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Friday again and we’re heading north and back home now, following a busy few days in the south…

Tuesday morning found us in Corby for a hydragas pump up on Rob’s 2001 MGF. Good to see him again and have a quick catch-up before heading on to our digs for the night in Bromley.

A nice short commute on Wednesday morning over to Beckenham for work on John’s other two cars.

Full cambelt service carried out and replacement of the underfloor pipes for stainless ones on his N reg, very low mileage, 120 mpi (paint code COF).

Next up was his other MGF (in paint code COF) 1.8 mpi, registered 1997. Full cambelt service also carried out on this one. Both cars great to work on, no awkward bolts or things in wrong places. Hydragas pump ups done on both cars too, so John’s all good to go on all three of his cars now and can enjoy getting them out and about.

After another stay over in Bromley, on Wednesday night, we had an even shorter commute on Thursday morning, just a few miles down the hill to Michael’s house for work on his V ref MGF VVC (in paint code HFF) that he’s owned now for the past 20 years. The cambelt service was a little overdue so we undertook this for him. Michael has been doing the routine servicing on the car over the years himself. So the car is all now up to date for him to enjoy, with peace of mind. It was lovely to meet him and have a good chat while we worked.

We bid farewell and made our way over to Colchester. We did have a call planned on the way, but that didn’t transpire for whatever reason, it was only a call in and listen to a car that was ‘sounding like a bag of spanners’.

We made the most of having a couple of hours spare and decided to take in some culture, with a visit to Colchester castle before checking into our digs for the night.

A bright and early start this morning, for another short commute back into Colchester, where it was lovely to see Claire again. We didn’t see her when we serviced the car last time at her parent’s house so it was good to have a catch-up with her.

Claire had noticed an awful noise coming from the engine bay fan, which was on continuously. The reason for it being on all the time was due to a faulty sensor, however the fan itself had become corroded over time. So we had taken a replacement one down with us and fitted that for her, along with a replacement engine bay air temperature sensor that she’d sourced.

Car given a check over for anything else amiss, nearside front track rod end and ball joint had done their time, so we replaced these and packed the front top arms full of grease. Couple of little niggles discussed for Claire to tackle and a couple of things noted that she would like doing on our next visit.

Thanks to everyone for their hospitality and to the sun for finally making an appearance! ☀️ – https://ift.tt/8xdXDpH

After the weekend off, for the occasion of my Birthday, which was absolutely lovely, seeing my family and just being restful, we headed over to our workshop on a (don’t blink you’ll miss it) sunny Monday morning.

Absolutely lovely to meet our visitor this morning, Bill, who drove over from just near Boroughbridge in his 2005 TF 135 ‘Spark’, in paint code CEV, that he’s now owned for just over a year.

Having owned a kit car for many years, a Royale Sabre with a 2 litre engine built in 1996, and unfortunately having to sell it, he missed the fun he got out of it, so fancied seeing what an MG TF was all about.

Initially, Bill only had one key fob with the car, and was concerned about it becoming faulty as the case had fallen apart. A local MG enthusiast had already tried to reprogram it, but unfortunately rendered that one useless as well. Jon set about reprogramming his existing fob and got that working first, then programmed in an additional after-market one, so now with his additional one, he now has three working fobs.

Whilst with us we carried out a minor service too. Good to have a chat and a cuppa and Bill was on his way, in this very tidy car that we hope he has lots of fun with.

Van stocked up with everything required for our trip south over the next few days…

Whilst at the workshop, we found a surprise parcel in our letterbox. We’re clueless as to whom it is from, we’ve surmised and done some scratching of heads, but we’re none the wiser. But, whoever it is, thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, and for your sense of humour! 😃 – https://ift.tt/S4hWuxB

And here we are, it’s Friday again, that was a busy old week and I’ve not had chance to write any updates of what we’ve been up to!

Monday morning found us in Walsall for the head gasket replacement on Peter’s TF 1.8. It was pretty gunked up and took a bit of clearing out, but it’s now back up and running as it should be.

A very damp Tuesday morning took us over to Billingborough, near Sleaford for work on a couple of TF 160s, one belonging to Alex and the other to his friend Giles.

Minor service carried out on Giles’s 160, along with replacement of the Lambda sensor. Cambelt service carried out on Alex’s 160 along with a couple of other bits.

Great to meet Alex and his lovely woofer Lola, and nice to meet Giles briefly when he popped over after work.

The following day, Wednesday, we were back down in the area, this time to carry out a couple of things on Emma’s MGF, in Gosberton. Lovely to see her again and have a chat before heading a short distance along the road to see Rodge and his LE 500, that had recently thrown up an error code of P0610. Himself and his good friend Dave had recently changed the starter motor, but had inadvertently mixed up the cables. This was duly located and sorted by Jon. Hopefully it hadn’t caused any lasting damage to the starter motor itself, but if it has, they now know where to plug the cables back in! Great to see them both as always, and to have chats with Bobby dog. Big thanks to Rodge for the huge bag of cakes and buns! Needless to say was Jon all sorted and content for the evening.

Yesterday morning, Thursday, we were in Belton, near Doncaster, where it was lovely to see Pete and Sue again, to carry out a full cambelt service on their TF Spark. Great to meet their Puggle ‘Ollie’ too!

We should have been doing a head gasket and cambelt service in the afternoon, in Wombwell, but this was cancelled earlier in the week as the owner had got rid of the car. So an earlier than expected finish I took the opportunity to walk back home over the Humber bridge.

That takes us to this morning, and we had a couple of very local calls.

The first call was a couple of miles up the road to Swanland, where it was good to meet Peter and his TF 135. Short cambelt service carried out for him, with only a couple of awkward bolts, we’re pleased to have the servicing up to date for him. Plus it was lovely to meet his very cute pup called Toby.

From Swanland we headed only a few miles along the road to Cottingham to carry out the minor service on Justin’s LE 500 (number 60). We didn’t see Justin this time, but thanks to his son for the cuppa.

Our last call of the day and last one of this week was just a short distance along the road, to check out a couple of niggles that Melvyn was experiencing with his fairly new acquisition of a TF 160. List made of niggles to sort and a date to be booked in to return.

Busy week, not to mention a very cold one! Thanks to everyone for some fabulous hospitality in keeping us fed and watered all week, it’s so much appreciated. Have a great weekend everyone wherever you may be, wrap up warm! 🥶 – https://ift.tt/Ylje0Hm

Coalville, Swanbourne, Chalfont-St-Peter & Chesham…

Tuesday morning saw us heading off early for our visit to Mandy for work on her 2001 MGF 120 mpi, in GUF. A short cambelt service carried out for her this time. Great to see her again and of course Ollie Dog, after a chat with Mandy and a scratch behind gorgeous Ollie Dogs ears we were on our way.

A night spent over in Winslow, with only a short commute to Sue’s in Swanbourne on Wednesday morning. Great to see Sue again and her 2003 TF 135, in HFN. Short cambelt service carried out, plus adjustment of the bonnet, as it wasn’t aligning up very well. Fred her lovely cat came for a sniff round to see what we were up to, then after a chat and a cuppa we headed on to our next call in Chalfont-St-Peter.

Great to see Bob again, whom we’ve not seen for a couple of years. He’s still using his own TF as a daily driver now, and has also come into the ownership of this 2003 TF 135, previously owned by his Dad, and which has been stood for a while, so Bob wants to get it back on the road and through the MOT. Prior to his Dad owning it, it belonged to our good friend Steve Cotton.

But first of all the clutch release-arm was very stiff, which had subsequently blown the seals on the slave-cylinder, so this we sorted out for him and the car will now move once again, so Bob can continue with bringing it back up to spec and enjoy in his Dads memory.

A stay over in Chalfont-St-Giles and then we headed over to Chesham this morning.

Nick had bought this TF 135, (in paint code JFM), that was first registered in 2004, a couple of years ago. It had never sold in 2004 and so was reregistered in 2007. So it’s possibly one of the latest original factory cars that was registered. Nick had always fancied owning one so was really pleased to find himself this one, with only 30k on the clock.

Today we carried out a full cambelt service, and replaced the underfloor coolant pipes with stainless. We noticed there was quite a bit of seepage from the four way split, one of the hoses and the outlet to the cylinder head. Four way split replaced, new clips to the hoses, gasket replaced on the outlet and she’s good to go.

Really great to meet Nick and have good chats while we worked, and not forgetting his beautiful pusses Aurora and oops forgot the other one’s name. Thanks to Nick for many many cuppas, bacon sarnie and fondant fancies!

A productive 3 days away, let’s hope when we get home we’re not met with any dramas. I will make a start on my task of writing to everyone following on from Jon’s post on Tuesday evening. – https://ift.tt/XSJs7Wj

😦 A strange twist of events came today

With events over the last year or so making us rethink the direction of the company already being considered, today’s news has forced our hand

Our landlord has increased the cost of the workshop by 20% , unfortunately this is to bigger increase than we can cope with and still earn a living, we are already working 7 days a week and done for 10yrs

So with effect of 1st August we have had to increase our prices, Claire will be contacting everyone already booked to let them know, we are totally sympathetic to peoples budgets and understand if you have to cancel the appointment, these trying times but there is no other way 😧

Many thanks

Jon & Claire – https://ift.tt/SJDtspu

Workshop Monday…

Great to meet Richard, who drove down from Boroughbridge first thing this morning to bring in his 2004 TF 115 in for clutch replacement with us.

Richard hadn’t owned the car for long, when it was noticed that the clutch was slipping when on a rolling road and it was struggling to get out from the rollers. So he got in touch with us to see if we could help.
Full clutch replacement carried out without any dramas, and he now has a very smooth clutch pedal. Shame that the weather was so unseasonal today in that he couldn’t enjoy a top down run back home. It was good to have a chat with him while we worked on his car.

We did offer a date for someone else this afternoon, but never heard back. Van all stocked back up with the parts needed for our next three days away, starting near Coalville in the morning and then on to Buckinghamshire…

I enjoyed a bit of a hike home in the rain, but it was good to be back on home turf for a while, things have greened up and the lambs have got fatter and the gooses have grown since my last visit! – https://ift.tt/4C5FEka

An early start yesterday morning to head down to Stratford-upon-Avon where we met Kevan for the first time and his P reg MGF, in paint code HAM, known as ‘Moira’ that was named so by the previous owner.

He’d initially enquired about a pump up of the hydragas, but given that ride wasn’t great and the mileage on the car he wanted to go for replacement of the spheres themselves. So this we did for him, and it all went really well. We look forward to hearing how his ride out went.

Good to meet Kevan, who makes a cracking brew too.

From there we headed on up to Kidderminster for work on Marks LE 500, 80 of 500 (paint code 106) and Micks 2003 TF 135 (paint code JFV). We’d briefly met Mark when we were at Steve Cottons, last year, when he came over to buy his roll-hoops, which are now looking very good on Marks LE.

Weirdly, both of their drivers side door mechs had packed up, and they’d both been having to enter and exit via the passenger side for some time, much to other people’s amusement!

So these were replaced for them and they can now gain entry on the correct side once more. Great to see them both and have a natter before we went on a very long and slow haul back home.

Now here’s the thing we should have been staying over for the night ready for the call this morning in Walsall, but having been away so much lately we wanted to get home. Plus it wouldn’t have been much of a haul to Walsall anyway, it just seemed like a good round trip when first planned.

Thank goodness we did go home as we were met with a burst pipe! What an absolute nightmare!! Long story short, we managed to turn off the water, clear up the flood, but had no electricity throughout the house apart from weirdly one socket, so extension cables duly rigged up around the house to enable us to see etc. The insurance company did their usual of promising emergency plumbers, electricians and accommodation, but none of these transpired until this afternoon.

Unfortunately, we were unable to make it to our call in Walsall today, we contacted the customer last night, which didn’t go down well. Understand his disappointment and frustration, but I can count on one hand how many times we’ve had to cancel an appointment, and wasn’t expecting a response like the one we got.

It’s our 10th wedding anniversary today, and as most of you who know us we never really do the whole celebrating fussy stuff, so I suppose it was quite fitting that the day was spent, mopping up, replacing sink hoses and taps, repairing the boiler, cleaning and generally sorting out carnage. Deep joy all round. 😩 – https://ift.tt/wAZuy1i

Harrogate & Wilberfoss…

Our first call of the day was in Harrogate for work on Patrick’s 2001 MGF 120 mpi, that used to belong to his son Dan, and that we’d last worked on a number of years ago. Patrick had recently sold his TF and regretted letting it go, so as Dan wasn’t really using the MGF anymore he decided to take on the ownership of it.

The cambelt service was a little over due, plus it hadn’t had a service in a while so it was booked in for this, in between time though it was noticed that it was showing signs of head gasket failure. Everything carried out for him today, along with new heater resister pack and hydragas pump up and the car is all sorted for him and Diane to enjoy.

Really great to see Patrick again today and have a good chat while we worked, thanks to him for many cracking brews and Jon’s bacon buttie. Not forgetting to mention fusses with their very happy and cute woofer Bertie.

From there we went over to Wilberfoss, where it was lovely to see Derek and Margaret again, for fitting of a ‘Jakabi Design’ binnacle, as the one on their TF 80th Anniversary had cracked. Plus the gearbox oil was changed, that I forgot to take with us when we went over last month. Always good to have a chat with them, we look forward to our visit next year.

An enjoyable days work, complete with some sunny weather thrown in too. 🌞 – https://ift.tt/2jhrUS3