Stuff you have fixed today

[droopsnoot]

Fed up with those cigar lighter USB adaptors that get a connection some of the time depending how you wiggle them I bit the bullet and splashed out on some fine chinese produce, the little rectangular panel in the centre console pops out so it was nice and easy to cut the hole, we now have a hard wired illuminated USB socket and the cigar lighter can be used for its designed purpose

A job I need to do on the Audi, so I can have the dash cam and the phone on at the same time. Bought the socket months ago, found a place that's easy to mount it but nicely hidden, it's probably an hour's work, but it's still sitting on the bench somewhere.

 

[Blobber]

A job I need to do on the Audi, so I can have the dash cam and the phone on at the same time. Bought the socket months ago, found a place that's easy to mount it but nicely hidden, it's probably an hour's work, but it's still sitting on the bench somewhere.

Its funny how little things like this make life so much easier, get on and fit it! I wont post any pictures of the phone holder installation as thats a bit below par

 

[droopsnoot]

Its funny how little things like this make life so much easier, get on and fit it! I wont post any pictures of the phone holder installation as thats a bit below par

That's another thing I need to do. Went to Home Bargains, saw a reasonable mounting for £2.99, bought one to test whether it would go in the cars and what type of bracket I'd need to make (windscreen isn't big enough to have stuff like that stuck in it, and suction cup mounts don't last long for me), went back and bought two more so I have one for each car on the road, and they're sitting in the cupboard. At this rate the show season, when I need them most (though mainly for the GPS speedo), will be over.

 

[Keithmac]

A trip down memory lane!, probably 15 years back Piaggio Vespa had a real problem with fuel pumps, must have fitted 30 or more under recall.

Zoom forward 13 years it seems they haven't learnt their lesson..

2021 Vespa GTS with less than 800 miles comes in for none starter when hot (classic fuel pump failure). Luckily it did it when he brought it down for us to check his problem.

Have to take the engine out basically to remove the fuel tank to access the pump hanger assy, bit of a ballache.

New pump was £280 but no stock available in UK, backordering any Piaggio Group part is a waste of time (strung us out for 6 months on a £350 throttle body and we eventually manage to cancel that one).

Managed to source him a decent 2nd hand pump, only option really.

 

[Red'n'Black]

A trip down memory lane!, probably 15 years back Piaggio Vespa had a real problem with fuel pumps, must have fitted 30 or more under recall.

Zoom forward 13 years it seems they haven't learnt their lesson..

2021 Vespa GTS with less than 800 miles comes in for none starter when hot (classic fuel pump failure). Luckily it did it when he brought it down for us to check his problem.

Have to take the engine out basically to remove the fuel tank to access the pump hanger assy, bit of a ballache.

New pump was £280 but no stock available in UK, backordering any Piaggio Group part is a waste of time (strung us out for 6 months on a £350 throttle body and we eventually manage to cancel that one).

Managed to source him a decent 2nd hand pump, only option really.

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Do even twist-n-go scooters use EFI instead of carbs nowadays?

 

[Keithmac]

Do even twist-n-go scooters use EFI instead of carbs nowadays?

Yes, this is a Vespa GTS 300 HPE. The GTS's have been fuel injected since 2008 (maybe earlier).

Very complex system, they have all the trimmings plus ASR (traction control).

It's Euro Emissions related, there are a very few carbed 50cc scooters but they run lambda sensors and a mess of solenoids for mixture control.

The stop start Honda Forza / PCX, Piaggio Medley etc use the stator and flywheel as the starter motor, when they shut down at a stop the ECU will rotate the crank with this system to get optimal engine position for re-start. Amazing technology really.

 

[dobbslc]

I remember fixing a spares or repair Aprilia 50cc scooter years ago, one of if not the first fuel injected two strokes.
I'll see if I can find the piston that came out of it.

 

[Keithmac]

I remember fixing a spares or repair Aprilia 50cc scooter years ago, one of if not the first fuel injected two strokes.
I'll see if I can find the piston that came out of it.

Those were DiTech, we had all sorts of problems with those!.
Suzuki did one as well, possibly same system as the Aprilia.

Think Peugeot also did a fuel injected 2 stroke too?.

I think I've still got the tool to fit the carbon seals to the cylinder head (that could be the Peugeot?).

They ran a crank driven air pump for the stratified charge iirc?.

 

[Keithmac]

The Aprilia had an electronic oil pump and the claimed it would do a service interval on one oil fill, the bottle was quite small as well.

When they dumped DiTech and went back to carb, mechanical oil pump they left the small oil tank in the design. We rebuilt quite a few that had run out of oil (even though there's a boomin big low oil warning light on the dash..).

 

[Geoffm]

I built this trailer 15-18 years ago and it has spent its life outside. It used to see regular use, and it’s first trip was to pick up 1.1T of sand for the kid’s sandpit. I thought the Toyota Camry brakes seemed a bit week.

The paint protected it fairly well with a heavy zinc primer, but the ply deck had seen better days. It hasn't seen any use other than to store junk to go to the tip since I bought a 1.5T tipper truck a few years ago. I went to use it a few weeks back and the lights wouldn’t work. The rubbish spring clips always gave trouble with the light bulb connections.

Enough was enough, so I fitted LED lights (ta AliExpress), then looked at the deck and sides and decided they were poorly. When it was upside down, I stood on the ply and it all fell off… I also found a couple of rust holes in the box section where it had rusted from the inside so welded those up.

A combination of scope creep and terrible weather means this little job has taken weeks, and still weeks to go…

 

[Keithmac]

Just a heads up, if it's unbraked your maximum laden trailer weight should not exceed 750kg (in the UK).

 

[bricol]

Just a heads up, if it's unbraked your maximum laden trailer weight should not exceed 750kg (in the UK).

And when tied to the back of your car, the limit for unbraked trailer for your car will apply (in the UK)

 

[qwakers]

Considering he is in New Zealand I don’t think uk laws concern him...

 

[Red'n'Black]

I built this trailer 15-18 years ago and it has spent its life outside. It used to see regular use, and it’s first trip was to pick up 1.1T of sand for the kid’s sandpit. I thought the Toyota Camry brakes seemed a bit week.

The paint protected it fairly well with a heavy zinc primer, but the ply deck had seen better days. It hasn't seen any use other than to store junk to go to the tip since I bought a 1.5T tipper truck a few years ago. I went to use it a few weeks back and the lights wouldn’t work. The rubbish spring clips always gave trouble with the light bulb connections.

Enough was enough, so I fitted LED lights (ta AliExpress), then looked at the deck and sides and decided they were poorly. When it was upside down, I stood on the ply and it all fell off… I also found a couple of rust holes in the box section where it had rusted from the inside so welded those up.

A combination of scope creep and terrible weather means this little job has taken weeks, and still weeks to go…
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That's quick, my 5 x 3 box trailer was off the road for six years before I got around to finishing the rebuild.

Doesn't do to rush these things.

 

[Geoffm]

Just a heads up, if it's unbraked your maximum laden trailer weight should not exceed 750kg (in the UK).

It is 750kg here as well. I asked for a loader bucket of sand at the builder's supply yard, and I didn't realise how heavy it was until I got home and looked at the docket, since the brakes were obviously struggling. I brought my 800kg+ shaper home on it via back country roads as well. Very carefully.

 

[Wildefalcon]

New blades for the hedge cutter. One of the old blades was missing a tooth. Two knock-off Amazon specials at less than half price of one genuine blade. Works.

 

[Keithmac]

2002 ZZR-1200 carb rebuild today.

Hopefully my Keyster short kits will arrive in the morning.

It's in absolutely immaculate condition but unfortunately doesn't ride like it looks!.

It's got some HT issues as well so a set of plugs and two new genuine plug caps going on too.

I would have stopped when I found plug cap issues but customer has already been in the carbs and asked us to do a strip and inspection.

Found a few issues but nothing major which was nice.

 

[Keithmac]

2 genuine plug caps, a set of NGK Iridium plugs, a carb rebuild and it rides like a dream

I was very impressed how much poke it's got, seems a very under rated motorcycle. Lovely and smooth and plenty of power available.

 

[gaz1]

ive kinda banned myself from the house stereo and also the 2 pioneer speakers at 190w rms

neighbour upsetters

so today ive pulled the speakers out of the shed and the stereo was pulled out to set up and they play fine not an issue at all, i thought that they might have rusted but they havent

wait until my daughter comes up shes the one that thought her system was loud and challenged her father to what was loud and she lost and that was with the pc speakers

 

[dobbslc]

2002 ZZR-1200 carb rebuild today.

Hopefully my Keyster short kits will arrive in the morning.

It's in absolutely immaculate condition but unfortunately doesn't ride like it looks!.

It's got some HT issues as well so a set of plugs and two new genuine plug caps going on too.

I would have stopped when I found plug cap issues but customer has already been in the carbs and asked us to do a strip and inspection.

Found a few issues but nothing major which was nice.

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Snap but I only have two!!







I'm ashamed to say the left one has gone very green from evaporated petrol from lack of use . I've had the bike 22 years from new and never let this happen before. I'm probably going the have to buy a new ultrasonic cleaner to dunk these in.
@Keithmac do you reckon it's worth changing the odd shaped jet block O ring while I'm in there?