glasgow Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Prior to buying my 1st Caterham last month, I went to East Lothian to meet Jason and inspect his "Tomato" who now has a new home in Germany. I also got some very good tips and hints from my visit… I list them below as they may be of help to other newbies…… I would appreciate other tips and thoughts from you expert guys to people who are only used to driving tin tops…… - Pushing the car in and out of the garage - Not having the hand brake on when car is in garage (just put some sort of support in front and behind one of the wheels) - Not to go above 3000rpm until the OIL temperature is high - Rev the engine before down changing the gear for smoother changes - although I still to master heal&toe technique… :-) - Hotter tyres give better grip - When clipping the hood to start from the front windscreen side Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Don't need to chock wheels in the garage, just leave it in gear, unless floor slopes steeply !! You may be surprised how long it takes the oil to get to 60C ...... some ten minutes after the water temperature reaches this figure. So, if you don't have an oil temperature display, don't be fooled by the water reaching temperature. How about Rule No. 1 for getting in and out of the car ... don't touch the windscreen !!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrixswhitestrat Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Rule 1A: Insert ignition key before doing up harness !!! 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil G Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Rule 1B: Visit little boys room before setting off. Phil “Look at life through the aeroscreen, not the rear-view mirror” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john milner Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Disconnect the battery or use a conditioner if the car is not likely to be used for more than a week or two in the Winter. Get a baseball cap as there is no sun visor. Consider buying a Soft Bits for Seven hood & draught excluder. Remember that the car in front will have to brake when you wouldn't have to. Look in the mirror when exiting sharp bends as the car that was up your backside will look very wobbly and possibly in a ditch. Drive the thing whenever you can even if it's just to buy a newspaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Buy a woolly hat, unless you’re a hedgehog and hibernate in the winter Get ear plugs Learn that you will develop an allergic reaction to speed bumps The car in front is slow, the car behind is trying its best. Get a Half Hood. Buy a can of tyre goo, if you don’t carry a spare. Oh and a breakdown card. Fit a high level brake light Travel on a journey back in time when you realise the brake switch technology fitted to your car. Give it a name. Invest in a good set of spanners Keep an eye on the road in front for debris. Buy some nice sunglasses, wrap around type. May save your eyes from stones! Learn that traffic jams now become less frustrating, sit back and enjoy looking at the other caged in passengers. You will appreciate how short the summer is; and how long the winter drags Above all else, use the Seven, that’s why you bought it. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john milner Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Invest in a good set of spanners A very good idea this one as I wouldn't even think about working on a tin-top but I look forward to do jobs on the Seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Carry a fuel funnel. A cigarette butt placed beneath a Band-Aid makes a cheap nicotine patch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john milner Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Carry a fuel funnel. Or upgrade from an aluminium filler cap to a plastic Mini Metro one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Invest in a good set of spanners I think the Halfords offer is still running (details here). JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted September 11, 2010 Area Representative Share Posted September 11, 2010 LADS top tip:- When you pull up to traffic lights with the hood on, don't pull right up to the line - hang back so that you can see the lights. (I forgot this today). Paul Richards Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens) LADS Website Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderlane Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Carry a fuel funnel. Or remove the SVA flap from the filler pipe (just did this and problem solved) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow Posted September 11, 2010 Author Share Posted September 11, 2010 I may add another one here (hope it is not just my bad driving skills)...... When pulling away in 1st gear on bumpy roads, be careful your right foot could easily press hard on the accelerator (I put this down to the uneven surface - but may be my right foot is not digital enough...) The car could easily "kangaroo" which is not good in the first gear as the engine will be too powerful for the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerman Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Remember the steering wheel when you leave the house to get the 7 out of the garage. You wouldn't believe how may times I've had to go back for the b....y thing. Peter C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 - Drive it like you stole it - Change down for tunnels - If the weather's nice enough to polish it, it's nice enough to drive it. Put down the polish! John _________________________ myothercarsa2cv Bugsy: '82 2cv6 😬 Talloulah '08 1.6K Classic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loverobot Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Sorry might be a bit thick but why do you need to carry a fuel funnel? I am guessing asking will save me some sort of nasty surprise? Nick 2001 Caterham Superlight 155 FP51 EKR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaterBram Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Nick, some of the newer models have a flap in the fuel filler neck which causes problems with filling, the funnel helps get around the problem. Better still is to remove the problem, came accross another BC post with links to this series of photo's here It's not a problem i've got personnal on my old lady :-) Q469 WET, 1990 1690 Xflow Long Cockpit in Ali except for the red bits. .CaterBram on Facebook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenF Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Regularly check that your brake lights are functioning. It's very common for the switch to stop working and require a quick disassembly and internal clean. I also carry a spare one with me in case I notice this problem on a blat. Search techtalk for more info on this subject.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow Posted September 12, 2010 Author Share Posted September 12, 2010 From my reading, the clutch and throttle cables could easily got snapped. I think it may be a wise idea to have spare ones in the boot.... But not sure if this would be only required if travelling in Europe?! Put it another way, would RAC/AA recovery have such cabels with them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyCoulson Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 I would carry spares with you just in case a spare cannot be sourced when needed. If you've got one you won't need it and if you need it you won't be able to get one is my experience in life for most things. 😬 A cigarette butt placed beneath a Band-Aid makes a cheap nicotine patch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon C Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 You may be surprised how long it takes the oil to get to 60C Yes i couldn't agree more with this one. Opened my eyes up when i installed an oil temp gauge in my Subaru some years ago. In the cooler months it must have taken a good 15 minutes or so before the oil was fully upto operating temperature. Rule 1A: Insert ignition key before doing up harness !!! Never mind about that. Just remove the bloody key from your pocket before you harness up 🙆🏻 _________________________ Gordon.......joint Surrey AR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon C Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Should have added....... well worth carrying a strong waterproof tape in the boot as well. You just never know when you'll need to patch a wing etc together again. _________________________ Gordon.......joint Surrey AR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason liddell Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Welcome to Blatchat, Ahmed To clarify your first point:- Pushing the car in and out of the garage ...this was only because my garage is so narrow for getting in/out a Caterham. I guess it also is what most owners do anyway, after getting out to open the door. Why get in and drive when you can just push? Glad to see you're enjoying your new car My Flickr Gallery here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow Posted September 12, 2010 Author Share Posted September 12, 2010 Thank you Jason.... In fact this tip is very helpful to me as I often keep the hood on and it save me squeezing into the car twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 Assume recovery services would not have any spare cables for a Seven ! Always carry your own. You can then assist another Sevener when theirs breaks and they don't have a spare !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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