Can you really fix them on the side of the roadway?

[mikec4193]

Working thru my third Morris Minor project I have yet to drive any of them....

I was I read in several places where guys fixing their cars on the side of the road...

Is that really a thing you do?

What sort of things drop you on the side of the road that you can fix on the side of the road???

Just wondering out loud...

Thanks for all the insight...

MikeC

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My current shop filler at least for another month before she goes to Canada

[Bill_qaz]

Yes if you have 3 things:
1/ diagnostic/repair skills
2/ the right tools
3/ the spare part

Unless it catastrophic failure and then it's recovery time
Personally I don't drive on motorway, so can usually find somewhere safe to pull over if needed and I have 4 way flashers and a plug in flashing beacon. I'm more concerned with being hit by inattentive drivers than be able to repair.

[geoberni]

Standard items are generally Ign related, i.e. Plugs, Points, Condenser, Distributor Cap/Leads, and a Coil.
Then there's the Fuel Pump, while dirty points in the pump can sometimes be encouraged to work by a sharp tap on the pump body, replacement is a quick roadside fix.

Back in the day, that list could be expanded to include the Water Pump and anything else the owner thought was within their skill set.
It all depends on the length of the journey and how isolated it might be.
You're upstate New York, if you were more isolated, as in far from centres of population in somewhere like NV, AZ, NM or further north in the greener states that just swap desert for trees, you might have a greater need for self help.

[svenedin]

Yes. As Bill says, you can't fix something catastrophic at the side of the road but a few examples of things that are commonly fixed (not by any means an exhaustive list):

1) Flat tyre
2) Failed condenser
3) Points (contact breaker issues)
4) Failed ignition coil
5) Fuel pump problems (blocked built-in filter, dirty points or hit with hammer....)
6) Sticking float valve
7) Bad electrical contacts, loose wires
8 Broken throttle return spring, clutch return spring
9) Loose/broken fan belt (resulting in failure to charge)
10) Stuck starter motor
11) Minor coolant leaks
12) Light bulbs

For the more ambitious there have been heroic roadside (or at a campsite) repairs during Minors on Tour:

1) Head gasket
2) Clutch
3) Half shaft
4) Entire gearbox and engine
and many others.....

Of course it goes without saying that safety is paramount. It is highly inadvisable to attempt repairs if broken down in a dangerous position. Far better to call the recovery service and attempt the repair in a safe place.

Stephen

[myoldjalopy]

There are a lot of repairs that can be carried out at the roadside if you have the tools, spare parts and knowledge/experience. Bear in mind that most breakdowns are ignition related, which is why carrying spare ignition components is pretty much vital. Others have listed examples of typical roadside fixes. But sometimes its not possible - as in the case of my broken crankshaft - and therefore good breakdown repair/recovery cover is also pretty much vital.
An old component could fail at any time on these cars, but if the car is serviced and maintained properly with good quality parts, breakdowns are unlikely. The last time I broke down was seven years ago and it was a snapped clutch linkage rod. I tried, but failed, to fix it with some wire I had in the boot and had to call breakdown in the end. Now I carry a spare but doubt I'll ever need it. A spare accelerator cable doesn't take up much room either.
Sometimes, a 'bodge' can be effected to get you home (e.g. tape wound round a split radiator hose).

[59Elva]

A small bag with select wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, tape, clamps, fan belt, and points has saved me several times. I also had an 8 foot length of wire with alligator clips on the ends to jump over dead connections.
Failed distributor points was my most common problem. I had an arching distributor cap one soggy miserable night. It was a crack. Pouring a little motor oil on it got me to a NAPA where I also had to buy a tiny screwdriver to transfer the wires. The hand crank also saved me a couple times when the starter or battery failed.

[King Kenny]

If you have not got a garage...

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[myoldjalopy]

If you have not got a garage...

Excellent! Sights like that used to be common on residential streets several decades ago! Of course, owners worked more on their cars back then.