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4726

Omega General Help / Re: Auto gearbox help

« on: 07 March 2014, 21:34:23 »

An extra oil cooler is decidedly worth fitting, but where?
I had a Kenlowe unit on my old Carlton and was going to fit it to my previous 2.5 auto, but there was no room, and even less so on my present 2.6 auto with aircon! No available space in the airstream to fit it and I no longer tow my caravan, so I didn't try too hard to fit it anyway.
Maybe other caravanners can help you find a suitable space?
Um, I've just read which Omega you have - there should be lots of room there. I used extra pipes from the Kenlowe unit so that the ATF didn't use the pipe in the bottom of the radiator but served the cooler alone and used some spare pipe to blank off the radiator connections, but I doubt if that was necessary.

Ron.

4727

General Discussion Area / Plumbing help, please, my immersion heater has used up all my swear words!

« on: 05 March 2014, 15:57:18 »

It all started when the hot water ran cold. On testing, I found the thermostat to be faulty - great, I thought, an easy job and fairly cheap.
Ok, stat fitted, water heats, but only enough for half a bath before the water ran cold.
I took the cover off the immersion to check the temperature setting and found it was half full of water!!!
Switched off immediately and saw that it was coming up from the thermostat tube in the immersion.
First question; why should this be, when it had been perfectly dry up until then? Ho sign of corrosion on the old stat.
With the gate valve closed and some clear plastic tubing over the stat tube, water rises in the plastic to the level of the top copper pipe. Does this mean that the tank is full to this level and opening the bathroom and kitchen taps was not sufficient to lower the tank water level more than this?
So I DO need a new immersion heater after all, and now begins the swearing.......
I Googled ways to undo the old one without damage to the tank and got conflicting recommendations.
I have tried using a spanner made from a hexagon stamped out of thick steel, but it didn't fit my immersion hexagon very well and kept slipping off, so I plan to get one of those box spanner types, which surely must be better?
Google suggests playing a blowtorch on the immersion hexagon, but the idea frightens me - what do you think, any methods known to work?
Sorry for the length of this post, gents (and ladies?), but I want/need a bath soon!!!

Ron.

4728

Omega General Help / Re: Steamed up windows

« on: 05 March 2014, 15:39:32 »

Thank you, Monsieur Guffer, I nearly fell off my chair laughing!   

Ron.

4729

General Discussion Area / Re: TV Mount recommendations

« on: 05 March 2014, 11:46:18 »

Troy brackets are brilliant - stylish and strong, they are easy to position and stay put! They adjust in all planes, including tilt.....

www.troyinnovations.co.uk

Also
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/201037718324?hlpht=true&ops=true&viphx=1&lpid=95&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=95

Ron.

4730

Omega General Help / Re: Antifreeze question.

« on: 05 March 2014, 11:16:03 »

Many thanks to all who answered; now I don't feel so stupid for asking! I WAS going to add some pikey blue concentrate from Poundworld, but thought I'd check before doing so and I'm glad I did - thanks again, gents.

Ron.

4731

Omega General Help / Re: Antifreeze question.

« on: 05 March 2014, 06:50:45 »

Thanks, sjr, for your comprehensive answer.
The product you linked me to is the one that I used (special offer from ECP of 3 for £20!), but it is ready-mixed and I wanted a concentrate to boost the protection level.
The label just says glycol, with no mention of OAT; must it be that formulation just because it is red?

Ron.

4732

Omega General Help / Antifreeze question.

« on: 04 March 2014, 22:18:28 »

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but I am wondering if it's ok to top up what is mainly RED antifreeze (from Eurocarparts) with BLUE antifreeze? Both are glycol-based.
The main reason why I want to do this is that the red stuff was ready-mixed and is just about concentrated enough now winter is nearly (?) over and the blue stuff is concentrated, so if they mix, I plan to remove some of the red and add blue.

Ron.

4733

General Discussion Area / Re: Ships Horn !

« on: 04 March 2014, 16:57:50 »

Andy, you just beat me to it! I've replaced all of my Portsmouth valves with Fluidmaster units, not only in the bog but in the tanks (storage and CH top-up); they fill quickly and quietly.

Ron.

4734

General Discussion Area / Re: 40mph on single carriageway roads to become the norm?

« on: 01 March 2014, 12:40:00 »

I agree, Kevin - a lifetime's licence for a 17-year-old who behaves himself just long enough to pass the test, then goes and buys a hot hatch - a recipe for disaster!
Even when he grows up, if he lives long enough to do so, there are no further checks on him.
I'd be happy to see regular re-tests at, say, 5 year intervals and of sufficient duration to show the real behaviour of the testee.
Yes, Mr. Cameron, you CAN afford it, out of the $50,000,000,000 you steal from us each year, giving us back only 10%!

Ron.

4735

General Discussion Area / Re: 40mph on single carriageway roads to become the norm?

« on: 01 March 2014, 11:44:41 »

Is it not ridiculous that in any other form of transport, speed is lauded as a great way to save time and money, yet as soon as speed is mentioned in connection with motoring, it becomes an emotive issue?
Where is the logic when vehicles have become safer and more capable and yet speed limits have progressively been reduced?
The true speed limitation seems to be the appalling state of the roads!
In the article it stares "a reduction to 40mph should also be considered where there is "substantial development" or where there are "a considerable number" of horse-riders, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.": if there were a serious intent to reduce accidents, maybe we should consider horse riders and cyclists inappropriate on most of today's roads and traffic conditions?

Ron.

4736

Omega General Help / Re: Quick dumb question before I kill myself under a Car.

« on: 28 February 2014, 22:55:08 »

Understood!
The thought occurred because I had a neighbour once who regularly serviced anything on the underside of his citroen 2Cv - I know, light as a feather - on its side, not upside down, resting on a few old tyres so as not to damage the fantastic bodywork!

Ron.

4737

Omega General Help / Re: Quick dumb question before I kill myself under a Car.

« on: 28 February 2014, 22:35:09 »

Here's a dumb suggestion?
If you have already removed lots of items, maybe the car is now light enough to roll it onto its side, onto some old tyres or whatever, and safely have access?

Ron.

4738

General Car Chat / Re: Battery Charging ?

« on: 28 February 2014, 21:35:35 »

I concur, Andy, and would just like to add a couple of additional points.
Charge efficiency can be up to 95% for standard lead-acid batteries, but as low as 70% for gel types, so be prepared for even longer charging times if you have that type.
Also, with standard types you can see when full charge has been reached by the gassing of the electrolyte, if it's an old-fashioned one with removable caps to the cells.
It is bad news to continue charging when the gas stage has been reached, so either then drop the charging voltage back down to around 13.8 volts (14.8 - 15 volts to gas stage) or get a clever charger that does it automatically.
Halfrauds do one, but you MUST disconnect the battery completely with that, because it uses pulse charging, which would upset the car's electronics.

I hope that helps; battery charging can be a lifetime study!

Ron.

4739

General Car Chat / Re: 1948 Indian Chief motorcycle comes back to life after 40 years

« on: 28 February 2014, 18:38:05 »

Was that really the first time it had been started up in 40 years? Incredible, and it sounds vastly superior to those Hardly Drivable tractors!

Ron.

4740

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: Switched ign supply

« on: 28 February 2014, 16:39:40 »

The cigar lighter socket in the console is ignition-switched; any good?
I'm interested in how you got the TrafficMaster button out.....

Ron.