a new recruit!

Post by **tonym911** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:01 pm

The 13-year-old in our family has been strangely affected by the recent arrival of our Moggy. He'd been muttering stuff like 'can we work on the Morris this weekend', so on Sunday I invited him to help me replace the speedo cable. Couldn't believe how well he got stuck into it, and how relatively easy it all was. We were scrabbling about under the car, admiring its condition, chatting about what bit did what, wondering what that disconnected wire might have done when it was joined up etc. The cable fitted a treat, no probs at all really. After we'd finished screwing the cardboard glovebox inners back in (or not!) we had a manly bonding session and a nice cup of tea, then fired up the car and went for a test run. It worked! Smooth as silk, no more wobbling needle. Much smiling ensued. The boy loved it and I was proud.

And then I wondered if I was supposed to lubricate the cable before we put it on…

Post by **les** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:11 pm

Sounds like team work to me! When I did this job, I pulled the inner cable out and wiped a thin film of grease over it and slid it back in. Thin film mind you. This was a used cable, if yours was new I'd say it was ok.

Post by **tonym911** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:43 pm

Thanks Les, I was praying somebody would say that! It was a new cable. The old one seemed pretty well lubricated, but that was probably more due to its proximity to the gearbox, ahem.

Post by **Dean** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:54 pm

My dad has been helping me do my moggy. The quality time we spend together working as a team is time that will always be cherished. Well done.

Post by **les** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:43 pm

Actually, if you ever needed to remove the inner cable you only need to disconnect the speedo end and pull it out. to put it back just requires a 'twisting' motion when nearly home, to help it enter the gearbox.

Post by **Peetee** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:13 pm

Nice story.

I'm thinking along these lines for my two boys. It would be great to have the space to give them a project to do in a couple of years time. Would be so much more constructive than a 24/7 gamefest and probably no more expensive. Plus there's something undeniably satifying and tangible about it (even when you've had a c**p day at it) that no amount of sophisticated combinations of one's and zero's will ever create.

Post by **d_harris** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:16 pm

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Well, I had fun

Not sure how well it would work on xbox

Seriously though, its great when the generations work together on a project

Post by **tonym911** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:21 pm

I was amazed by how well my boy got stuck into it. He'd got the cable out the back of the speedo almost before I'd scrabbled out from underneath the car after connecting it to the gearbox. He told me later that it had been quite loosely attached there, which probably explained the wobbly needle and maybe the cable didn't even need replacing, just fastening properly. But by the time we'd got that far it seemed crazy not to fit our new £5 cable. And he was enjoying it so much. A simple but very pleasing experience which I hope to repeat many more times with different little jobs on the weekends. Issigonis was a genius in more ways than one.

Post by **Matt** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:25 pm

Oi Dan... edit your post so we dont have to scroll half way across the world would you?

Post by **d_harris** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:27 pm

nope

Post by **tonym911** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:29 pm

I was just keeping my head down because I thought I'd done that somehow!

Post by **Jefftav** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:53 am

Although I didn't really appreciate it at the time, being able to work on and occasionally fix a car was one of the best skills my Dad & Grandpa taught me. Over the years it has got me home without waiting to be towed, saved me a fortune although I must have spent a fortune and kept me out of trouble. Well done you and now the lighter nights are here find more jobs to do and let him learn.

Post by **tonym911** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:04 am

No problem finding jobs to do! Next one is to stick the boot lid rubber in properly, put the original steering wheel back on and slap some more Waxoyl on some exposed chassis bits - that last one being a perfect job for a 13 year old I'd say.

Post by **Jefftav** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:18 am

Absolutely - your wife is also less likley to ball him out for going in covered in waxoyl, especially when you explain you are teaching him a life skill!!

Post by **tonym911** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:22 am

I hadn't thought of that! Another example of Issigoni's genius! Wonder if he had any inkling that he was going to help shape future generations in this way.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:14 am

And then I wondered if I was supposed to lubricate the cable before we put it on…

I've always used a thin film of grease - running moving parts 'dry' is never a good idea

I'm only repeating what's been said but you can get the cable from the top.
If you get some EP 90 into an oil can you can persuade some down the outer sheathing. Then grease the inner and wind it back into place.

I used to like breaking things - then my dad taught me how to take them apart. We never had new bikes like everyone else - we had to have second hand ones and strip them and do them up (together - and then on my own when I was older). At the time I figured it was just to save money but later in life I realised that probably wasn't the main reason.
I graduated via petrol lawnmowers (good fun to strip) to motorbikes - having about 4 or 5 and even made a good restoration of an FS1E.
Then I got my first Minor (at 17) - immediately followed by my first (and last) rip off job done by a garage. 20 years later and there's absolutely nothing I won't tackle DIY

My latest skill is learning how to pull out accident damage on cars. This started with an ebay Merc and the practise came in very useful when I shortened my Astra last week!

As for your 13 year old - my only tip is to start thinking of getting him good tools as presents (These were my most cherished items) and think out of the box when it comes to practical projects. One of my favourite passtimes at 16 was using a hand me down wood turning lathe...

Post by **Matt** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:51 am

Your doing well accident wise at the moment arnt you ray?

Im a bit like Ray really... but I started getting into fixing things (rather than just taking them apart) at 17 when Dad suggested getting a minor to learn to drive in. Shortly after that I got an Austin Healy sprite to restore and I havent finished it yet! (7 years so far but its in primer!)

Post by **tonym911** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:23 pm

I'm not psychologically set up for long term restorations, bought a 1980 Kawasaki Z200 bike last April, 90% restored, a brown version of my first ever bike. Have done absolutely nothing with it I'm sorry to say. I tend to look at things 'all of a piece' and can't compartmentalise work into manageable chunks. It's on ebay at the moment, exactly as I bought it. Oh the shame. Great idea about tools for presents though Ray. What do people consider to be the most useful tool in the box? The one they'd have above all others, for lasting and regular use?

Post by **Rasputin** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:31 pm

A BIG HAMMER!!!

Post by **superchargedfool** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:33 pm

Hammer.

No seriously, I look forward to father son time like that when my 4 year old is older. Not all kids get that sort of time with their parents and it is free and priceless.

As for tools: quality spanners (fit better and are thinner), quality 6 point sockets (again thinner and fit better).

Buy cheap buy twice. I am not saying buy Snap On thats overkill, but Bergen, Signet, are 2 good cheaper brands.