Jonathan Kay

Is the fan pushing the right way? I will check. Is the electrical connection two way; so it could be connected incorrectly reversing the motor? It certainly can happen, but I don't know if it's always because of reversed wiring (usually at the motor) or if the connector can be connected the wrong way. You can short the wire at the sensor to test the fan motor without needing to get the coolant hot. Jonathan

Is the fan pushing air the right way? Jonathan

I've scanned this from my 1998 Guide. Is it the one you need? Jonathan

Duplicate post. Doh!

Well, that's good news! Did you type "that's a relief" and then change it to avoid confusion? ;-) Jonathan

Caerbont won't sell direct. Wouldn't they put you through to Speedy Cables? Jonathan

Also, the self-parking bit has stopped working. Is that an easy fix? Was that while it was on the car, or testing it after removal? Do you have the appropriate wiring diagram already? Jonathan

Therefore you can get more power from high octane as it allows for higher rates of compression. "More" in a comparison between different fuels in the same engine, or between two different engines with different compression and expansion ratios? Jonathan

;-) Jonathan PS: Whereabouts in France?

Can you add a photo, please? Jonathan

I'll post them unless anyone wants to collect in person from Garsington, Oxfordshire OX44 9DB. Final prices are: Canister: £7.68 each Red bag: £2.24 each Black bag: £3.33 each Envelope (non-optional) to hold either 1 or 2 canisters + a lot of bags: £0.24 Postage: £2.85 per envelope, regardless of exactly what's in it.Jonathan

I'd start with Caterham, Redline and Caerbont. Jonathan

If anyone would like any (or more) and hasn't made a request already please post in this thread and I'll have a look after sending this batch. Jonathan

They've just arrived. Please can everyone contact me by Private Mail with their username, real name and email address. There's a current problem on the site with acknowledgements that Private Mails have been sent: don't worry about that, they are getting through I'll then run the future communications by personal email. Prices will appear here as soon I've worked them out. Jonathan

(Crossed with Andrew's) I think that most people use a "cigar lighter" plug and socket, and put the socket above the passenger's legs below the dash. That way you can charge without removing the bonnet and gain an accessory socket. An alternative is putting the same type of plug and socket in the bulkhead between the seats. That might be preferred if you want to power an intercom. If you do fit that type of socket I recommend buying a unit that also has USB high current charging ports so that you that you don't need an adaptor for 'phones, satnavs etc. Jonathan

"expansion ratio" and "energy released" in my book are the same as bigger bang. The expansion ratio in a conventional engine is a feature of the mechanical design and isn't affected by combustion. If you never ignite the fuel or totally stop injecting fuel into a cylinder there's still an expansion ratio for the gas in the chamber. The heat generated by combustion depends on the mass and composition of the fuel. The fraction of that heat that can be turned into useful work is determined by the expansion ratio. When an engine delivers more power because it's given more fuel the heat generated is greater and the pressure on the piston is greater but the expansion ratio remains the same. Jonathan

I used the nylon ones left over from the rear wings. And then painted the sawn down end black. Jonathan

High octane fuel makes higher compression feasible which should result in a bigger bang. Higher compression ratio allows a difference between engines, but even that isn't because of a bigger bang, it's because the higher expansion ratio (which is the same as the compression ratio in conventional engines) allows more of the energy released in combustion to do useful work as opposed to being wasted as heat. For equal compression rates the higher octane fuel will give a slightly smaller bang than low octane as it is less explosive than low octane. I don't think that's the case for ordinary fuels of different octane rating in the same engine. And explosiveness isn't the same as available energy per unit mass. But I'm open to evidence. This is why an engine tuned to run only 95 (standard K series) runs a bit flat with high octane fuel. I don't think it does, but, as above, happy to be proved wrong. Jonathan

Namrick? Jonathan

Agreed x4. Well said. Jonathan

I was thinking about stiffness/change of natural resonance by adding with some ‘sticky lead tape’ or some such, thoughts on this or alternatives welcome. A related question came up a few months ago about possible ways of stiffening a bonnet. If sticky lead tape exists it sounds worth trying. Gluing some aluminium strip or channel would be another possibility. Can you identify the mode of vibration to work out which axis should be stiffened? Might be worth filming it and watching in slow motion. Jonathan

And now three times. Is the problem that you can't see your original post in the "New and Updated" page? It disappears because the system thinks you've read it. Have a look at the "TechTalk" page: they're all there. :-) Jonathan

You've posted this twice: we've probably all done that. How about changing the Subject of this thread to "Ignore" or similar. You can edit the original post to do that. Then you'll get all the responses in one (the other) thread. Jonathan

Welcome. I bought my replacement straps from Caterham. Lots in the archives on replacing front discs. I'll see if there's a Guide. Jonathan

I use prediluted Comma XStream G30 in my K series. The last time I looked the cheapest source was Amazon UK. What's the factory recommendation for your Duratec? I think it's: Anti-freeze The anti-freeze content of the coolant must be maintained all the year round. Caterham use Comma X-stream Red and Ford Superplus premium (ready mixed), however, if a water/antifreeze mix is substituted for any reason a minimum of 50% antifreeze is required. To ensure that its anti-corrosion properties are retained, the anti-freeze content should be checked by Caterham Aftersales once a year. The coolant should be completely renewed every four years. That Comma product is the same thing. There have been some failures of plastic bleeding T-pieces. All of them in factory components fitted to Sigmas IIRC. Some Members recommend brass because of that. Jonathan PS: How many posts before somebody raises... ?