Today I mostly .....

[Hannesb]

Hi Hoodoo

Didn't go as far down as the head itself, only the cams. The current head, valves, etc. have always seemed OK (although I have a gorgeous Stage2 head now that is just begging to be sorted out).

I'm sure I accidentally disconnected/moved/un-adjusted something while I was putting it all back together. Just tore my heart out when it wouldn't start after everything I've done... I must have taken the cambelt off and fiddled the timing of all the related components a dozen times, read the manual from front to back to front more times than I have fingers to count on; I KNOW that everything is physically lined up correctly now. I am very scared of things being incorrectly set up and parts smashing into one another.

When I changed to the twin carbs I had to advance the timing by quite a lot to get it to run smoothly; I've assumed that it was because of the very mangled exhaust cam. Now that I have good cams with the correct clearances I probably need to retard it back to somewhere near standard to get it to run.

"Ivan The Unpredictable" lives up to his name!

Regards
Hannesb

PS: ? GvidoR ?

[Hannesb]

Hi GB

Shouldn't be out that far. I hope. Is there an easy way to check?

I lined the crank pulley mark up with the bolt that holds the oil pump pulley on, the oil pump pulley timing mark with the cambelt tensioner bolt (34 degrees?), and the two cams with the index marks on the carriers. I will admit to not checking TDC on cylinder 1 and 4, but I kind of assume that the whole thing would have smashed itself to bits if I was out by 180 degrees on the cams. Valves and pistons (like werewolves and vampires) cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

Oh, I didn't remove the distributer itself at any point, only the cap and I'm sure the HT leads are all on correctly. Is there another way I could have got it out by half a revolution? I have mentioned before that I know little or nothing worth repeating when it comes to four strokes. Book-knowledge will never match experience in the real world...

Regards
Hannesb

[GvidoR]

PS: ? GvidoR ?

Oh sorry, that was just a random post about my own car.

[excossack]

Today I did an oil & filter change on the wife's focus, then moved onto the Landy.
Emptied out the kit from the three days WRC radio marshalling.
Changed the air and fuel filter after 7224 miles of use or nearly 12months
Did some plastering but ran out of plaster.
Cleaned down the fishing rods, rod rest.

[Hannesb]

Hi GB

OK, I'm listening. How/what/where? Could you please elaborate a bit? I think I know what you mean, but I'm not sure I quite follow.

Regards
Hannesb

[Hannesb]

Ah, thanks GB! I see what you are saying, and I bet you are right too. In all my manual cranking the engine over to measure the valve clearances and make sure that everything was timed correctly I totally forgot about checking the actual ignition timing and the positions of the pistons.

I owe you another virtual beer (but only if you are right...)

[Hannesb]

Owe GB another beer...

Dizzy was in fact out by 180 (well, a bit less than that actually, but still set to no4 cylinder instead of no1). Took me ages to get it right; I had to take the whole thing out and work out for myself how electronic ignition works before I could actually set it all in the right relationship to one another. Quite simple in the end. Four points on star line up with four pickups, whichever pickup on the cap the rotor points at fires.

In retrospect it was only difficult to get right because the intake manifold for the twin carbs takes up a lot of room.

Regards
Hannesb

[Zelandeth]

Oh I know where the spanner went - I saw it clearly, just didn't have a hope of catching it. Also haven't a hope of ever getting to it without cutting a chunk out of a major structural box section...so it can stay there!

[Hannesb]

Dude, can't I just buy you a beer?

[Hannesb]

Ohhhhh. Sorry, I hope I didn't cause any offence. I am a jerk at the best of times with a penchant for the insensitive and a flair for foot-in-mouth action...

Thank you for the help again; I refuse to outlive you anyway, so you can spread your own bloody good advice and knowledge amongst the people.

Regards
Hannesb

[excossack]

Yesterday, in work. 4 hours on a Webex session with a consultant - having an empty office and a speaker phone really helped.
When I got home, I did some plastering (after visiting B&Q to collect the plaster)*

Today, shopping and a visit to the Food Market that has a landed in Liverpool's shopping area. Plenty of choice (Spanish, German, Indian, Chinese)

* The visit to B&Q went OK. I found the plaster I wanted and while there I decided to look for a CAT5 socket....So off I trotted to the aisle, and found what I though was the right section (networking mentioned on the sign)...Couldn't find what I wanted so asked the B&Q chap.
Me - Do you sell chrome CAT 5 socket face plates with one socket?
B&Q - *confused* Cat 5 sockets?
Me - Yeah CAT5 sockets as used in computer networking
B&Q - Do they have 5 sockets?
Me - No... Maybe otherwise know as RJ45 sockets?
B&Q - errrrr I dont think we do....nope,sorry no idea...
Me - Ok, I will leave it for now.

[excossack]

I thought I'd seen them in there....No matter Ebay is my friend and cheaper that B&Q.
The chap didn't have a clue!

[nitro_warrior]

Has it been 5 years?

[RobbyD]

no offense intended, but Guinness is technically a meal

[happiness stan]

Seconded, it must be a good five years over here too