MiketheBike

Thanks guys...kinda confirms what I thought :-) I guess my tasks over the next couple of minths is to drain and refill all the lubes just so I know where I am starting from...no great hassle and I'll know whats what. I don't think its coming from the top, it appears to be coming from the seal where the shaft runs into it....but thats worth noting for when I wear my shorts in the summer!!

Well...took it out for a 50 mile drive at the weekend, and to work today. What a laugh...now I'm glad I bought it!!! Anyhow.....I know we all start leaking as we get older, and one of my front transfer boxes is no exception. I did not notice any leaks before the weekend, but have now noticed a small leak from the right hand front bevel box...I would say a bit more than a teaspoon, which on an old vehicle sounds fine to me. Is that normal? I am going to clean the floor and check again after a run on Wednesday. Cheers Mick

I resemble that last remark!!!

almost got it nailed! The new diaphram in the ecnomy device made a difference, but I also noticed that the pin in the Altitude device was stuck. Looks like it had been adjusted, and remained pushed down into the carb. Managed to yank it out and clean it up so its moving freely now. Its all running tons better now. Gets up to 40 quite easy on my local roads. Thanks everyone for your help. I'll check out the wheel sizes tomorrow to ensure they are all the same size though. Mick

Chris, bugger! So thats what it is!!! What a wally! It doesn't say anything about that in the haynes manual! Another little snippet from the hmvf boys....looks like I will be spending some time buying the beers at Beltring!!!

I got some hoes from Pirtek after all that. They are mainly used for hydraulics, but they do the job. Also fitted the correct fuel filter and tap, so that fuel starvation caused by the fuel filter out of the equation (priming the fuel pump is a mare....god knows how squaddies with decent forearms ever do it when a shrimp like me struggled!!). I am getting a bit closer (I hope) to my power problem...there was all sorts of sh*t in teh carb, especially in a non-return valve at the bottom of the carb. I replaced the two diaphrams for the accelerator jets. It seems a bit livelier now, but still lacks full on power. Also, the economy device on the side of the carb, from what I can make out provides a fair amount of fuel for full power. The diaphram in that appears to have turned into cardboard, and there was fuel behind the diaphram. I just got a new one and will fit that at the weekend....fingers crossed!

Chris, you are right, moving from forward to reverse is not actually that bad, and seems to have got a lot better now that its idling slower and I have toggled up and down the gears a few more time before starting the engine. Thanks Ian, I'll give it a try. I am getting a bit closer (I hope) to my power problem...there was all sorts of sh*t in teh carb, especially in a non-return valve at the bottom of the carb. I replaced the two diaphrams for the accelerator jets. It seems a bit livelier now, but still lacks full on power. Also, the economy device on the side of the carb, from what I can make out provides a fair amount of fuel for full power. The diaphram in that appears to have turned into cardboard, and there was fuel behind the diaphram. I just got a new one and will fit that at the weekend....fingers crossed! Mick

Well...I think they are good lookers in an ugly sort of way....like that girl at work with the eyebrows....but thats another story

Clive, yes amazing what you can do...did you see those guys at Beltring last year with the fake church....couldn't believe it was styro-foam! mick

went out to get some silicone, saw this and could not resist buying it. Cannot think what I would use it for in my Ferret, but great marketing.

Hi Fred, I have exactly the same problem. I had put it down to the belly being generally oily and just getting washed out when it rains. A little oil goes a long way when it gets on the drive. There are no big drops of oil...just that unsightlly rainbow on the drive. Mick ps...that CD you sent me is great!!

mmm..all good points. That other thread makes interesting reading! I will give it a longer run tomorrow (I did change the plugs today) to see if getting it nice and hot makes any difference. I would assume dropping some redex into the pots and leaving them overnight can only do some good? I am assuming that over a 1 mile stretch I should be getting up above 35mph? Chris, I appreciate your offer of the connectors. I will speak to the guys at Pirtek tomorrow to see what they can do. Cheers Mick

Hi John, it is road speed and engine revs...if you see what I mean. The engine revs freely and can get up to 3K+ revs in 4th, but then it struggles after that. I must admit it seems to be running better now, but not sure what I should expect from it. Maybe I need an experienced ferret driver to drive it and give me their opinion ;-) I have beer and doritos Mick

Thanks Chris....something for the weekend :-)

Chris, I have tried a few places now, and they all plead ignorance (I have been trying hydraulic hose/connector companies...I have even brought the fuel changeover tap with me!) do you have the name of the supplier? Did you use a pipe flaring tool to do the ends of the pipes? Cheers Mick

Vintage 1980 compression tester, displays incorrect pressure is PSI and Bars. All offers considered ;-) Well, the new compression tester shows cylinders 1 thru 5 at 80 psi, and 6 at 90psi Squirting some oil into the cylinders made no difference...exactly the same reading. I changes the plugs, as they were pitch black. I wonder if it does just need a decoke (redex?), or do you think the valves need taking out and bedding back in? I need to get that fuel filter out of there as it is just annoying me now, I cannot connect the fuel line into the normal fuel feed from the tank as there is not enough room with the bend in the fuel line. I am taking it all down to Pirtek tomorrow and they will make me up some fuel lines using the correct fuel filter. Does anyone know what thread these are? I thought they would be BSP, but it has "enots" on the fuel valve, which I have been told is a marine specific connection? Mick

Simon, darn...I just bought two 20 litre drums of multigrade from Costco yesterday (Chevron, £21 for 20 litres!!!). When it stops raining I will retest the compression with my new compression tester, and use the oil trick posted by Richard Mick

Guys, should I be using straight SAE30 instead of multigrade...I have seen stuff on other sites saying multigrade can wear the engine out real quick? Cheers Mick

Thanks guys...I bought another compression tester today...yes that may be cheaper/simpler than removing the head. The last time I used my compression tester was on my Hillman Avenger in 1981, so it may well be duff I will try the oil trick....when I looked at the plugs they were pretty black, so I may get it nice and hot and run it up the road before retrying the compression test.

The fact that the compression is so consistent between cylinders...like its exactly 50psi on each pot.....does that suggest the engine is worn, or that my compression tester is duff?

Oh dear..... Just checked the compression, and all 6 are 50psi :-( I guess having fuel as an engine lubricant has really screwed things up (apparently the fuel pump has been leaking for a year...when I drained the oil out it was like pure petrol). Also, the fuel filter is a small in-line one, and it almost empties when I just sit in the drive and get the revs up to 3000, so I'm guessing under load it will empty and starve the carb? I checked the breather, and the pin inside the safety device was stuck in, so I wd40'ed it and its freed up now. oh dear oh dear oh dear....how do I break it to the missus that I nagged her for 4 years to get one, now I have a duffer! Mick

Jack, to quote someone from indoors: "Another piece of useless cr@p bought from ebay to clutter the house up" I am starting to resign myself to unhealthfullness and the four stages of life: [attachment deleted by admin]

Welcome Alfred...I am also new to this forum (and MV ownership). I hope you find the guys here as freindly and responsive as I have....I wish our IT helpdesk were this helpful!!! Mick

Thanks guys. Yes, I contacted Jollet last week and they quote £153 +vat, which is a bargain really. My brother installed some in his landy a few years ago and has never touched them since. I will try to work up the courage to check out the compression and fuel lines later :-o [attachment deleted by admin]

Hi Andrew, Thanks for the reply. how do you get to the timing weights? I tried to remove the base that carries the points but it seems very tight fit and did not want to force it. I had assumed I just undo the two screws and lift the black base out? Thanks, Mick