Month: September 2024

Bowburn, County Durham.

A very soggy one today replacing the clutch on Ian’s 2004 TF 1.6 in Ignition Blue (JGY) with just under 60 k on the clock. He had previously eased off the release-arm and replaced the seals on the clutch slave-cylinder, but it was continuing to give him issues as it was still slipping under load.

Full clutch-kit fitted, along with the updated stainless-steel clutch release-arm, complete with grease nipple.

All went really well despite the grotty weather, gazebo deployed, but still very cold and wet being on the floor etc., a nice early finish and on our way home now, thawing out with a stop at Scotch Corner for a warming large brew. Nice to meet Ian today and have him up and running again, thanks to him for the cuppas. – https://ift.tt/h2SJtzb

A busy and productive couple of days at the workshop, yesterday and today, working on a couple of TFs that were dropped off last weekend.

Jeff came over from Whitby to leave his 2005 TF 135 (paint code PBT) with us, that he’d bought last year, with very little service history. It was lovely to meet him and have a quick chat before he headed back home.

A full cambelt service carried out for him, we did have to resort to our Plan B as the engine mount bolts did not want to come undone. Apart from that it behaved. The oil dipstick bracket had snapped and was rattling about so we fitted a new one of those. All done and ready for him to collect over the weekend.

Pete had driven over from just west of Selby to leave his 2001 TF 135 (in paint code MBB) with us for a few things.

Front to back brake lines and both front brake lines replaced, underfloor treatment carried out and underfloor coolant pipes replaced. Pete had spotted a post on a previous underfloor treatment that we’d done and asked us to do the same on his car. Before and after pics sent over to him as requested. Great to have this all sorted for him, and is now ready for collection over the weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone, wherever you may be. Hope the weather isn’t as dismal as forecast. ☔️ – https://ift.tt/3I0EbAZ

Day 3 of 3 – NORFOLK

An early departure from our digs this morning in Gillingham and we headed down to East Bergholt, not too from Colchester.

Paula had got in touch to see when we could take care of her fleet of three MGs. We’d last seen her four years ago for work on a couple of them, but she’d managed to find a local chap to take on their care, sadly though he’s had to take retirement.

This morning we carried out a full cambelt service on her 2006 TF 135 (paint code PBT), alternator belt replaced plus a new cover as hers was missing. This is Paula’s daily car so that’s got her back up to date with the service.

Lovely to see Paula again and have a chat. Plus have fusses with her gorgeous woofers Olive and Pickle! (Didn’t get a pic). We look forward to returning next spring for further work on the other two. Thankfully, we had a barn to work in as the weather was a bit wet and miserable this morning.

From there we headed up to Hartest, near Bury St Emdonds, to check out the hydragas on a Rover Metro 1.1. The owner felt that it had become a little rigid, so we set it to the correct ride-height and then checked the spheres, which did have a decent amount of bounce. Sylvia will see how it goes from there and let us know.

So we’re now heading home. This trip was originally planned a few weeks ago and should have been a bit longer, but we managed to shoehorn in as much as possible. We ended up with these three days free, due to a postponement at the workshop, which has worked out well all round, and thanks to everyone for their understanding. – https://ift.tt/YwRaUkv

Day 2 of 3 – NORFOLK

After leaving our digs in Sheringham, this morning, we made our way along to our first call of the day in Mundesley.

Allen’s R reg MGF 120 mpi (paint code JRJ) was due its cambelt service, so this was carried out, along with all other service items. Always lovely to see his Mum, who lends us her drive each time to work on Allen’s cars, plus she makes a cracking brew.

It was good to see Allen again, briefly, when he popped over from work to drop off his other spare key-fob, as he wanted all three sets programming to the car, as only one of them was working. Unfortunately, one of them was beyond it, as the circuit board had degraded and something in it had blown.

We then headed on to our next call, which was located in Willingham St Mary, for work on Nigel’s very low mileage 2004 TF 135 (paint code JFM), that he’d recently purchased from Matthewsons.

He’d decided to treat the car to a soft-ride-kit and an MGOC Supersport back-box. So these were fitted for him today. Thankfully none of the bolts sheared off, we’d even taken a contingency of spare upper suspension arms with us just in case!

It was really lovely to meet Nigel this afternoon and have a chat. Thanks to him for many brews, cake and biscuits, very welcome. We look forward to our return next spring for some further work.

We’re now in our digs in village called Gillingham, just outside of Beccles. I enjoyed a very early morning, albeit soggy, walk along the coastline in Sheringham this hoping to see the sunrise, but it wasn’t the case, but thankfully the rain held off for the rest of the day. – https://ift.tt/YwRaUkv

Day 1 of 3 – NORFOLK

An early start this morning to head down to our first call which was en route to Norfolk in Deeping St James, where it was lovely to see Graeme again for work on his 2002 TF 160.

Minor service carried out, along with adjustment of the drivers side window that despite Graeme’s efforts just wouldn’t behave! After a bit of faffing we managed to make it fit, and it had a good test with the rain that decided to drench us halfway through proceedings!

Also at the last MOT, he had carried out, it was noted to have quite a bad oil leak. On our inspection found it to be coming from the hydraulic plunger, these are prone to the rubber gaskets perishing, of course naturally, due to age. So we replaced both of the gaskets and cleaned up the mess as best we could.

Also on the MOT they had noted that the nearside rear track-rod-end had play, but on our inspection it was actually the nearside rear forward control-arm, so we replaced this with one on stock.

It was a bit too late in the proceedings to deploy the gazebo so we got a bit soggy. Thanks to Graeme for a couple of cracking brews and biscuits, we then headed off to our next job.

This was over in Wereham, where it was good to see Jim and Judith again and have the company of their beautiful woofers Pip and Dot. Their 2004 TF 135, in paint code PMF, was due its minor service. The HT leads completely fell to pieces on removal, so we replaced these with new.

Plus, at the recent MOT, it was noted to have play in the nearside front top-arm. It actually only needed grease in the top arm, which we did, but it was the lower ball-joint that was at fault. So we set about replacing this, grinder, drill and punches all required and subsequently replaced with one we had in stock.

The other issue was the engine bay coolant temperature sensor, this had been putting the fans on all the time, Jim had bought what he thought was the correct sensor, but unfortunately it wasn’t, but we had the correct one on stock, anyway, so this was swapped out, which resolved that issue.

Thankfully, the sun came out and we could dry out our overalls at their fab spot.

We’re now in Sheringham, with a very warm welcome from puss ‘Peewee’ at some beautiful digs, for the night. – https://ift.tt/XQTlMkI

Day 5 of 5 – West of the country…

We left our last lot of digs for the week and headed down to Wigan, where it was great to meet Karl, for work on his wife’s 2003 TF 135, in Spectre.

Initially booked in for a cambelt service, Karl had then got back in touch to say the car wouldn’t start, because the immobiliser wouldn’t turn off.

So, first of all, Jon set about diagnosing the reason why, which he found to be a slightly defective key fob, managed to at least get it working, but obviously didn’t know for how long that would last. Whilst managing to turn the immobiliser off we then programmed two new fobs to the car. Hey presto car up and running much to Karl’s delight!

We then got cracking with the cambelt service and replaced all other service items, plus the alternator belt, that was completely shot, a timely replacement. Now the cars all up to date for them to enjoy once more.

Interesting chats with Karl while we worked, thanks to him for a cracking brew.

From there we headed over to Swinton, where it was lovely, as always, to see David and Julia and of course have fusses with the beautiful Bodie dog, who we’re pleased to say has made a full recovery from his recent operation and is back to full bounciness!

David’s TF 135, in x-power grey, was due its cambelt service again. Cambelt service done along with all other service items. He also thought the front brakes needed some attention, so we took discs and pads along, only to find on inspection that the offside wheel bearing had gone. So a date booked in to get this sorted before the MOT, plus a couple of other bits.

Great to have a chat and catch-up with David, who also makes a cracking brew, we look forward to seeing him again next month.

Now we head back home, and a bit of a slow slog along the M62, lots of hold ups everywhere, hope we make it in time before they close it in both directions for the necessary reconstruction of the railway bridge.

It’s been a productive week away, with some great company and fab cars, digs have been pretty good all round too. Bit tired now, and looking forward to seeing the cat. – https://ift.tt/FYAGxbo

Day 4 of 5 – West of the country…

We were in Preesall this morning, not too far from Fleetwood, after leaving our digs in Lancaster.

It’s always great when you get to follow a car on to its new owner, particularly so when the previous owner recommended us to them.

This fab looking MG TF 135 in x-power grey used to belong to Jim and Jennifer and we’d done a bit of work on it over the past few years. The cambelt service was now due so, new owners, Grant and Barbara had got in with us to see when we could come over and do this for them.

Cambelt service carried out and all service items replaced. All done in time for them to head out on a group run this afternoon.

Really great to meet them both properly, we had a brief introduction at Pateley Bridge last month. Thanks to them for many cuppas and scones. Good to sit down afterwards and have a chat about all the runs they’ve organised over the years for various clubs. Not an easy task.

Given that the weather was so good and check-in wasn’t until 3 o’clock we took in a quick trip to Blackpool for a spot of site-seeing.

We’re now in our last digs of the week, with our penultimate call in Winstanley tomorrow morning. – https://ift.tt/vO7stn2

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