Year: 2019

On our way home now after a long but successful day. We went to see Terry’s TF160 in Braintree again. He had had a lucky escape when his bottom pulley had come undone causing damage to both bottom cogs allowing the cambelt to cut through both upper and lower covers but miraculously not slipping a single tooth! The bolt had obviously not been tightened fully when the car had had a cambelt service elsewhere in the past. We fitted new bottom pulleys and new covers. All back up and running nicely again.

From there we went to see Andy again in Sudbury following diagnosis of the problem last week on his friend Claire’s TF135. We fitted a new fuel pump and problem solved, car sparked in to life having been stood for 2-3 years. Cambelt service also carried out and a couple of other bits. Really great to get the car back to rights again, now time for the MOT. Thanks for all the cuppas and yummy cakes!

We then went over to meet Stewart in Leavenheath near Colchester whose recently acquired TF115 had started having problems with a slow & clunky window. We went armed with a new window mech but after Jon spent some time doing some adjustments problem was solved. Whilst there, Stewart asked us to see where a weird squeak was coming from. Previous owner had obviously had a problem with the bonnet release and had not refitted the bracket underneath the radiator cover, so this was duly fixed and annoying squeak gone! Great to meet you Stewart, don’t forget to do the wave 👋😃

Some pics below of some quite remarkable damage to the timing covers and pulleys.

So the trusty steed of the van has finally gone in to be rescued and have a new engine fitted.

Not bad since doing 378,000 miles and visiting quite a few countries!

Once we got back from our fab visit to Bakewell we picked up the hire van, went home, loaded all the kit into it and then took the beasty over to the Hull Engine Repair Centre.

So if you see this arriving down your street soon you know it’s us!

Bakewell, Derbyshire today, what a fantastic day it was meeting up with our friends from Norway & meeting new ones too from Sweden.

Cambelt service carried out on Steinar’s TF160 Anniversary, two full cambelt services with aircon alternator belts on Tore & Svein’s TF135’s and a short cambelt service on Ewa’s MGF mpi. Everything went so well, no awkward bolts and good weather.

Really great to enjoy everyone’s company throughout a long day & so lovely to round it off and have an evening meal with everyone at the Packhorse Inn at Little Longstone. Really good fun with truly great company.

Have fun on the rest of your tour to the Dales and the rounding off trip to Goathland. Wishing you all safe and beautiful travels.

Spalding was our call this morning initially for suspected head gasket, this was confirmed so whilst there it was decided to do a cambelt service also, as this was overdue, on Dave’s TF135. Beautiful location and fab weather. All bolts etc behaved. Hope we didn’t annoy the locals too much with the van sticking its nose in to the road!

From there we went over to see Brian in Market Deeping for some bits on his beautiful Abingdon. His central locking mechanism was sounding like a machine gun so Jon replaced both sides. Drivers door needed adjustment too so this was sorted with a few adjustments. All brake hoses replaced with braided ones. Hydragas pumped up to a better ride height. All top arms topped up with grease. Lovely to see Brian & Karen, thanks for all the cuppas!

Saltburn-by-the-sea was our destination today and really great to meet Karl for cambelt service on his TF135 and possible HGF, but on pressure testing the system it was found to be all sound. Water pump replaced and found that this had been leaking.

The back box was replaced as his old one had certainly done its time.

Whilst there, Karl asked if we could change the underfloor coolant pipes, so these were replaced with new stainless ones on stock. Unfortunately, as does happen now and then the M8 bolt on the front part of the pipes sheared off, so the welder made an appearance and Jon made a threaded sleeve to tighten on to the thread that had sheared off and then allowed the fitting of a small M8 bolt to clamp the coolant pipes to the sleeve.

Karl had wanted a coolant flush anyway so this took care of that. Coolant bottle removed and cleared of lots of sludge.

New alternator adjuster bracket fitted and new cover supplied.

Thank you for the cuppas, all the food and the home brew!
Lovely to have cuddles with Gizmo too.

What a good day!

We received our first customer to the unit this morning, really lovely to see Jeff again. Whilst Jon did a few more things to Rod’s steppy I carried out the minor service on Jeff’s cracking MGF mpi. Great to have a chat over a brew in the sun.

Jon then programmed 2 new keys fobs as Jeff’s was faulty and wouldn’t turn off the immobiliser. A very happy chap!

We then loaded up Rod’s car and took it back to him this afternoon. Fantastic to see Rod’s smiling face as we came round the corner. Owner and pride and joy reunited! Hope you have fun on your run.

Another cuppa and a biscuit, thank you Wendy, we then set off for home, good run back.

Newton, Ammanford was our first call this morning to meet Matt, who had had to cancel last month as someone had backed in to his TF135. All now repaired we replaced the head gasket. Fortunately, no damage to the head and a very small amount of gunge! Lovely car and great to meet Matt finally, just need to help find him a bumper and bonnet to get him fully sorted.

We then travelled on to Cefn Cribwi near Bridgend, great to meet Gareth & family for cambelt service on his very well loved low mileage TF 1.6 in Royal Blue.

Two more beautiful locations, lovely people and gorgeous weather.