Just to let you know that there is another Defender 90 on the road - well not quite on the road, my son is just 18, has done the "Pass Plus" but is still struggling with the £1500 for the insurance from Adrian Flux!
But this is just a thank you for the answers to the various questions we've had over the last few months in making one good 19J engine out of two poorly ones.
The reason that we had a lack of compression in the original car can be seen at:
"Dad, I can't get reverse any more", so I ask, "have you touched anything", "no" is the response, "I've just cleaned up the dif lock control so that it moves freely and now locks in the low position".
We go and look at the car. As he correctly says it now won't physically go in reverse. I ask again if he's messed with anything, the answer was no!
So, I suggest we remove the foam etc. in the gear lever area and look at the movement. We get it to pieces apart from the grub screw being slightly loose (which we tighten), there was nothing obvious.
I then notice that the reverse light switch is screwed well in. I ask if he's moved it. He said, "well it was sticking out a long way, so I screwed it in....." Problem solved, I pointed out that by screwing it in he was effectively limiting the movement of the reverse in the gearbox. So, self inflicted, but a lesson learnt.
One last question! We now have the dif lock lever (and linkages) moving freely. The dash light works (I've tried it), but we can't get it to light when dif lock is engaged. Now, I've seen this question before and the answer seems to be that it means that the transfer box doesn't have it engaged, but could it be the switch? Also how easy is it to get the switch out (how reliable are they) and is it the same type as the reversing switch?
Cheers
Peter (Dad) Robert (Son)