Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Aft'noon all,

So, the dust has settled after a frenetic Christmas and New Year. Have you set any resolutions with regard to your old car, motorcycle or other vehicle for 2015?

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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[Fatbloke]

To drive it as much as possible!
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Mike,

A Fatbloke in a Herald.

[colwyn500]

[BigJohn]

Not break it, my son got engaged on Christmas day, and his fiancée wants a September wedding with her transport being a Modena Green Mk1 Escort. I've not had a responsibility like this for a long time, Eeeek!

I thought she might want a Mk1 Golf Cabriolet, but she obviously has style and taste (and her own ear defenders).

[OuBallie]

Do some actual work on the Austin Seven now that the Garage/Workshop is just about to my liking, with all machines working at last.
Need to replace the quick repair I did to a section of the Carport roof that disappeared during the high wind we had just before Christmas.

Geoff - Happy New Year everyone.
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Too many hobbies, not enough time!
1935 Austin Seven Ruby ARQ
1957 Austin A35 2-door
1967 Morris Minor 2-door
2007 Fiat Doblò MultiJet (It carries the spares etc)
Model Engineering

[lowdrag]

Before I hit 70, to drive it like I stole it, to do at least one monumental tour, and sadly then probably sell it since it is getting too expensive to keep much longer.

[kevin2306]

Mine is to enjoy the Singer and try and get to more shows this year, assuming I see them advertised in time (bad habbit of missing them)

Kev

[Ray White]

I am resolved to get some grease into the Austin Seven king pins. What should have been a five minute job has gone from bad to worse.

The stub axle has a grease nipple at the top and the theory is that grease will first get to the upper bush and travel down the inside of the pin to the lower one. Excess will appear at the axle eye.

The first problem was the brass plug that screws into the top of the stub axle. Grease is pushing up past the threads. I tried fitting a new plug but I can't get the threads started. I am planning on cleaning up the threads with a 3 /4" 20 tpi tap.

Someone suggested gluing the cap in with Araldite - but how would I ever get the plug out again? they only have a single screwdriver slot.

To get grease to the bottom bush, I fitted a 3/16" BSF nipple to the top of the king pin but despite using my hot air gun and even using oil instead of grease, I can't get anything to show. I have made sure there is no air lock in the gun.

The new 3/16" BSF grease nipple has a 9MM hex on it! How long have they been mixing imperial and metric sizes??

I decided to lift the pin out to see if there is a blockage or some other restriction. This entailed loosening the half moon type cotter and replacing the grease nipple with a length of 3/16" BSF studding and using a length of steel tubing and a couple of nuts; draw the pin up through the brass bushes.

I was about to remove the pin (which seems much tighter than it should be)then a problem with my lead lamp caused all the electrics to trip out.

The job can wait 'till tomorrow.

[goneps]

Ah! One of those five-minute jobs that take three weeks—I'm an expert with those!

For sealing the brass plug thread, plumbers' sealing tape might work. A more elegant solution would be Loctite thread sealer:

http://www.loctite.co.uk/thread-sealing-4477.htm

Loctite products such as nut lock (243) are excellent thread sealers, but you might have to use an impact driver to free the plug next time, with only a screwdriver slot for purchase. One of those cordless impact drivers would probably be best.

Why would anyone resort to an inappropriate product like Araldite when Loctite supply a large range of engineering-specific solutions?

Richard

[Ray White]

I failed to mention that I have already tried PTFE tape with no success.

I do have some of the Locktite thread sealer and may well have to resort to it if I am unable to fit the new plugs. I prefer a traditional engineering solution if possible and I am not sure whether I should be using an impact driver where fine brass threads are involved.

The new plugs were obtained from an Austin Seven parts supplier and are a little deeper so if I can get them to fit it should do the trick.

The person who advised me to use Araldite could possibly have been a little facetious : ie, telling me to "stick it".

[Bitumen Boy]

I can't say I'm surprised that the PTFE tape you've tried hasn't worked - never had much luck with the stuff myself. However, before resorting to Loctite it may be worth trying an old style pipe sealant such as Boss White, which is widely available from DIY sheds and plumber's merchants everywhere. It often seals where PTFE tape won't, but isn't intended to "lock" the thread. For this PITA application I'd leave it a day or two to go off before applying the grease gun, and once opened store the rest of the tub under water to stop it going off.

[colwyn500]

Don't worry about using Loctite; to remove a locked fastener, apply a blowtorch for arelatively short time and the sealant becomes more plastic. It should then be easier to remove.

[Ray White]

I am grateful to you chaps. A couple of options for me to try if cleaning up the threads with a tap doesn't work.

Thanks.

[Minxy]

Other than general maintenance on the Minx I am desperately seeking to buy a Sunbeam Talbot 90 so anyone knows of one...........