Recent posts

#1

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Stuck Pot Joints

Last post by tmsmini - April 19, 2024, 04:32:51 PM

Whole joint both sides, just enough space. I did not do it, I had Nick at Boot to Bonnet do it.

#2

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Stuck Pot Joints

Last post by MiniDave - April 19, 2024, 12:59:18 PM

So, did you actually cut the whole joint off or just managed to cut the circlip somehow?

#3

Maintenance and Modifications / Re: Stuck Pot Joints

Last post by tmsmini - April 19, 2024, 08:33:32 AM

A little surgery with a disc resolved the issue. I knew better than to use the circlip that came with them, but I could not find my clips, so I went ahead. If you can bend them easily by hand, they are not fit for the purpose.

#4

Maintenance and Modifications / 4 Pot brakes and other issues

Last post by tmsmini - April 19, 2024, 07:50:02 AM

These brakes are going to kill me. I knew there could be issues with wheels fitting over them, but I went for them anyway...albeit used

Some of the parts that came with them needed replacing, bleed screws, bolts washers etc. So I ordered the correct parts after verifying with MiniSpares via email. The bleed screws were still incorrect and not the correct M10 version. Sorted that out with Simon at MS. Checked fitment with hubs off the car on a spare set of John Brown Wheels alloy Cooper replicas. Tested all four wheels torqued with both hubs and removed the ridge on the calipers as needed to fit all four wheels. I knew the weights would need to go on the outside, but not a problem for me, although they have not been balanced yet.

Get everything back together and the slightly older set of the same wheels is a very slightly different casting and won't fit without more "adjustment ".

Gotta love Minis and Mini suppliers

#5

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by Brit_in_TX - April 17, 2024, 09:44:38 AM

I've only driven one or two cars with mirrors up on the wings like that and  I could not get used to them!

The Woody has mirrors on the wings, and they are basically useless!

#6

The Lounge / Re: Freon costs

Last post by Brit_in_TX - April 17, 2024, 09:33:08 AM

Agree, it was due to the work that I needed this time that it needed topping up - not a leak.

#7

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by MiniDave - April 17, 2024, 08:07:20 AM

I've only driven one or two cars with mirrors up on the wings like that and  I could not get used to them!

#8

The Lounge / Re: What did you do in your sh...

Last post by Red Riley - April 17, 2024, 05:48:12 AM

So, now that you have everything cleaned out, does it feel any different when braking? Did you reset the balance bar so that the rears are actually doing some of the work?

PS I never noticed the mirror extension before, that's wild!

I haven't messed with the balance bar yet, I figured I'd drive it a bit to give everything a chance to settle in. The rear drums are actually working pretty well, though. I had my wife pump the brakes a few times while it was still on the jack stands after I bled everything, and it was locking up nice on the drums. It does feel different. There's a decent amount of pedal travel now, not engaging at the top of the pedal like it was doing.
Yes, those are original Desmo towing extensions. They actually make the wing mirrors functional. I can use them to back up the trailer.

#9

Daves Garage / Re: 73 Mini Innocenti 1300 Exp...

Last post by MiniDave - April 16, 2024, 12:49:11 PM

Update - I sent the fuel sender and gauge off to a guy in LA that was recommended by Kent Prather, it sat for a while and after about 10 days I finally called and asked what was up. I got to talk to "the guy" himself and he said he had it working perfectly and it would go out to me in a day. It took another week for it to come back from California and when it got here - well, I was puzzled. It arrived on a Thursday and I didn't unpack it till Friday, when I did it was too late to call them till Monday'

What caused the consternation was the needle was stuck on "F" instead of resting below "E" where it should have been. When I finally reached him on Tuesday he said it was fine, and sent me a video of it working to prove his point. He said all I needed to do was apply voltage and it would reset. I was skeptical but wired it up to a battery on the bench and I'll be damned if it didn't do exactly as he said.

So, I finally have a fuel gauge and sender that work, so now I can put them all back in recheck that everything electrical is working correctly, reinstall the dash - which is a significant project all on its own - and finish up the little bits and bobs to get the car ready to go to the new owner's place.

Before and after pics - with it wired up correctly the needle went right back to E, and when I moved the sender arm it moved exactly as it should. Oh and it turned out that the wiring schematic I was using had it wired wrong. The gauge guy gave me the correct way to wire it.

#10

The Lounge / Re: Freon costs

Last post by MiniDave - April 16, 2024, 12:28:30 PM

If I had to add Freon every year I'd be seriously looking to find the leak - that's a spendy service call when you add in labor and trip costs - to have to do it every year. Like I said, I haven't added any in 10 years or so, so it's not unexpected that I might need a top off.