which by my reckoning wont be that far out of plonk. Most of the rest of it is pretty much OK for measurements. The drum back plates are the same across the length and so is the chassis width for when it goes back up. The hydraulic brake pipes are a bit different fixings but I am sure I can maneuver them to fit. The two biggest problems is the weight of it and once again I have now got to get the premises sorted out again. So a phone call to my mate later tonight to see if he can borrow it once more. If it looks like it is going to be strung out again I might even attempt it at home and if the weather breaks just leave it until its fine again. If the axle was made of paper mashie I would have had it done by now, I was pretty good at making puppets at school. . .... Tom ....
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Post by caz on Aug 25, 2015 17:10:46 GMT
Glad you're sounding more positive again now after that setback, it will be worth it in the end.
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Post by robmac on Aug 25, 2015 20:07:03 GMT
Offer is still there if you need some help Tom. Jim phoned me the other day, and said if Tom takes up the offer, he would come with me. I aint the most mechanically minded, but I don't mind doing a bit of lifting, and Jims pretty handy.
Don't struggle on your own mate!
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Post by campervanannie on Aug 26, 2015 0:00:23 GMT
Tom stop being a stubborn mule and accept help from Rob and Jim we all need help from time to time, NOW is your time tell him Josie.
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Post by billieblue on Aug 26, 2015 8:49:30 GMT
I've told him too, Annie! I think it's to do with his age ?
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Post by stonedaddy on Aug 26, 2015 10:48:25 GMT
Offer is still there if you need some help Tom. Jim phoned me the other day, and said if Tom takes up the offer, he would come with me. I aint the most mechanically minded, but I don't mind doing a bit of lifting, and Jims pretty handy. Don't struggle on your own mate! Once again thanks for the offer Rob and Jim. The problem is when do I need the help, I am waiting for my mate again to make arrangements for his mate to once again lend us the lock up garage. I have never seen this garage in Old Trafford but he said it has all the gear we need. I presume it will have all the lifting gear and tools we need and I will also have him. I got up this morning thinking I will get it all jacked up and balanced on everything I have and start to get the job done, that will stop me having to wait for this garage. I have welding gear but the thick ¼" steel sub frame piece I have to cut off the existing back axle will have to be done with an axe saw which is about an 8" long cut. This will turn out to be sixteen inches because there are two of them to do. The axe saw will only let you go part way so may need to get a skill saw or something. So was up this morning went out with jacking it up on my mind to get going on it when the heavens opened up. So now back up on here updating while waiting for my mate again. I can see it all jacked up and well under de-construction when he will say we got the garage. Then it will be to late coz we wont be able to move it . I have got some back up in place. If it is not going to be done by next Wednesday I have a van I have been looking at and will buy that so that I am sure I have something for France. I think we go up to Dover on the 10th so gives me a few days to get it ready if needs be. .... Tom ....
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Post by Firefox on Aug 26, 2015 10:55:23 GMT
May need a grinder if you can't get axe saw in?
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Post by n brown on Aug 26, 2015 10:56:39 GMT
i was cutting some 10mm steel up with a small angle grinder and using the 1mm thick blades, they cut very well as there's a lot less friction
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Post by stonedaddy on Aug 26, 2015 10:57:37 GMT
Tom stop being a stubborn mule and accept help from Rob and Jim we all need help from time to time, NOW is your time tell him Josie. Blimey Annie I would love to accept Robs offer but like I said above its when I need the help is the problem. The other problem is while we are waiting for the rain to stop we would no doubt shelter in the Railway Tavern my local. With beer at £1.34 a pint there would be a big danger of my missing the bloody ship for France. I suppose we could call it a bus mans holiday and stay sheltered for a couple of weeks in the pub and get a traveling mechanic out to do the job. Hmmmm yeah its looking promising that idea Annie .. .... Tom ....
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Post by stonedaddy on Aug 26, 2015 11:08:25 GMT
i was cutting some 10mm steel up with a small angle grinder and using the 1mm thick blades, they cut very well as there's a lot less friction I got a small angle grinder. Did you get special steel cutting blades for it. I have grind stone wheels and steel wheels but I think they are for only cutting stone and bricks. Goodness I also have a granddaughters big wedding tomorrow, perhaps I can get a couple of brides maids to help me .... Tom ....
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Post by Firefox on Aug 26, 2015 12:09:41 GMT
If they are not much use with the mechanics, don't discount small bridesmaids, as stood on their hands and knees they can be used as impromptu axle stands. (Letterbocks, Top Tips )
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Post by n brown on Aug 26, 2015 13:43:36 GMT
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Post by jennyp19 on Aug 26, 2015 15:53:30 GMT
Tom stop being a stubborn mule and accept help from Rob and Jim we all need help from time to time, NOW is your time tell him Josie. Blimey Annie I would love to accept Robs offer but like I said above its when I need the help is the problem. The other problem is while we are waiting for the rain to stop we would no doubt shelter in the Railway Tavern my local. With beer at £1.34 a pint there would be a big danger of my missing the bloody ship for France. I suppose we could call it a bus mans holiday and stay sheltered for a couple of weeks in the pub and get a traveling mechanic out to do the job. Hmmmm yeah its looking promising that idea Annie .. .... Tom ....
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Post by jennyp19 on Aug 26, 2015 15:53:59 GMT
Don't you dare Tom!!!
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