DP1981

Hello, restoration work on my vehicle is almost complete and wouldn't you know it the yard i was going to store it in in London has bee sold to build some flats! Anyone have any offers or leads to a suitably gated spot for rent? Many thanks D

I actually fear filling up my car every week now. I get cold sweats when I think how much it will cost to fill the Saracen when she is ready.

Hi, pretty much the same question as Markheliops. The time has come again and the push is on the get work done Hopefully in the next 2 weeks the sarry will be on it's way to Sammy Clark for some work. If you pm me payment details i'll take one set for sure now. Declan.

oh me me me!... i have phoned my local coach works where i borrowed a chargeing rig from and they said good luck. I'm sure there are some out there in coach works. I'd probably take 3 sets (3 seals a set) pm me the details as and when you have a price idea.

Finally got the gear together to recharge the accumulators. Was met by the sorry sould of bubble bubble bubble from the steering piston as the gas just washed through the line sad days. guess it is time to have the accumulator appart. Any Ideas on seal kits for these? mainly for the piston. Other than steering like a donkey she moves forwards backwards and stops now which is two directions and brakes further than i was.

Some sad photos right there. Probably most have been melted down long since

technically you could also dive an early saracen on a standard car licence also. As it is pre 76 and has 11 seats they count as historical busses which you can drive on a B license with upto 6 passengers. (have yet to see a coppers response to this mind)

Oily, firstly good luck secondly your pictures seem to show much the same as i found in my gearbox. one thing i noticed was a lack of movement in the bands themselves as seen in this video. Any thoughts from the more knowledgable out there? http://youtu.be/N732ENGhIsU

hmmm will swing with popular thinking and take it out and heat it up. Any ideas on how much bannisters charge for them?

I cleaned around the plug so it was dry and turned the engine till i could see the opposing plug and have left her like that i'll check on it in a few days and see if there is any signs of leakage then i'll run the engine up and see if she blows/leaks with some pressure. I'll change it she does leak.

Gear box and transfer box take different fluid types. here is the results of many threads read anc collated i will put some useful links to materials i based this on. Much of it comes from Richard or Clive. The gearbox takes OMD70-85 (different manuals give different oils) which in civvi money is SAE30 or 10w/30 is a suitable replacement. SAE30 is also used in the engine,air filters and pumps. The Transfer box takes OEP220. EP80W/90 transition fluid, also used in the bevel boxes, tracta joint housing and hubs. The Fluid Fly Wheel coupling takes OM13 or any ISO15 hydraulic fluid, i have also read of OM10 being used and i suspect it is what is in my ffw. The same fluid can be used in the braking/steering system also. Yay i think i was helpful. also PM sent.

Victory! FFW plug removed and level checked. Filled the gap between the ffw and bell housing with rag as much as i could get in there and still access the plug (overkill to be safe) then using a 1" socket on an extended bar i loosened the plug slowly 1/4 turn at a time untill it was twistable by finger. i could not get a box spanner in there the angle was all wrong. Then using a bit of gash 3mm rod in the threaded hole and my fingers to hold it together i removed the plug and washer safely away from the ffw and housing. I was rewarded by the ffw being full tot he filler with nice bright fluid yay i stifled a dance of joy lest i knock something over. The copper washer looked fine so i left it on the plug and re fitted it withthe same care as it came out. I am a happy boy.

I'm fancying my luck with a box spanner and some threaded rod. I forgot to take calipers to measure the cap tho so it could be 1.1/4 but may be smaller. Many many pics of the FFW change and good luck. I'm having nightmares of brake band changes in my future.

Ok so the weather is warming up and i have some time on my hands to get into and start tinkering and checking things. I am the least mechanically savvy person i know, untill i have my hands inside it and can see how something actually works. The Sarry is currently parked on a hard standing at a friends garage where i was hoping to have any work i am not physically/skillfully capable of working out done. (but at £39+vat ph per mechanic it's a last resort) a spare couple of hours and some daylight meant i was able to go have a dig around last night. took the cover off the gearbox had a nosey, anyone spot anything that should not be? every think moves fine and dandy after cycling throught the gears stopping to pump the gcp 10 times in each gear. (read has a fat left leg today) Neutral, note 4th and 5th gear are advanced 7-10mm is this an issue? they return inline with the others when engaged in any other gear. 1st gear 2nd gear 3rd gear 4th gear 5th gear and the last one being the FFW filler, i'm on the hunt today to find all the required bits to successfully remove this and check the level without loosing anything into the housing. 1.1/4 box spanner and a length of stud (5/16 or 3/8? can anyone clarify?) will report back.

I guess that link shows that you can get away with some major works without a workshop but plenty of willpower.

well i think i'm a payday away from finishing everything i can do.

Is argon suitable for charging accumulators? have plenty of it.

it is more of a rythmic ticking/clunk than a rattle it goes away when there is a bit of pressure on the steering wheel. It gets louder as the revs increase. I havent found it in any of the manuals but where does the rev counter get it's feed from i have only been able to chase the feed pipe into the engine bay then it disappears into the depths.

Not yet, festive break and new year happened. I am currently working out finances for the year and seeing what i have free to complete works that are beyond me. She moves and is running sweetly, I'm having grief getting the accumulators charged amd there is a rattle from the hydraulic pump. Other than that i think there will be movement within two months.

So this layout then. I knew i had seen it somewhere but could not for the life of me remember it.

Funnily enough i had the same thought about painting as i was browsing paint cost the other day. Do i preserve history by re-creating something that this vehicle has never done (it sat in a yard most of it's life never saw a day active) or do i leave it as it was re-purposed and fairly well documented for a unique machine. Ok for not entirely sensible reasons but in it's current state it has a story that is reflective of the times *Sigh* hard choices. Next question. Before i go ahead and stamp these markings into the gate is this the correct layout? i have chipped and brushed and chipped but cannot find signs of the original marking.

getting better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY9utrZteZY

Yes it is 'that' saracen. perhaps i should not paint it and bring it to a show and see how long it remains blue before everyone gangs up on it with tins of leftover paint

I have to admit being a little envious, your dash is certainly more manly than the standard:) snow has delayed all parcel post in uk it seems, so no spark plugs or manual for me as yet.

pm inbound also Clive. When you create the PDF you can watermark the file as it's creator also. I might start hosting manuals etc as i collect them online using googledocs or such. thanks Declan.