megadodo

When I first rebuilt my calipers I didn't change the handbrake mechanism seals as the Haynes manual implied they were hard to do without a special tool to compress a spring in the caliper. When I first got the calipers, one of the handbrake mechanisms was very stiff and needed lots of "work" and WD40 to free it up. On my way back from Newark at the weekend my brake warning light started to flicker as I was losing fluid through said seal!!! I know, I should have done it the first time! Anyway, last night I took the plunge and stripped the caliper, that's the easier bit. There are in fact 2 seals in the handbrake mechanism (didn't see that in the manual) both of which were shot! After a bit of thought I ended up using a valve spring compressor and a 17mm socket to compress the spring in the caliper to the correct position and although getting the cir-clip back in the was a fiddly process with the spring compressor in the way the job is now done. Don't be put off doing all the seals, it's easier than it looks. Caliper needs repainting though! HTH someone else!

Ensure all the multi plugs on the column switches a clean (wd40) and tight. Ensure the earth wire is grounded properly and if that still doesn't help then the bulb holder may be loose or dirty. Given that the switches have a common ground if all other switches are working then it may be more likely to be the bulb and/or bulb holder (but still check the earthing!)

Best of luck for tomorrow!

I used live in 3 bedroom flat in east London and yes 1 spare room was full and there were odds and ends in a cupboard on the balcony. What I don't understand is how when we moved to a 4 bedroom house with extra reception rooms, a double garage & shed is how the hell we still managed to fill every room, garage and shed with stuff?????

I'll need a shed for the mower! There is no room in the existing shed and it's not going in the garage! I wonder if the wife will let me park it in her crafting shed, sorry, "studio"? Oh look, a flock of pigs! I have a "useful junk" pile under a tarp in a quiet corner under some tress, the funny thing is I've never used anything from that pile?! I must be brutal and take it all down the dump!

I have a perfectly good mower, I can mow both front and back lawns in under an hour so there is no need to change. So why have I gone and bought 2 knackered sit on mowers from ebay? So I have something to fix! They are the same make and model and between them I think there is enough parts to make 1 good one. Is this normal behaviour??? According to her indoors I have to rebuild the porch first? Apparently I said I would once the 2B is on the road, I don't remember saying that and the mowers look like more fun, still, she's the boss! And if I want to use my sit on to mow the back lawn I'm going to have to widen the back gate to get it there!!

It's always a superb feeling when the engine starts, especially as I never expect the thing to run even though I have checked and checked again! Well done, now crack on and get the rest done!

They are there to help you pass, within the rules. Be calm, polite, don't argue and smile! Make sure you can prove the age of the engine if it has no cat and if you have a digi speedo can prove it's maximum reading is more than the cars maximum speed. Best of luck!

Gives me a good excuse to get one! I've spun the disc against a fixed point that I set up by each hub but I don't know if that's enough to pick up any run out. I've cleaned the hub and disc mating surfaces, the rear discs are new (it did it with the old discs as well) and the front discs have been skimmed so I think a dial gauge is a must! I'm convinced, when can I get to machine mart?

I've been lucky with the DVLA & VOSA unless only the bad stuff gets dumped on the forum. Just over 3 weeks from posting the IVA form until the car was on the road! Don't worry about the IVA, just read the manual well and build carefully and you'll be fine although the best part of a grand worse off! After the registration number & tax disc arrived on Saturday a quick trip to Halfords procured some new number plates. So far I've been to the garage to fuel up, picked my daughter up from the local stables and been to Newark for some of the day yesterday! General feeling so far, awesome, great fun but I'm still nervous about "hurrying along"! Problems so far: I have had to tighten up the rear springs as my rear subframe has lost some paint! Better now, but I still need a little more stiffness. C spanner out again. Speedometer starts to behave oddly at 69 mph or above and in the last 5 miles yesterday it stopped reading altogether! Reposition the sensor I guess. Under firm braking there is a slight judder. New rear discs, fronts skimmed so I'm not sure what that is? Right rear brake caliper weeping around the handbrake lever seal (not changed when the caliper was overhauled (hindsight is wonderful!)) One coolant blanking pipe jubilee clip needed to be slightly tightened as the joint was slightly damp. Steering wheel slightly off centre! Front N/S wing was loose when I got home, bolts tightened and loctited! And my arse is too big for the seat, hopefully the seat will sag and conform to my rear! Roll on the next trip out once these issues are sorted.

If the weather looks ok I may well pop up to Newark tomorrow! That's if I've not stuffed it into a ditch by then! I'll take it easy today if there is break in the weather!

Well, I can't complain about VOSA or the DVLA! My tax disc arrived in the post this morning. Excellent service, BUI was only only Tuesday! Less than 4 weeks from sending off the IVA paperwork to getting my tax disc, I'm off to get some number plates! Yippee!

You're anti rattle springs are the wrong way round on your rear calipers, otherwise you've done a cracking job there!

After a very frustrating day trying to get the handbrake to work properly on my old BMW (handbrake lever mount was eventually found to have been replaced in the wrong position by previous owner/idiot) with the rear wheels on and off all day, the missus demanded to be taken to asda, something about the lack of food in the house, how picky is that? So I was a bit miffed at having to take all the tools 2 flights back upstairs to the flat and whisk her off to go shopping. Journey of only 3 miles, got there ok but on the way back I hear a funny knocking noise? I wonder aloud what it is to which the missus replies "it sounds like the wheels are falling off" to which I reply "don't be stupid, I've done the nuts up properly" only to discover a few moments later that I hadn't! I hate it when she is right and I'm wrong!

I was returning my hired trailer mid afternoon yesterday after taking my 2B for it's BUI in Peterborough when I was passed by a clean looking 2B on the Papworth bypass. Is it anyone on here and are they local to Cambridge or was it coincidence?

Are you anywhere near Cambridge?

Things can work loose, become corroded over time, gremlins are amazing creatures as well. I have the tool gremlin in my garage, you know, the one that moves the tool from where you left it last. Seriously check those earth points, the power must be there 'cos your repeaters are working. The only other thing it may be is a big multi-plug in the loom somewhere that has come loose but I can't imagine where that would be as it wouldn't be standard in most looms.

You probably need to check your earth points, in all my years of working on car electrics it is by far the most common and "unexpected" cause of circuit failure. Where are the rear lights earthed, is it a good solid chassis ground? Is the main earth for the battery and loom in good order? it is amazing what will work via something it shouldn't giving the impression you have a good earth! Do some multimeter measurements between the battery earth and all the other earthing points.

First Sunday I have my plates, tax and it's not raining I'll be there!

Mine passed yesterday , as long as some part of the headlight is within 40 cm of the outside edge of the front wheel arch you're OK.

I welded the nipple on the cable although a well fluxed joint with plenty of controlled heat should work.

Far too nervous on the way there, wasn't sure what was going to wrong on the way and whether she would pass. The time just flew by. More fun on way home but got caught in the rain which wasn't pleasant! Into a head wind as well, how do motorcyclist do it? My head was being pushed back by my helmet. She does corner well though! Been to the DVLA and have a build up inspection on Tuesday, just need to source a trailer!

Well she passed! I have a MAC document. I needed to change the rear number plate mount from rectangle to square and move it the spare wheel itself. This allowed the correct fog light viewing angle and it covered the sharp wheel edges. A bit of conduit on the brake vacuum pipe where it was near a bracket and a soft trim piece around the upper exhaust mounting bobbin. Well chuffed as they say! Off to find the nearest DVLA!