Paddocks and clutches

Jun 08, 2004 18 Replies

Since the gearbox was being taken out for repair I needed to get a new clutch at the same time. I went to the Paddocks website last Thursday but couldn't see my configuration listed - 3.5V8 carb with 4 speed box, so I called them. The lady I spoke to said that it didn't matter as they were all the same, but I wasn't so sure, as I thought that the 4 and 5 speed version would be different, so the lady said she would speak to someone in technical and get get back to me. I pointed out that the need was urgent since the gearbox was due to be out of the vehicle at a garage and the clutch would be needed imminently. No call back. Instead, yesterday (after I sourced a clutch at short notice elsewhere) I get a letter with an invoice/quote for the new clutch. Not much help.



People who were much help are Boxall Landrovers just north of Chichester who took my call yesterday and called this morning to tell me the parts were in.



On a side note, nobody told me how big a clutch is....Don't try and collect a clutch, cover, release bearing and slave cylinder on a Honda Blackbird, even with a large-ish tank bag. The clutch is very heavy and won't fit, instead requiring stuffing down the t-shirt and being held in place whilst travelling 45 miles at motorway speeds with the other bits threatening to exit the tank bag, which won't zip completely round the other bits.



:)


[Snip bit about Paddocks not knowing how to use a telephone]

I called Paddocks last week about a steering box. They said they'd call me back...

... still waiting

(Got one from Adwest in the end).

Many years ago I sold 4 amplifiers (Quad 303s - like a brick). The chap came to collect them on a Yamaha 250, stuffed them in the back box, padded with newspaper. I tried to tell him this was foolish...

... 50 yards down the road, he leaned into the corner and didn't come back up. Paid me a fiver to deliver them :-)

I've done the same with bags of coal from the garage. Stuffed them on the back seat with a cargo net and fell off at the 1st roundabout.

Bet you wish you still had those 303's? I have the 33 preamp and would love a pair of 303's :(

I only sold 4 - I still have 6 :-)

Got them from 'work' as they were deemed to be of no further use.

Never had a tuner or pre-amp though :-(

On or around Tue, 08 Jun 2004 18:04:42 +0100, Mother enlightened us thusly:

how did it compare pricewise? Paddocks are selling adwest ones, ain't they?

how come they had to call back? or is it unclear which one fits a 101?

It's unclear which of anything fits a 101.

Alex

And when you work out which, you are still left with 'how'....

Shedloads cheaper from Adwest (by 50 odd quid sheds),

Possibly, didn't ask.

They didn't have any. They said they could get me one, and that they'd call me back to let me know how much. My 101 isn't really a standard 101 (no 101s had PAS). I simply wanted a standard Disco 4 bolt box - not really that hard I would have thought...

Classic Rangie steering damper does ;-)

Hammer and condom.

If bashing it doesn't sort it...

Want to sell a pair? I had my 33 driving an old Grant Lumley valve amp until one of the cats pee'd on it :(

On or around Tue, 08 Jun 2004 22:17:42 +0100, Mother enlightened us thusly:

hmmm. well, they're advertising adwest. not sure if they do others as well. worth noting that you can deal straight with adwest though. was that an exchange or a new one outright?

And lose a third of my hi-fi???

I'm sure my neighbours would think differently :-)

Adwest remanufacture them - i.e., use the case and put new internal gubbins in. All in came to just over 200 quid - delivered (same day, but that isn't normal and the price wouldn't be any less for overnight...)

They offer a 30 quid rebate if you send the old box back but this isn't mandatory.

They were also a delight to deal with.

After I wrote my post I did a quick surf to Ebay, and you're right. They seem cheaper than they were a while back. I mainly use my old 60's Sugden at the mo.

Blummie, aren't they just!

I'm sorry, but Gaggia can never be a 'hobby'. More a life philosophy ;-)

On or around Wed, 09 Jun 2004 09:08:49 +0100, Mother enlightened us thusly:

excellent. I might need them come MOT-time, new toy has a leaky steering box.

On relection, I wish I'd called them first as it makes sense to get (even a remanufactured) box from the people who made the originals. Also, getting a recon is always a little hit-n-miss as you never know who has rebuilt them, or indeed whether they actually have reconed it

- or just replaced the seals with a cheap non-OEM seal kit.

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