PeteH

I think I have some dome head aircraft alloy rivets somewhere I wonder what size they where?. Pete

Hi Sorry tried my anchient copy of photoshop best I can do is **9*VC. Is that any help? there is grass covering some of the plate Pete

That looks suspiciously like a form of "brittle fracture"?. The reasons are lengthy, complex and technical, (there are whole technical "papers" written about it) and have to do with intergranular failures. I’ve only ever seen that where welding procedures where not followed to the letter, promoting changes to the granular structure of the steel close to the Heat Affected zone. Some steels have been known to spontaneously fracture, after being stored at extremely low temperatures even if brought to ambient before being worked. I have no idea what happened in your case, you would need to know it`s composition and history to get any clues. I never studied metallurgy, but I did know one or two through work. Always blinded me with science. Pete

Can I just emphasise anyone contemplating changing to alloy wheels, to check the correct torque figures?. Some time ago it was discovered that over tightening could propagate a form of stress cracking originating from the bolt holes. I knew nothing about this until I discovered cracks in one of the very expensive wheels on a Ford Granada Gina 😂 Pete

I Know that we are suposed to have a "moral duty of care" for the less fortunate, and I know there are a lot of "genuine" cases. But, you so often get to see in "media" those doing the handwringing, and in the background, there is the all singing dancing T-V, new Leather Furniture, kids with the latest tablets, x-box games, Mum all made up nails expensively "manicured", and (when) there is a second parent both glammed up in the more expensive gear, smoking their heads off. But the basics, the nuts and bolts? are missing, Can`t feed the kids, learn to cook? not just use a Microwave, buy cheaper cuts and peel fresh veg. All the things our parents had to do, back after WW2, and rationing. So there you go, Old Git ranting.? but how close to the truth am I? Pete

Something I learned a long time ago, If you want Quality sheet steel, go to a comercial supplier. DIY outlets often get supplies from very "iffy" sources. A well known local industrial supplier, has a section in the steel store where "offcuts" can be "discovered" and purchased mostly at discount too. I find that a chat with the guy in the office often gets a a good response. I may have some adavantage having not just worked with structural steel and plate, but also delivered such, which gives an insider view of the business. Having said all that, my personal welding skills still leave a lot to be desired☹️. Even my second youngest grandson`s welding is far neater than mine. I do know my current helmet is well overdue replacement, but I keep finding other stuff to buy😭. Pete

I suspect we have "got away" lightly this time. Some of the near Seaside towns got a bit of a battering, and the local dog walk beach has gone (again). The "glass" was down to 26.6" yesterday (903mb) but the winds where not excessive, barely Force 4-5 or 20mph. Wet day driving to and from Hospital. Today we have a fresher breeze, but sunny with some high cloud, I am making some Electric (1.8Kw/h currently) for the first time in the last few days.👍 Parts of West Yorks have suffered (the Don Valley for one) and I am told York it`self is under flood alert. One issue that always comes up, every time there is flooding, is WHY do planners allow building on KNOWN flood plains?. Is it "brown envelopes"?. Pete

I put acre`s of 1.2mm Steel into the main chasis and outriggers etc: as well as some of the Floor. More complex shapes where easier to form in 1mm. All supplied by a local Steel suppliers. Still have a Half sheet of 1.2, now earmarked for a Drip/catch tray for the lathe. Pete

H Harrington Alpine?. The only pic I could find on Wiki? Pete

Thinking about this a little bit "laterally". My feeling would be that the absolute need for a 3rd brake light, with the top down, which implies good visibilty? may not be the "essential" part? However with the top up in inclement weather, when one would reap more benefit? one could be installed (if thin/flexible enough) inside the hood rear window at the highest point. The P-O of my 13/60 had done so on the hood, which I have recently replaced as it leaked quite badly, and it was wired into the rear loom in the boot. I am considering re-installing it at some point. I have seen them fitted to the "roll bars" of convertibles, how that would conform with German Law I have no idea? In fact I am not sure even about UK law?. Pete

Electric PAS conversion? Pete

When I bought my `09 Motorhome in 2018, the Spare was under the bed, Never been fitted, kept in the dark, the tyre date was `08 (build year). So by now it would be some 16+ years old. Still never been fitted, because I took it out and put it in the loft of the garage, a 25Kg saving in payload. My take is that I have full 24/7/52 coverage/recovery from RAC, and NO WAY am I ever going to try changing a tyre on a 3.8ton M-H, at My age. I do carry one of the Presurised "get you off the motorway, but ruin the tyre" gizmo`s. for use if desperate. The current tyres are 2017 date marked and will likely be changed soon. The one`s currently on "kit of parts! are so hard, but they are dated pre WW2 I think!!. But OK to push it about the yard. When "laying up" it was/is recomended to put the pressure up by 10psi, helps stop the tyre developing flat spots, allegedly? Pete

Try Googling Silicon Bronze. Greater Tensile strength than straight brass. Pete

I have a similar issue. (though not a financial one), But the 13/60-CV I bought in 2015, and have put many hundreds of hours into since, to rolling chassis/refurbed tubs condition, is currently parked outside under covers. My dilemma is having since bought Jeff`s "Plum" I now have a driveable one, residing in the garage. The temptation to hang onto "kit of parts" as I call it, it is great, but pragmatism, would dictate that it should be moved on for someone else to complete?. And I have some concerns about wintering it outside albeit covered, it is inevitable that it will deteriorate at least marginally. While, soft tops do move better as the weather improves, there is also the consideration that what you are selling could need a winters worth of work to make it viable and as such may be better marketed with that at the forefront?. Pete.

Talk About history repeating (reversing) itself, that is a "bast from the past". 1962(ish) I gave the head from my Norton 99, to a friend who worked in the Brough Aerospace plant. It was "converted" from single to twin carbs, gas flowed and polished, I rebuilt the rest of the engine from the ground up, and fitted a S-H cam which had been originally produced for Eric Oliver, (Side Car Racer). Never got the Bike power tested, but we reckoned that the increase was significant, and the "Magic" Ton came up far quicker and more often, and it stretched those 1/4" rear chains far quicker!!.. Sold it on to a Kid from Bradford, `cos I wanted a car (Girls by then). He trashed it within 3 weeks of having it! I think he walked away?. Historically, this was at least 2 years before Norton started to supply the Dominator with twim Amals. I`d Take either of those two bike`s though, My last was a BMW 100RS, Nice but getting too heavy for an old guy. Still ocasionally have the "itch". Grandson, is threatening to get one, If he does I may just blow the dust off the helmet sat in the top of the wardrobe!. Just had an (Acompanied), Solo/hands on, Flying lesson as an 80th Brithday Pressy. So it may yet happen. Pete

Save you looking. From Haynes, sorry about it being upside down, its as it came out of the scanner. Pete

Wasn`t there a Missive from COM, some time back setting out the factors behind this Digital V/s Hard copy? had to do with Tax or VAT or something?. A pdf version would be nice to see though. As keeping back issues can become something of a storage nightmare. pdf would allow the printing off of "useful info" and or electronic storage, without the whole magazine. "Screen shots" though useful, can be problematic. Pete

As a Kid, I wanted one of those flying platform thingys. Pete

The latest I-phones/pads are now “standardised” on the latest usb C connector. Allegedly because the EU put the pressure on Apple?. It has however taken over 20+ years to “persuade” EU countries to standardise Camp site hookups I still carry up to 4 different adaptors in the Motorhome. Pete

A primary consideration in my view, would be the ability to lock them mechanically once elevated? Vehicle lifts have (or should have) latches. I remember the first ever examination of a single post hydraulic lift a piece of kit notorious for “creapback”. I asked the owner how it locked, he pointed at a railway sleeper and said, “We just jamb that under the post”. H&S in action?. I assume these under consideration are slightly more sophisticated?😀 Pete

I supose it`s good to know there are "competant" people out there?. But specialists aside. Can you really see your "average" Garage wanting to commit to that sort of potential Hassle?. Personally it does`nt phase me. I have commited my life to my own rigging on more that one ocasion. It`s mostly common sense and a basic knowledge of structure and vectors, allied to knowing enough about stress and strain to be reasonably confident in your own capabilities. Over the years I`ve probably fitted and even fabricated more Vehicle towing devices for vehicles that didn`t have a specialist design, or where no longer made, with zero failures. Now of course, they have to pass (expensive) "compliance" testing and be "E" marked etc. Pete

The fact they can bounce about like peas in a collander in the event. Is`nt relevent. Mind, I sat in the front seat of pop`s old Hillman, Suicide doors and all no one thought of restraint. Lap belts in racing cars?. (or not?). I think? Moss drove the Mille Milga without?. I`ve seen a photo of Jenks in the front without?. Pete

A lot of these "rules" tend to be impirical, The example I quoted was for large openings in Pressure tanks. In the case of a 10mm bolt the "compensation" would (sensibly) be a minimum of a decent size washer to the rear. Spreading the load across a large(r) area is always a sensible option. If I recall correctly, for example, The "compensation" for the Belt fastening as fitted to the the rear wheel arch of a Herald/Vitesse is of the order of around 3 to4 inch diameter? welded to the outer (wheel) part of the arch?. Pete

In the "early days" of seat belts, there was an awful lot of relience on "1/2doz Self tap screws". John is correct in that backing on the location is esential. Reinforcement should be at least twice the "lost" material (hole) and in my veiw far more. (A "rule of thumb" used for compensating rings on the shells of Pressure vessels, is 2x the removed material), and would be as point as any to start from Pete

While I would concur, that Seat Belts would be beneficial, (I even have one for my dog!, in the 13/60). One has to extremely careful HOW they are fitted, to vehicles that where never designed with belt use in mind. Just screwing them to the floor, as was the case with very early Herald`s, would be providing a false security In my View. Also, providing suitable mounts for ISO child seat fixings would be extremely problematic?. I would suggest that even getting a Garage, to agree to actually fit belts, might raise H&SE/liability concerns they may not wish to become involved with in todays "litigate at the drop of a hat society"?. Pete