Hi all,
Thought I'd tell you about my weekend. Having been in constant contact with Kay recently over 101 parts, she said I was welcome to go and see her and have a rummage around her garage for parts, how could I resist ;o) I decided that there may be quite a few things I might want and so the only vehicle for the job was the 101. This was my first outing since its MOT, and the first one of more than about ten miles.
However before embarking on the journey (which was meant to be Saturday lunchtime) I thought I'd better change the filler hose so that I could actually get some fuel in the tank rather than the forecourt floor. Well brother and I set about it. Drilled rivets and removed panels, undid pipe and removed it all in record time. That was easy thought I (big mistake). The new pipe had arrived the previous day and much to my relief looked like the right one. So with brother's help we go the pipe onto the filler end. So far Its taken about an hour and a half, including a cuppa. However the other end was an entirely different matter. After an hour of grunting, swearing and grazed arms we had achieved very little. It was at this point that I decided that describing the job as a proper t$%t was a complete understatement. I suggested to Richard that we loosened the tank off to give us more room. The response was "I'll get this b£$%^£d on if it kills me, am not taking that f***ing thing off" (the memory of changing Tommy's tank was still with him). However an hour later, some fairy liquid and mothers hair drier and we had cracked it. Trouble was it was now about 3pm, mission off for today.
Sunday, we got an early start got ourselves organised, girlfriend had made a list of bits, 101 was laden with tools and straps and things. Twelve o'clock and off we go. Well not quite actually. In fact not at all, it was dead. After half an hour of fiddling with this and that it occurred to me that behind the panel I pop riveted back on yesterday, I'd seen a relay. After groping around with a torch in the back I could see said relay and there were three wires off it. Simple I thought, turn the power off, put them back on (no no no no). It looked obvious where they had come off, or so I thought. Turned power on, hissing, smoke, sparks and nasty burning smell. Would appear that I'd just melted the earth off! Emma shot off back to my house for a wiring diagram, whilst I repaired smouldering wires. On Emma's return, looking at the diagram showed me very clearly that I really don't understand electrical diagrams. Then it dawned on me, brothers 101 was in shed. After a quick butchers in the back of that I'd got the job sussed and we were off (now half two).
Journey was pretty uneventful, tazzed along at a reasonable 105km/hr, although it did highlight a few issues.
1) Quite a few significant drafts that need plugging 2) A Radio in a 101 is pretty much pointless. 3)Mirrors that blow in the breeze are a nuisance on the motorway 4)Bumps are bets approached at a gentile pace.Arrived at Brev's farm, where Tommy was and some parts still were. Met Kay and Brev on way out. Off to rob an alternator off Gemma for Matilda (think thats right), "should have said, I've got a spare one" said I (tempting fate again). Anyway its getting dark and Kay gets back (Brev was putting kettle on) and leads us on a magical mystery tour in deepest darkest Northampton. Eventually we arrived at Kay's house. Whilst having a cuppa I mention that I'd like another spare wheel, Brev disappears. Two minutes later he wheels one through the kitchen and leans it against the chair in the living room! Apparently there was a stash in the garden.
We get lead to the garage. Now picture this (I've seen it and struggle to believe it), the door into the back was opened. Complete darkness greeted us. "The striplight broke and I can't reach it" said Kay. After a minute of rummaging Brev comes up with a lead lamp. It suddenly became clear why Kay couldn't reach the strip light, nothing to do with her height, you couldn't physically get near it! The whole garage was stacked floor to ceiling nearly, with stuff! There was a small path through the middle with a pile of tools at the end of it. Brev balanced on one leg atop a cat box with the lead lamp in his had to give enough light ( he did eventually get it to hang from the roof).
Kay began to list the things she had seen in here once, a few of which I was interested in. One of which was in a cupboard under the biggest pile, or so she thought. An hour of moving stuff into the driveway revealed the cupboard, which turned out to be completely empty!! The part we were looking for was then found by the doorway! Well we spent two hours sorting through Kays stuff and found all manner of useful stuff. However I have to say that never in my life have I encountered quite such an inordinate amount of random crap! It was a truly remarkable feat in Kay's behalf. Tents, brake drums, jerry cans, shoes, tin cans (apparently for exhaust repair), paint brushes (glued to tin), toilet, kettle, empty dewalt boxes (but no dewalt tools), tons of strimmer parts (but no strimmer), motorbike spares (she hasn't got a bike), wheels, chairs, empty boxes, clothes, and so on and so on!!!
Well eventually we threw it all back in having piled a load of stuff in the back of the 101 (half of which I never knew I needed). The most random find of the day was a complete set of encyclopaedia Britannica which had been stacked under a toilet! After another cuppa and settling up, we were on our way.
Journey home started well enough, however it soon became apparent that there was something funny going on with the lights, they kept fading. It was at this point I noticed the charging light coming on, and it dawned on me why I had a spare alternator amongst the spares that came with it (sorry Brev, you can't have it)! It did last the journey home though thankfully, including a stop at a Domino's pizza (that turned a few heads).
Arrived back at parents farm at ten o'clock.
I'd just like to thank brother Richard for all his help, and Kay and Brev for their kindness, hospitality and help. It was a very enjoyable Sunday in great company.
Cheers
Graham
PS Sorry about the length of this post. I promise I'll learn to be brief one of these days ;o)