1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

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jagnut66
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by jagnut66 »

Regarding silicone brake fluid bleeding, you may already know this but in case you don't, once you've bled them through, as best you can, you need drop the front end back onto its wheels and leave the rear end up in the air on axle stands over night.
This will allow any remaining air in the system to travel to the furthest point (NSR brake).
Then sometime the following day bleed them again, before you lower the rear end back down.
This should ensure you get all the air out of the system.
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Thank you very much for that tip. I knew they could be more difficult to bleed when using silicone but I did not know about leaving the back end up.
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Xavier was collected today for repairs that I cannot do. When I next see him I hope he'll be ready to zoom about (at a sedate pace) again!

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1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
myoldjalopy
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by myoldjalopy »

Oh dear, its always worrying when they have to go into hospital. I hope he's gonna be OK, I'm sure he will! :wink:
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Thank you. Yes I am worried. My baby gone! Finger's crossed.......
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
myoldjalopy
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by myoldjalopy »

What sort of operation is he having?
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Inspection of interior of box sections; replacement of brake master cylinder, investigation of awful noise between engine and gearbox, sorting of crankshaft rear oil seal leak; diff leak, half-shaft leaks; a bit of bodywork; new carpets; new fuel tank (leaking); new hard line from fuel tank (blocked); complete set of new tyres; fitting of seatbelts.
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
myoldjalopy
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by myoldjalopy »

Quite a bit then. Fingers crossed that Xavier makes a full recovery and is back home soon...
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Thank you. I will update the thread when Xavier is out of hospital. Might be a while......
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Xavier is running again and will be moving under his own power very shortly.

The awful knocking noise was a broken tooth in the gearbox which had also destroyed the bearings. The gearbox serial number does not match the car's original paperwork so it is already a replacement. A re-built exchange box will be fitted. Had it been the original box I would have wanted that one rebuilt. Whilst the gearbox is out a new clutch, release bearing etc will be fitted.

My own work sorting out the engine breathing (blocked breather pipes and breather "chimney") has stopped the leak at the back of the engine but it now leaks a bit from the front (timing cover). It will have a new duplex timing chain and seals which should sort that.

As this will be a weekend car the brake fluid will be Silicone. The entire braking system is new: pipes, unions, master, slaves, drums, the lot. I had repeated problems with seized cylinders with hygroscopic standard brake fluid.

The tatty bodywork will have to wait until next year when my finances might have recovered......
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
jagnut66
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by jagnut66 »

Soon be time for you to 'use and enjoy' then.
See you at next years National?
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Thank you. Yes I am very excited!
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Xavier is coming home tomorrow! Whilst he was away I completely sorted the garage. Xavier has never lived outside. He has a double duck hood that leaks........
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
ManyMinors
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by ManyMinors »

I'm sure you will be delighted to have your car back home again! My own Convertible has a vinyl hood which has never leaked - and generally lives outside in all weathers.
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Yes it has been marvellous to have the car back. Top down and we've been out 5 times just today!

It has been so long since I have driven the car, or any old car (25 years) that it was a bit of a shock to drive Xavier again. My modern car is an Audi S3 which is both very quick and automatic. Bit of a drastic difference. Within a few minutes it all came back although my gear changes are as yet rather ponderous. The brakes do scare me. They are functioning perfectly but I am so unused to having to use such force on the pedal......I did wonder at one stage whether the brakes did anything at all! We have just been out in the dark top-down in light rain which I rather enjoyed.

There was a stretch of 40mph road in our travels today. We got up to 40mph but I would not have gone any faster........not yet anyway.

I got very cheap fully comp insurance from Adrian Flux (£97 per annum) but it is limited mileage (3,000) and the car must be kept in a locked garage at night when at home. That suits me very well as Xavier has never lived outside anyway.
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

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1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Hmm. My happiness at having the car back is somewhat tempered by discovering it has a significant engine oil leak. This was apparently all fixed. I did not have time to get changed into overalls and diagnose exactly where the oil is coming from. It is visibly dripping oil from the back of the engine. This would suggest rear oil thrower. It did leak from there but stopped when I cleaned out the breathing system and renewed the pipework and PCV to inlet manifold. However, I think it is also leaking oil from the front tappet chest cover (which has the chimney type oil separator pipe attached to it). I also think it is not running that well and sounds rough, needing choke for excessive time. My hypothesis is that this is all linked: the tappet cover gasket is leaking so the crankcase ventilation is not working and that overwhelms the oil thrower so it leaks from there too. The rough running probably caused by fresh air being drawn in through the faulty gasket then via the PCV to inlet manifold and causing a weak mixture hence needing choke.
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
ManyMinors
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by ManyMinors »

Don't be too disheartened. Your car has been out of use for a long time and there are bound to be one or two "teething problems". I have had similar experiences after getting old cars back on the road. I have found that regular use is the best thing for them. Reliability will return once you've got a few things sorted :)
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

Yes you’re right. As one of my wise friends put it “when you get to that age and have had a very long sleep you’re bound to wake up with some aches and pains and maybe a few leaks”.
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
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svenedin
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Re: 1969 Convertible Reawakening XPK 794G

Post by svenedin »

It seems the PCV valve was sticking and causing the oil leaks due to the engine breathing system not working. ESM suggested changing to a breather carburettor but I don’t want to do that because I have 2x spare non-breather carburettors and the PCV valve via the inlet manifold is how my car was originally configured. There was also a non breather oil filler cap on the rocker cover which was incorrect.
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.

Stephen
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