Month: September 2024

Day 3 of 5 – West of the country…

A very short commute this morning, from our fab digs, for our booking in Dalton-in-Furness.

Adrian’s 2002 MGF 1.8 was due its cambelt service, so cambelt, water-pump, tensioner and alternator belt all replaced for him today. Originally booked in for replacement of the thermostat he decided against it in the end. A change in the weather was welcome, as on our last few visits it has been absolutely awful, one of the coldest times changing a clutch that we won’t forget! You could actually see a view today from his house.

Great to see Adrian, as always, and have a chat, thanks to him for the brews and biscuits. We added to his ‘unusual objects in a garden’ with the parts taken off. We look forward to seeing him next year when he ventures down to us for underfloor treatment.

We trundled on down to Lancaster, and being too early to check-in to our digs we made a visit to the castle and had a cracking brew there. I had a very long walk this morning, and went in a different direction than on our last trip, along the beach on the Sandscale Nature Reserve, what a stunning place and so peaceful, definitely worth a visit.

We’re now settled in our digs for the night ahead of our next call to Poulton-le-Fylde in the morning. – https://ift.tt/TRLEhlN

Day 2 of 5 – West of the country…

Steeton, just outside of Keighley, for work on Ross’s 2003 Rover 75 1.8 turbo, in White Gold, with only 30k on the clock, that he’d bought from a chap in Carnforth, who had owned it from new, but is now unable to drive it sadly, and didn’t want it going for scrap, so Ross promised he’d get it fully serviced and sorted. His friends have affectionately named it ‘Werther’, which we think suits it.

Anyway, after driving it about for few days he’d noticed that there were a couple of tell-tale signs that the head gasket was on its way out.

So today we carried out head gasket replacement and cambelt service, along with alternator belt and new plugs. Really nice sounding smooth engine, glad it’s all done and having a new lease of life, for Ross to enjoy. The car had obviously been well maintained and looked after.

Great to meet Ross properly today and have a good natter while we worked. Plus we had some fab weather thrown in too again.

We’re now in our digs for the night just outside of Dalton-in-Furness, where we’ve stayed before. Lots of admin to get through so no chance to get to the beach, but I was up at the crack of dawn for a good yomp up the hills in Keighley first thing this morning. – https://ift.tt/TRLEhlN

Day 1 of 5 – West of the country…

First call of the week was in Bingley this morning, for work on Ian’s 2002 TF 115 in JFV.

He’d inherited the car from his uncle and the service history was a little sketchy so he wanted to be sure and get the cambelt service done, plus he’d noticed a couple of tell-tale signs that the head gasket was on its way out, so we replaced this for him today too. It was a Mk II elastomer gasket that had been fitted. A few missing and wrong bolts, so these were all rectified. Couple of other service items replaced and the car is now all good to go for Ian to enjoy.

Shame not to meet him today, as he was away, we had intended on going on Wednesday, in which case we would have met him, but I had to do a bit of logistical shuffling to fit everyone in. No cuppas, but that’s was my fault for not bringing a kettle, but an added bonus was that the sun was out all day and we got an early finish, so being nearby we called in to Haworth for a pot of tea and a tea-cake.

We’re now in some fab digs in Keighley for the evening. – https://ift.tt/6kIBWon

Well that was a successful day in Wigan today. Rescheduled from Wednesday as the weather was totally horrendous, we got to work on brothers David and Peter’s MGs.

First up was David’s MGF 1.8 mpi (in HFF) for head gasket replacement and full cambelt service, along with replacement of the clutch-slave cylinder.

Next up was full cambelt service on Peter’s 2004 TF 160 (in HFF) that he bought from us four years, that time flew by!

Great to see them both, as always, and have a good natter while we worked. David kept up a constant stream of cuppas and had got in special pies for our lunches, which was very kind.

Plus the sun shone all day, so we were pleased we’d made the right decision as it would have been a tad miserable in the wet and wind.

We were at the workshop yesterday, where we met Jon and his son, who had driven down from Redcar in their 2004 TF 135 80th Anniversary, for replacement of an intermittent starter motor, we found also that the battery had a hole in its side and its cold cranking amps were down to just over a hundred. So we replaced the battery too and she’s good to go. Date to be booked in for the service, check over and MOT next year ahead of their European tour in the car next year, where they will end up in Austria, very nice too, sounds a great trip. Great to see them both and the weather was good for a top down drive both ways.

Van all stocked up with the necessary kit for our trip away, next week, taking in the west of the country. – https://ift.tt/yfYGe19

Lincoln & Louth today, with a bit of a change in temperature and a definite autumnal nip in the air.

Our first call was to James and his 2004 TF 135, that we’d found on our last visit, when chatting with him, that the cambelt service was well overdue. This was done for him today along with new alternator belt as the one on the car was starting to split, a timely replacement!

Good to see James again briefly in between his work calls.

From there we called into to Rimmer Bros to restock on a number of things on our way to our next call near Louth.

This car was also noted to be overdue its cambelt service on our last visit, a MGF steptronic in Wedgewood. So this was all sorted, along with replacement of the rear plastic window, what we’d ordered in, as the one on the car was very old and split.

It was good to meet Mark this time and have a chat, thanks to him for the supply of many cuppas.

He mentioned that at the recent MOT they’d noticed a coolant leak and were unsure where from. So we pressure tested the system and found it to be coming from the inlet manifold, so we took this apart and fitted a new gasket, cleaned it all up and removed the jiggle valve. Car ran up to temperature with no issues. We look forward to seeing Mark again, next month, when he drops it off with us at the workshop for underfloor treatment.

We had a new apprentice today, Olive, the chicken! She seemed very keen to help out and we named her so as she was quite partial to a bit of our olive bread. Bless her, she stayed with us all afternoon until it got a bit late and she toddled off home to the house up the road where she lives.

We should have been in Wigan yesterday, but the weather forecast was way too bad for the jobs we had planned and the gazebo would not have been sufficient. The owner even messaged yesterday to say we’d made the right decision.

Instead, given the situation we thought we’d nip over to Sheffield to drop off my sons birthday presents and pop in for a brew, taking the TF 135, instead of the van, as it wouldn’t incur the ‘clean air zone’ charge, only for the alternator to pack up on the way! Argh! Fortunately, we had our mini jump-pack with us so hooked that up and made to James’s flat. Deposited birthday gifts, had a cuppa and then found a local Euro car parts, bought a new battery, fitted that and prayed that we would make it back to the workshop. We did. Phew.

It’s worth mentioning, that should you find yourself in this situation that this is a good way of getting out of trouble relatively simply, quickly and cheaply, you may only get up to 70 miles, without obviously using fans, radio, windows, wipers etc., but when needs must!

So, that was our first proper day back today, after a truly difficult time and have to say we’re properly pooped. We just want to say though, “Thank you”, to everyone, for being so understanding and sending your messages, it has been such a great support. – https://ift.tt/puwPDHv

Had a few things to get sorted at the workshop this morning…

Andrew had come over from Walkington at the weekend to leave his TF 135 with us for its annual service and MOT, a couple of days before had developed a problem with the alternator, so this was swapped out for them with a new one fitted, along with new belt. The MOT was a pass at the station we use on site, so all ready for Andrew to collect at the weekend.

Eddy drove down from Seaham to have a new key fob supplied and programmed on his 2004 TF 135, (paint code JFV) as he only had the one fob. Great to meet him, bit of a story with this one that he shared with us. Date booked in for next year for the cambelt service and a remap when we look forward to seeing him again.

Tony and his lovely wife came over from Hull for hydragas pump up on their V reg MGF 1.8 mpi (paint code JRJ). We’ve seen the car a couple of times before for pump up and replacement of one of the spheres, but hadn’t realised how they came about owning the car. It was a Bangers & Cash auction win! The ticket was a fiver and they couldn’t believe it that they’d won, Sarah Crabtree (Jon’s old mate) rang them herself to give them the good news! Isn’t that great. They love the car and have loads of fun in her. Good to see them both again and have a chat.

Van booked in at Pickards for its new clutch, or whatever it is that’s needed, next week.

Then that’s us done now for a few days. – https://ift.tt/AZmTea6

That’s part of the rearranged trip from last week done, which started with a very early departure on Wednesday morning…

Full cambelt service carried out on Roger’s 2011 TF 135 aka N-series, paint code 288, in Newbury. All went well, no awkward bolts. We’d taken a control arm with us, as it had come up as an advisory on the first MOT, but then on the follow-up test it wasn’t advised on, on inspection it was in good order so Roger said to leave it for now.

Thursday was a busy day, with our first call in Shinfield for minor service, replacement of the slave-cylinder on Simon’s Y reg MGF VVC, in paint code HFF. Good to Simon again, briefly, in between his meetings.

We then went over to Finchampstead for minor service and replacement of the underfloor coolant pipes on Frances’s 2004 TF 135 (paint code MBB). Thanks to his wife for especially baking Jon some muffins!

For the last call of the day we were only another 2 miles along the road to Nick’s house for minor service and check over on his 2004 TF 135 (paint code MBB), the only other things required were some HT leads as his were a bit on the tired side. Nick’s carried out a lot of work himself since buying the car in June. Didn’t get to meet him as he was at work.

Friday morning found us in Andover for work on Paul’s latest acquisition. He’d bought himself another doer upper, a MGF 1.8 mpi in paint code COF. Full cambelt service carried out, alternator belt and a replacement throttle pedal fitted. The throttle cable had been replaced, by the previous owner, with an aftermarket one, but was still stiff as at some point, during its installation, it must have been kinked causing more resistance than is acceptable.

Bit of a delayed start to proceedings as previous owner had fitted awful spline bolts to the engine cover. Eventually removed and subsequently replaced with the correct bolts.

Good to see Paul again, when he came back from work, and have a catch-up, whom we’d last seen when we’d done a load of resto work on his then Abingdon some years ago.

We should have been over in Farnham too, fitting some headlights on Robert’s MGF, but a miscommunication in who was actually buying the lights! Not to worry, we’ve a date booked in when we return for the next part of this trip.

So that brings us to yesterday, Saturday, and we went over to Bramley, near Guildford for work on James’s TF. A 2004 135 (paint code IAU) that we’d last seen five years ago for quite an extensive list of work.

Full cambelt service carried out for him this time. Shame not to see James as he was working, but we met and had an interesting chat with his good friend Tom. It was nice to see the car again, which is still in fab condition.

We stayed over in Newbury for 3 nights and were in Fleet last night. Two very good lodgings.

Heading back up the M1 now with a call in to the workshop to swap vans, as the ‘interim’ van we’ve been using developed a problem with the duel-mass flywheel as we set off for this trip, so we’ve limped it along. Its served us extremely well so it will be booked in to have that replaced. It’s the first problem it’s had in the 25,000 miles (once around the world) we’ve done in it about 6 months!

Our regular van is sorted, but we didn’t want to use it straight away on a big trip like this, we’ll just run it about ‘locally’ for a while.

Had an earlyish finish one day we so being nearby we visited ‘Downton Abbey’. Jon’s leg has been bearing up fairly well considering. – https://ift.tt/SDfNLWU