Re: Zel's Fleet Blog...Lada, Citroen, Mercedes, Sinclair & AC Model 70
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2018 8:09 am
Good progress here, keep it up! Regarding the seized wiper rack; it would be a good idea to check whether the wiper spindle is leaking into the Bundy tube - that's the usual reason for a rack to seize. Once the penetrating oil has worked its magic, I would tend to pull the rack out of the Bundy tube (expect the clamp screws on the wheelbox to be seized too), then take a lump of weatherproof grease in your palm and pull the rack through the grease with the other hand, this way, the rack will be protected against further leaks and rust shouldn't become any worse. Where there's only the one wiper, you may be able to remove the rack from the Bundy tube without slackening off the clamp but it's always a good plan to split the clamp if possible, since that way, you'll be able to check and repack the bearing (where one is fitted, not all wheelboxes have such a luxury) with some grease while you're in about at it.
This is shaping up to be one of the best remaining examples of a rare three wheeler, so it's definitely a wise plan to do something about that wiring. Given the number of these that melted by the side of the road back in the day, any step that can be taken to make such a disaster less likely has to be worth taking.
Maybe consider a plumbed in fire extinguisher too? Not cheap, but peace of mind rarely is. The resin used in these was, IIRC, said to be fire retardant but Reliant said the same of theirs and that always burned well enough when the unthinkable happened as it did to owner of a kitten estate that used to belong to me. I hadn't fitted the fuel catch pot that came as standard on later cars, but had relied on the float needle and seat being checked and the fuel pressure regulator/filter being set correctly. Sadly, the next keeper didn't feel the need for such a procedure.
This is shaping up to be one of the best remaining examples of a rare three wheeler, so it's definitely a wise plan to do something about that wiring. Given the number of these that melted by the side of the road back in the day, any step that can be taken to make such a disaster less likely has to be worth taking.
Maybe consider a plumbed in fire extinguisher too? Not cheap, but peace of mind rarely is. The resin used in these was, IIRC, said to be fire retardant but Reliant said the same of theirs and that always burned well enough when the unthinkable happened as it did to owner of a kitten estate that used to belong to me. I hadn't fitted the fuel catch pot that came as standard on later cars, but had relied on the float needle and seat being checked and the fuel pressure regulator/filter being set correctly. Sadly, the next keeper didn't feel the need for such a procedure.