Wrightpayne Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 I've been pondering the amount of tools / kit I carry around in the seven 'just in case' as the bag weighs over 7 kg.Car does not have a spare wheel. I wondered what tools / spares you would carry if you had a 2kg weight limit and it needed to fit in a zip up shoe bag.My thoughts...screwdriver & bit set incl allen key bitsadjustable spannerpliers/cuttersPlastic snap blade knifetyre strings12v pump / light unitfuses, wire, tape, crimp connectorsBike inner cable / clamp (accelerator cable repair)Clutch cablephone charge cable I know the simplest answer is an AA card (which I have anyway) but I'd like to 'self help' simple repairs on the go if I can. Any thoughts / additions? Perhaps you've had a roadside breakdown to deal with and a particular item was useful??RegardsIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted July 3, 2022 Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 I thought about an exhaust bobbin but that can be improvised with one of the radiator mounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 I have most of that, but also a spare FIA key, a clutch of cable ties, exhaust bobbin, hi-vis, disposable gloves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 a meter hacksaw bladebit of sandpaper a length of wire long enough to feed the fuel pump from the batteryis a brake light switch still relevant ?Fan belt (alty belt pre located in the engine especially if an Apollo is in use) speedo and clutch cables and tools to fit - big spanners are a nuisance here gaffer tapezip/cable ties - long ones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 3, 2022 Member Share Posted July 3, 2022 I foresee a delightfully divergent thread: a minimalist tendency for a credit card or recovery card and a 'phone charging cable, and another approaching the full touring kit plus the hindsight of individual misadventures.It would be helpful to include the assumptions around multitools: with a few exceptions mine is with me anyway and covers a fair number of Ian's proposals.Jump leads.NB A jack and handle can be fitted in front of the heater and cables can be strapped to chassis tubes. And a tool tube can be used instead of that shoe bag and can be located elsewhere than the boot... Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 3, 2022 Member Share Posted July 3, 2022 PS: I've just realised that I usually carry more tools and spares on the human powered vehicle than I do in the Seven!: - )Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 There's lots of old threads on this, a lot depends on rescue availability and journey time; for example an hour or two versus days or even weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 3, 2022 Member Share Posted July 3, 2022 I've linked above to some of the many threads on touring kit.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted July 3, 2022 Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 Is there a velocipede equivalent of the AA? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil220 Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 I also don't have a spare wheel.AirMan ResQ Emergency Tyre Repair Kit, with easy valve through punture repair tyre selant, Air Compressor.https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BP5E7KI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 me too and the only "flat" I have had so far (in 20 years) involved both rear wheels delaminated simultaneously. The fix was wife with two spare wheels in her tintop's boot. I have noticed that reduced tread depth significantly increases the risk of a puncture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 #8 be interesting to see all those indexed with comments / contextshere's one I wrote in 2009 and lots of interesting chatter - shame ADAC doesn't seem to be available any more.https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/tour-checklistwhere #2 provides a minimalist alternative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted July 3, 2022 Area Representative Share Posted July 3, 2022 I ought to weigh the kit I carry. (It's probably more use to someone other than me!)I'll post details of what I carry, once I have looked at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 Wouldnt want to remove a radiator mount, there are enough reports of leaking rads sometimes due to misalignment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted July 3, 2022 Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 3 mounts are less likely to deform the radiator than 4.Were you really a fast jet engineer? Or just looking for every opportunity to be contrary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 Just pointing out the obvious if three was better than four there would only be three. We are all entitled to post an opinion. Its up to the OP to decide which to accept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 I fitted a small tool box in front of the bulkhead secured by 4 rivnuts/screws in the shelf and 2 long bolts/penny washers through the bulkhead. (rigidity and security has been accident-tested)In this I used to carry an over-the-top number of spares (see list below) which I haven't used but have helped a number of others over the years. [attachment=21927:name] Throttle cable inner Alternator belt Alternator strap Spark plugs Oil/water sender Fuses Various relays x 3 Ignition switch Battery master switch Bulbs Radiator cap Oil Thermostat Paper gaskets Brake light switch Fan switch Exhaust & radiator bobbins Exhaust bracket Sump plug Wheel nuts & washers Cable ties (all sizes) Jubilee clips Duct tape Miscellaneous fixings, wire & connectors Insulating tape Velcro roll Quicksteel Glue WD40 (small aerosol) Front wheel bearing kit Tyre repair kit Aluminium tape Spanner roll (metric) Mini spanners Allen keys (metric) Tyre pressure gauge Tyre valve tool Magnetic pick tools x 2 Mini pliers x 5 Then in a tool tube (secured on the cross-member under the nose cone): Towing strap Leatherman/Gerber tool Mini, medium & large adj. spanners Ratchet handle Short & long extensions 16,18,19mm sockets Mole grips Water pump pliers Stubby screwdrivers x 2 Screwdriver & bits And finally in the boot: Halfords mini pro tool kits x 2 Multimeter Goodness knows how much that lot weighed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 Wow! Only missing the kitchen sink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted July 3, 2022 Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 I think Drumsters might be slightly over 2kg :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 I thought you wanted the weight of the tool box...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted July 3, 2022 Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 Hahaif you are touring Europe then I think a big kit/parts selection is fine.Doing 2 or 3 hour mini blats (which I tend to do) then a smaller / lighter selection should suffice!Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 Fair point well made... Caterham use tends to be either sprint/hillclimb in UK or touring abroad and very little in between Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 #21:if you are touring Europe then I think a big kit/parts selection is fine.I agree. I carry a pretty comprehensive set of tools and parts for my French tours. It's a habit developed in my early motorcycling days, when every journey was an adventure touching the void of unreliability.The snag is that it's easier to keep all this stuff in the boot when in the UK, rather than prune it down a tad.One portable tool I've found invaluable is this gas-powered soldering iron.And one part I've never regretted carrying is a Duratec coil-on-plug. I suffered total COP failure on Cyl #1 a few years in the middle of nowhere in France. Without that spare, I faced the unwelcome prospect of running on three for a couple of hours.#16:...if three was better than four there would only be three... Nobody is suggesting that. The trick of using a radiator bobbin to replace a failed exhaust one is a get-you-home tip as old as the 7 bobbins themselves.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted July 3, 2022 Member Share Posted July 3, 2022 "The trick of using a radiator bobbin to replace a failed exhaust one is a get-you-home tip as old as the 7 bobbins themselves."The same bobbin can also be used to attach the seat on my Windcheetah! That's the machine in my signature image.But it's not the only Lotus connection...Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beagler Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 The trick of using a radiator bobbin to replace a failed exhaust one is a get-you-home tip as old as the 7 bobbins themselves." Radiators too expensive for that. Better with tie wraps, string or my trouser belt. Must remember not to stand up too quick though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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