PeteH

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

Learned that lesson long ago. And have the scars to prove it! Wore right through my leathers, and spent several hours having gravel plucked from my arse, the young nurse was quite nice though!. Strangely too I believe that learning to fall properly came from doing ju-jitsu as an 8yr old, father was a 4th Dan black belt. Wanted me to be able to defend myself. I much prefered swimming though. Long story about 4 guys who walked away from a car wreck. No seat belts back then. All heavily intoxicated. The worst injury being next day’s hangover. Pete

There are virtually no aspects of “life” where this commodity does not exist. It is the very reason for the existence of that other commodity The Public Servant. From our over managed health service to the dizzy heights of national governance. Indeed it is the very essence of the existence in many quarters. It feeds on a diet of taxation in all forms to be dispersed according to arcane rules fixed by an equally inept management system called a Parliament. Or in some cases just a single operative. I am surprisingly happy at the thought that at my age I do no longer have to care enough to worry about it. I saw a tee shirt a while back. On which was emblazoned Take care what you say, at my age, life in prison holds very little deterrent, or words to that effect. 3 full squares a day, and priority medical care might just suit?. Access to t-v, library maybe a gym. There are folk in some care homes paying thousands a week for similar?😂 Pete

Of course the obvious answer is not to have an E-V and to go to the garage and stick 60litre of Diesel in? 5 min in and out. But I guess that`s far too simple🙄 Pete

Looking at it, I think you may have to raise the front of the Bonnet to get clearance. On a 13/60, I spent weeks "tweeking" the gaps even now they aren`t perfect. Pete.

On the subject of Home power generation, Last year, (my first FULL year of operation.) I made a total of aproximately 50 to 60% of my annual consumption, from 6.8Kw of panels, Primarily West facing with 30% facing South. The biggest asset was the installation of the 5Kw battery pack, which about 80% of the time manages my overnight consumption. Obviously we only export at Max during the Mid year. But I have sold in excess of 4Mw/hrs to the Grid in that period. All round, bearing in mind that at our age, we will never entirely recoup our investment. I am more than happy with the return on the system, which is financially greater than it would have "earned" as saving`s. As for E-V`s, in principle as transport for the individual, especially those of us who live rurally, they get my thumb`s up, however the infrastucture to support the change does not exist, and will not exist for many years yet. Even IF you have the means to charge at home, there is not the scale of recharge points needed, and the reports of those not working in some cases 2 out of 3. Further underpins the (infra)structural need. Pete

For some strange reason, falling off a motorcycle when Pi**ed, hurts less than when sober?. 😭 Pete

1960`s Car` = 1960`s Risk`s?. Rode, motorcycle`s without helmets prior to them being made compulsory. Vehicle`s without seat belts?. Wearn`t Belts for whimps?😁. How did we all survive?. Pete

I cannot speak for anyone else. But after more than 60years of driving, everything from tracked vehicles to rally cars. I find it insulting that some car manufacturer’s apprentice thinks they know what I want? If I wish the car to shut down whilst waiting in a queue. Then I will push the stop button. Not some bunch of electronics which think they know best. I like my technology but I draw the line at it controlling me. Similarly I have driven vehicle in some parts of the world that have no conception of what a white line actually is where even the road itself is more a figment of the imagination. Where spraying tar onto graded hardened earth in designated a highway. Anyone who watched the Top Gear episode in Vietnam/Cambodia, will get the idea. Pete

How close dimensionally to the convertible? Pete

I used to frequent a well known US R-V owner site. One of the “sticky” posts had just one line, in capitals. It read “ There is no such thing as a stupid question”. When you consider we all need to learn, that is only good manners. (Sadly something that modern discourse would seem to lack altogether).? Pete

Of course part the reason that E-V "fuel" costs are lower is the Fuel taxation regeim. 60%(ish) of a Litre of Petrol/Diesel is TAX. Electricity is only 5%VAT in the UK and I understand not even taxed in some countries?. In terms of Lifetime costs, one must also factor in the cost of the raw materials/rare metals/plastics, used in E-V production. It`s a can of worms that many advocates of the E-V fail to address. "Cheap/Free" electricity still carries a price....................Somewhere. On a Different Note, SWMBO has the Latest incarnation of the Quashqai, what is described as a "mild hybrid", still a 1200cc petrol but somewhere hidden is a Battery, which "assists"?, The most noticable thing about it is the accelleration, can quite catch you out at times, but OK for showing the local "boy/girl racers" a clean rear end. The downside (for me) is the dammed stop/start thing. Been online trying to find a way of permanently offing it!, without breaking the warranty. Mind if the "Welsh experiment" (20mph) catches on nobody will be going anywhere.........fast. Already complaints from delivery drivers as to the extra time it takes to make urban deliveries, and the extra fuel consumption, and by definition added pollution from running I-C`s below optimum efficency. Pete