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Post by penny13 on Oct 25, 2015 23:38:40 GMT
Waiting for Monday's episode and the holiday pics welcome home Tom
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Post by Firefox on Oct 26, 2015 17:07:11 GMT
Fingers crossed for today's activities!
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 26, 2015 21:52:40 GMT
Got up this morning with a stinking hangover, I hoped it would rain but it was lovely and sunny so had to go get started again. It had been stood for all of Sunday and when I checked it I was not overoptimistic with the result. The side that was leaning was fine and was at a normal height. But the good side was a good inch lower. I am pretty worried about this getting lower when the van gets loaded. One reason could be all the weight when empty is on this side. It has the fridge, the sink, the hob, the oven, and also the air blown heater right over that wheel. I must say I have never noticed it this low before even when empty. I decided I don't really have a choice but to carry on with it so jacked it all up again took the drums and wheels off. I put the half inch tie bar back in the middle of the axle ( I still don't know why it was under so much tension when I took it off but I put it back similar). Next was that bloody brake compensator bracket I moved. I knew it would come back to haunt me as it is now in the wrong place. Also it is very hard to work on has its behind the drum back plate. I ended up cutting some angle iron down, welding a half inch rod stub to it and drilling it and also drilling the replaced bracket. I worked on making this little bracket for most of the day. Now the clocks have gone back it got dark early and I could not be bothered to rig a light up so it still wants fitting. I will put a couple of pics up to show the difference in heights at the wheel arch. Hope the weather holds for tomorrow. .... Tom ....
This is the offside which settled very low.
This was the problematic near side which looks to be about the normal hight it was always at. photo sharing websites
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Post by billieblue on Oct 26, 2015 21:56:16 GMT
Blimey Tom, it's like you're giving birth!
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Oct 27, 2015 6:51:07 GMT
Stronger springs/shockers needed maybe? Don't know what type of suspension on your van, but just an idea? The lads doing our van engine fitted much thicker/bigger springs at the front, made a huge difference. When the diesel engine first went in the old girl sank down on her hunkers just like yours, but the stronger springs lifted her back up to where she should be. But we've been lucky enough to have the whole van the diesel engine came out of to cannibalise, and all the metal supports that came with it for that type of engine. Don't give up! Keep going at it Tom, you WILL solve the problem I'm sure!
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 27, 2015 8:32:18 GMT
Blimey Tom, it's like you're giving birth! Don't know about giving birth but many more set backs and I will be giving up. .... Tom ....
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 27, 2015 8:43:05 GMT
Stronger springs/shockers needed maybe? Don't know what type of suspension on your van, but just an idea? The lads doing our van engine fitted much thicker/bigger springs at the front, made a huge difference. When the diesel engine first went in the old girl sank down on her hunkers just like yours, but the stronger springs lifted her back up to where she should be. But we've been lucky enough to have the whole van the diesel engine came out of to cannibalise, and all the metal supports that came with it for that type of engine. Don't give up! Keep going at it Tom, you WILL solve the problem I'm sure! Ahhh Marie stronger springs indeed would be a luxury. The problem is on this van there is no springs whatsoever. I would kill for it to have leaf springs or any type of springs at all. All the springs are inside the axle and none on show. That is my big problem, there is no way I can add any thing because it is just swinging arms with the wheels stuck on the end of them. Any internal spring problem and you have to replace the full axle at huge expense. I have now bought and replaced the broken one with a second hand one but if this is also faulty the job will have to be all done again or scrap the van. Early signs don't look that good but I won't know for sure until I give it a good road test. I am sure we will overcome or be overcome trying. .... Tom ....
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Post by billieblue on Oct 27, 2015 9:10:16 GMT
Tom, is there anything anyone can do to help? Seriously!
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Post by outtolunch on Oct 27, 2015 9:14:02 GMT
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 27, 2015 9:18:18 GMT
No Bluey not a thing. All the hard work is done, its just the rebuilding of the cables, the hydrolics, bleeding the brake system and bits and peices. Would you believe Iv'e been looking for a split pin for about 2 hours all over my garage. I got a box of them somewhere, but where ?. I will pop out later to see if I can buy one somewhere. .... Tom ....
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Post by n brown on Oct 27, 2015 9:19:29 GMT
from what you're saying mate,it doesn't seem right. the axle should be sat up square and ready for more of a load than you've put on it. there's no adjustment on these swinging arm units is there? maybe time to move on
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 27, 2015 9:29:03 GMT
Hi Chris is yours an AL-KO axle. I would not put that system on the old axle because it had completely collapsed, but I might consider it on this new one if it is a bit saggy on one side. When I look at the axle it seems impossible to fit anything in but perhaps some plates and things might just go in to hold the bags. This looks like a fair warning. IMPORTANT - We will not supply any AL-KO assist kit without a gauge kit or a compressor kit, as the system needs to be made as easy as possible for the user to check the air pressure in the system as there will not be any warrantee for damaged air bags/springs caused by under inflation. How much was it for your kit Chris. .... Tom ....
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 27, 2015 9:33:20 GMT
from what you're saying mate,it doesn't seem right. the axle should be sat up square and ready for more of a load than you've put on it. there's no adjustment on these swinging arm units is there? maybe time to move on No Nigel no adjustment at all. I think you are so right, it should sit square. Even though there is only an inch difference it never was like that. I will get it built up and give it a run and see how it pans out. .... Tom ....
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Post by n brown on Oct 27, 2015 9:40:18 GMT
knock it on the head and build a model aeroplane- much more relaxing !
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Post by outtolunch on Oct 27, 2015 10:34:23 GMT
Not an alko on mine Tom just the standard rear axle for a 92 model so it was easy as they just replaced the bump stops I got the Dunlop system from Marcel leisure as they were the only ones still stocking it cost about 400 I think could have got a no name system cheaper but the site didn't even have a photo of what you got
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Post by Firefox on Oct 27, 2015 11:39:06 GMT
Even if it is lower, if you have enough clearance for movement during travel, you may be OK.
Are there rubber stops to prevent excessive travel and the wheel grounding out on something?
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Post by billieblue on Oct 27, 2015 11:51:43 GMT
knock it on the head and build a model aeroplane- much more relaxing ! I wish he would but can you imagine how boring that thread would be? Every day an update on heather or not the glue has dried?
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Post by outtolunch on Oct 27, 2015 12:00:21 GMT
knock it on the head and build a model aeroplane- much more relaxing ! I wish he would but can you imagine how boring that thread would be? Every day an update on heather or not the glue has dried? Who is heather and what has she got to do with model aeroplanes? ?
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Oct 27, 2015 12:04:58 GMT
Eat less beans …
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Post by Firefox on Oct 27, 2015 12:29:52 GMT
knock it on the head and build a model aeroplane- much more relaxing ! Model railways are quite good. I might treat myself, making a 4ft x 2ft N gauge layout when the house is finished It should be 100 % portable, being such a small size.
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 27, 2015 21:31:28 GMT
Even if it is lower, if you have enough clearance for movement during travel, you may be OK. Are there rubber stops to prevent excessive travel and the wheel grounding out on something? Yes there is rubber bump stops Vern. The other axle did not have them but the places they should have been fitted to are there. When I came to put the main half inch axle fixing bolts in, the small 10mm studs that held the rubber stops fouled the hole. I tried to take the nut off but it all turned inside the rubber. I then realized why there was none on the other axle they must have had to cut it off. That meant they just left them off rather than get new ones. They just got rid of the bump stops to get the main bolt in. I left them and put the main bolt in the other way, but had to tighten it from from the bolt end and hold the nut. It looks like this is not the first axle replacement its had in its life. .... Tom ....
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Post by robmac on Oct 30, 2015 7:42:27 GMT
from what you're saying mate,it doesn't seem right. the axle should be sat up square and ready for more of a load than you've put on it. there's no adjustment on these swinging arm units is there? maybe time to move on Has the body dropped? Or the Axel rose?
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Oct 30, 2015 8:45:46 GMT
from what you're saying mate,it doesn't seem right. the axle should be sat up square and ready for more of a load than you've put on it. there's no adjustment on these swinging arm units is there? maybe time to move on Has the body dropped? Or the Axel rose? You talking about Tom or his camper??
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 30, 2015 9:04:26 GMT
Well my body's dropped and the axle as rose into position. It is now getting watered coz its peeing down none stop so the jobs still on hold until dryer weather arrives. That was a gud un Rob slid in nicely. .... Tom ....
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 31, 2015 11:03:53 GMT
Well yesterday afternoon the weather cleared up and the rain stopped. I was out and on the van like a rat up a drain pipe. I fitted all the brake shoes and linings, I even had to strap back a cable I was going to re-route and do properly. This cable was wired in for the tow car by a rubbish firm in Grimsby. His main engineer was off that day so his son wired it all up and what a lash up it was. The system is a good one but the workmanship is dire. Has most of it was undone it would have been a good opportunity to re do it right. It was going dark and I had to get right under on my back so I put it back the way it was while the rain held off. I now just had the brakes to bleed. Now this is a small job made even smaller with Andy's tip about putting cling film over the reservoir to form a vacuum and hold the fluid back so you only have to do the brakes you are working on. The big job was getting Jose out to give me a lift. I do have a one man bleed kit but I hate it and am never sure if all the bubbles are out without watching them. All Jose had to do was sit in the cab and press a peddle up and down when I gave the order. Bloody hell you would have thought Id'e asked her to help lift the axle in position the moaning and groaning she did. Well its all done now and its stood on its own four feet. It is still an inch lower over the off side but it does not seem to be leaning. I will take it for a road test later over some speed ramps and out and about in general. The biggest job now is getting my car out of the way and the other camper van. and take the gates off to get it out. I will have to leave it somewhere because I also need to get the tow car out which has been trapped in the garden by the jacked up van. The little car has not moved since the Greywell meet earlier in the year so it also needs a good road run. Well lets hope it all holds together because it would be a killer to do it all again in the middle of the coming winter. I will give the results later when I know them myself. Maybe the iron horse will gallop again. .... Tom ....
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Post by edina on Oct 31, 2015 11:27:37 GMT
Well yesterday afternoon the weather cleared up and the rain stopped. I was out and on the van like a rat up a drain pipe. I fitted all the brake shoes and linings, I even had to strap back a cable I was going to re-route and do properly. This cable was wired in for the tow car by a rubbish firm in Grimsby. His main engineer was off that day so his son wired it all up and what a lash up it was. The system is a good one but the workmanship is dire. Has most of it was undone it would have been a good opportunity to re do it right. It was going dark and I had to get right under on my back so I put it back the way it was while the rain held off. I now just had the brakes to bleed. Now this is a small job made even smaller with Andy's tip about putting cling film over the reservoir to form a vacuum and hold the fluid back so you only have to do the brakes you are working on. The big job was getting Jose out to give me a lift. I do have a one man bleed kit but I hate it and am never sure if all the bubbles are out without watching them. All Jose had to do was sit in the cab and press a peddle up and down when I gave the order. Bloody hell you would have thought Id'e asked her to help lift the axle in position the moaning and groaning she did. Well its all done now and its stood on its own four feet. It is still an inch lower over the off side but it does not seem to be leaning. I will take it for a road test later over some speed ramps and out and about in general. The biggest job now is getting my car out of the way and the other camper van. and take the gates off to get it out. I will have to leave it somewhere because I also need to get the tow car out which has been trapped in the garden by the jacked up van. The little car has not moved since the Greywell meet earlier in the year so it also needs a good road run. Well lets hope it all holds together because it would be a killer to do it all again in the middle of the coming winter. I will give the results later when I know them myself. Maybe the iron horse will gallop again. .... Tom .... Cor Tom I’m glad you’re back - I almost started to watch Corrie because I need the adrenalin rush. Know wot you mean about the lack of interest shown in helping you bleed the brakes, I suffer the same problems. You would expect them to be excited and keen to do summat worthwhile, instead of messing about in the house cleaning, cooking and whatever else they get up to; still that’s gals for you. Hope the test run goes ok.
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Post by andyjanet on Oct 31, 2015 16:22:13 GMT
Job well done Tom, hope you have a successful road test keep us all posted, now who else has a nail biting job to do on the van that will keep us entertained for several months, andy
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Post by horshamjack on Oct 31, 2015 18:59:00 GMT
Maybe the iron horse will gallop again. .... Tom .... Great news Tom fingers crossed
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Post by penny13 on Oct 31, 2015 20:25:09 GMT
In aww Tom well done Loving the pics as well I still deny it
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Post by edina on Oct 31, 2015 20:35:25 GMT
In aww Tom well done Loving the pics as well I still deny it Stop digging Penny!!
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