Paul Richards

Gavel

As Tim says - start by making sure the gear lever is clean and not stiff.

Is there a grating noise as you engage reverse? If so, you might also want to check that the clutch is working properly. The cable may need a little adjustment to ensure the clutch fully disengages when you depress the pedal. For some reason, this manifests itself most on reverse gear.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Bricol

Not a big job. You may need a halfshaft puller to remove halfshafts (I have one you can borrow).

The bearing is held on by a collar. I normally cut off collar using an angle grinder. Bearing should then remove fairly easily. New bearing is easily put in place, but you need to heat up the new retaining collar before putting in place. I normally also add a couple of tack welds to make sure the collar doesn't move.

I don't think you're too far away. If you're struggling, I can replace bearing whilst you wait.

LADS top tip:-

When replacing halfshafts smear a little silicon sealant in the end of the axle where the bearing sits - it will seal and stop diff oil contaminating brakes.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Edited by - Paul Richards on 12 Jun 2008 08:54:00

Good post.

I'm sure a number of 7s will benefit from a little grease on the gear lever. It's certainly good advice to check this before you start taking gearboxes out for refurb.

In my 5 speed the gear lever is a standard Ford part (pressed metal with a plastic bearing). I came across a gear lever with a nice spherical bearing and a nice cast part. Is this the standard part used on a 6 speed box?

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Rebag - much better than an E bag . I wish this had been available 2 months ago before I bought mine for £120.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

If you're like me 6ft tall and 16 stone, then you may not fit in a tillet. I don't!!!

My leather seats had had some hard use and in addition to losing the padding around the metal tubes, the plastic backs were also breaking. I packed them up and sent them off to Oxted, who refurbished them in double quick time. left me on Monday and back completed on Friday - Excellent service. Just completed a 2,700 mile trip round Pyrenees and across France and no back problems. My wife does however find benefit from a small (inch thick) foam cushion in the small of her back.

Stick with leather and get them refurbished.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Live axle - A frame bush is favourite. Needs fairly regularly changing on a live axle.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

I've got a "Woodvale Rally 2nd & 3rd August" going spare - see here

Little use - only just over 100 views since April.

Reason for disposal - I changed to a blank Thread Title and have now upgraded to "DON'T LOOK HERE'

It's yours for a small donation to NTL.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Hello to the crossflow driver with the cowboy style hat (and the passenger with the Audrey Hepburn style scarf) who briefly joined our convoy in the Lyon district on Thursday 22.5.08 as we made our way through France after our travels through Spain and the Pyrenees.

You looked excited to see 3 other Caterhams in France. A pity we never got the opportunity to stop for a chat.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Edited by - Paul Richards on 25 May 2008 22:39:06

Opposite Lock

I've often wondered about that and recently discovered that it's a bracket used to support a rear exit exhaust. Not now fitted to later cars.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Thanks SM25T

Just what I wanted.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Some of the LADS are off to the Pyrenees in a couple of weeks time. We need to mask off the headlights for travel on the Continent. Anybody got a template for what we need to do with our black insulation tape?

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

I can post

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

If it is the click of death, a new starter, battery and master switch won't cure it. If it is happening when the engine is hot then it could be the click of death and a relay is the way to cure it. It could also be a poor earth or contact somewhere.

To find out if a relay is the cure, I suggest making a wire about 1 metre long with a male lucar connector at one end and a female lucar connector at the other. Remove the lead from the starter and put this long lead in as a kind of extension.

Next time it fails to start, you can unfasten the lead and touch it to the positive terminal of the battery. This will send current direct to the starter. If it is successful, then fit a relay.

You could of course fit a relay anyway - it will cost less than £10 and take about 30 minutes. Blatmail me if you want details.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

If I get wheelspin in 4th gear I'd be too busy to look at the speedo.

I'd also be too busy to look at a speedo reading 'o' if I was at speed with front wheels locked.

Advantage of fixing to drive shaft is that everything is neat and out of sight.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

I've tried various methods of attaching the magnet, but in my experience the best solution is to araldite the magnet to the drive shaft (De dion cars only) and fix pickup to a bracket on diff. Wires then all hidden in transmission tunnel etc. I've run this for 4 years now and no problems.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Not sure that the starter relay mod will cure your problem, but it's not a difficult or costly job and it will do no harm. If you want details of how to do it, send me a blatmail.

As Steve suggests, it could be a poor connection. I suggest cleaning all the battery and earth leads including those to the battery isolator (FIA) switch if you have one fitted.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

If it's the dreaded click, then a new starter won't be the cure. Relay mod is the answer.

What are the symptoms? Is engine turning over? Is it turning over quickly enough? Does it fire?

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

As I recall the pencil contact shoud be in touch with the contact ring all the time. It sounds as though the problem is with the horn push. I know I've taken them apart, but can't remember how it's done.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

If the axle isn't solid you lose much of the force of the slide hammer. Removal relies very much on the initial "shock" to free the bearing. I suggest you reconnect the A frame to get best chance.

I used to remove Ford halfshafts on a regular basis and some can be really stuck. I made up a slide hammer using an old halfshaft with a cortina hub as the weight. It proved very effective when many proprietary pullers weren't. You'd be welcome to borrow, but It's a bit too heavy to post.

LADS Top Tip:-

When you replace the halfshafts smear some silicone sealant in the corner of the axle where the bearing sits. This will stop diff oil leaking past the bearing and onto the brakes.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

I stand corrected. Not a part of the car I've had any experience of.

By the way I have rivnuts as well as gun. I can replenish stocks at Stoneleigh.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Hi Nick

Sorry I can't offer any advice, but just to let you know I'm the custodian of the LADS rivnut gun should you need it.

Edited to say :-

Is this not the fuel guage sender on the right of the tank? Is the fuel pump not on the rear bulkhead

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

Edited by - Paul Richards on 16 Mar 2008 19:20:44

Paul B.

No problem with pics. I've dropped you a blatmail asking for a reply so that I will have your e-mail address to do it.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

John

My seat belt bolts (like most) just go straight through the boot cover with no eyelets. Sounds like yours is an improvement over normal. Castlecroft definitely do them. They come in 2 pieces and crimp to make an eyelet that you would use on a ground sheet or similar.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

LADS Top Tip:-

I keep the jack, spares bulbs, tow rope and a few other bits and pieces in the jack bag which I bungee strap to the chassis behind the radiator. I also cable tie spare clutch and throttle cables to the diagonal cross member under the plenum.

I have a sandwich box with tools located in an aluminium box just in front of the heater. Makes plenty of boot space and behind seat space for other essentials needed on long tours.

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional

When you say eyelets, do you mean the little brass things that allow the top of the shocker on a live axle car to poke through?

You could try a camping shop. Whereabouts are you? There is Castlecroft Camping - Eaton Hill Road, Radcliffe - I'm sure they've got something. Or, you could try Winfields at Haslingden

Paul Richards

Area Representative - L.A.D.S. (Lancashire and District Sevens)

LADS Website

Growing old is compulsory - Growing up is optional