CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[addo]

Malc's teabag images are unsettling me. I'd be afraid to fall asleep at an FCF event...

[CitroJim]

Malc's teabag images are unsettling me. I'd be afraid to fall asleep at an FCF event...

[citronut]

Malc's teabag images are unsettling me. I'd be afraid to fall asleep at an FCF event...

sorry Adam i couldnt find a tin'y/triple XXX or should that be tiple smiley

[CitroJim]

And now as they say, for something completely different...

Yesterday I was a bit (a lot actually) tired but that was perhaps due to a long battle Chris570 and I had with the rear brakes of a certain C4. What should have been a half hour job to change disks and pads turned out to be a most difficult and time-consuming dockyard job imaginable and it even involved me making up a bespoke piston wind-back tool... All this after a long and hard day at work.

I must say I did enjoy the work immensely and was delighted at how much I did

It was a good test for me as Chris and I worked until 9PM on it. I did feel a bit washed out yesterday but (and don't take this the wrong way) when Chris told me he was pretty well washed-out too I was rather happy as it is perhaps another indication I'm on the mend

At this rate I might be good to return to full-time work but I've already decided that's not happening..

Today I'm absolutely fine. Up at 04:15. Lots of posting on the forums, a loaf baked, 45 minutes of hard swimming, 10 minutes on the cross trainer with the tension turned up to 11, baked a batch of chocolate and walnut brownies, baked a parkin and well on the way to cooking a lamb hotpot for Robyn's and my dinner this evening...

I'm pleased with my second attempt at a parkin. The first one sank but tasted ace (ask PavlosV6) and this one has sunk a bit but nothing like as much as the first one. I think I know what to do for the third time so it doesn't sink at all.

Parkin is lovely - it looks like black pudding but is totally veggie and a delicious way of getting your oats... I believe it's a Yorkshire delicacy...

Pavlos, if you want a lump, just shout...

This afternoon I shall start my gearbox objective..

[Chris570]

It was a pig of a job, it makes me wonder how luck we are with Xantias! (for now)

Jim, you're improving day by day we know that but lets keep it in moderation (sensible hat)

[CitroJim]

Jim, you're improving day by day we know that but lets keep it in moderation (sensible hat)

Absolutely Chris. I had a good finger-wagging about that at the clinic yesterday....

[CitroJim]

I've received the new gut-lines for the clocks along with a bottle of clock oil. Litre for litre it's more expensive than LT71141 but luckily the clocks only use drops of it very occasionally

Restringing them with the new catgut is a job for another time. It'll be good to finally loose the bright blue strimmer line currently in use and replace it with something both more in keeping with 200 years old clocks and something entirely natural. That should then see the clocks good for the next 25 years at least.

Good service from the only supplier I could find in the UK. Ordered Monday and turned up today catgut is expensive. Well over £30 for the amount needed. And to think I could have supplied my own donor cat too

[RichardW]

You think that's expensive, I bought a litre of CH inhibitor the other week - it says non-toxic, non harmful to environment, which begs the question as to what's in it?? Unobtanium obviously, since it cost £22 a litre Mind you, that's Homebase for you, same is only£14 from Screwfix - but when you need it.....

[citronut]

The first one sank but tasted ace (ask PavlosV6) and this one has sunk a bit but nothing like as much as the first one. I think I know what to do for the third time so it doesn't sink at all.

did you forget to put in the new anti sink valve Jim

[Hell Razor5543]

Good service from the only supplier I could find in the UK. Ordered Monday and turned up today catgut is expensive. Well over £30 for the amount needed. And to think I could have supplied my own donor cat too

I doubt even this comment would drive Fluffball out. She likes you too much (well, in a cat sort of way!).

[myglaren]

You guys should watch QI more often - it's sheep/goat guts mainly, never actually been the gut of cat.

[CitroJim]

I doubt even this comment would drive Fluffball out. She likes you too much (well, in a cat sort of way!).

I think you’re right James The only known thing that makes her scarper rapidly and hide is a certain King Charles Spaniel called Crumpet!

You guys should watch QI more often - it's sheep/goat guts mainly, never actually been the gut of cat.

Indeed. the etymology of 'catgut' is likely to be from 'cattle gut' from which it's also made or there is a legend that the work of the string makers was once so shrouded in mystery that they perpetrated a myth it was made from cats to deter people from being to inquisitive into what they did and more importantly, how they did it!

It must have been a horrible job.

did you forget to put in the new anti sink valve Jim

No but i forgot the added special ingredient Malcolm - a nice dash of LHM...

[CitroJim]

I pulled an ML5 gearbox apart last evening I only intended to clean it ready for stripping but got carried away whist listening to Any Questions? and before I knew it I was looking at a pile of bits

The ML5 is a true thing of engineering beauty; the gearbox equivalent of the ES9 engine. I can see why they give little trouble as they're built of granite and over-engineered.

They come apart very easily - a bit like an MA 'box. The essential difference there is the ML5 is not made of soft cheese and was designed with rather more thought.

There is a good reason why I stripped this 'box. It may be revealed in due course...

[citroenxm]

Ml5 jim.. is that the big bugger hydraulic clutch'd box?

If so tough yes. Ive got one here with 286k on it.. and it still had no crunchs on it and if I remember correctly no wininng either..

[CitroJim]

Ml5 jim.. is that the big bugger hydraulic clutch'd box?

That's it Paul, the one fitted to the Activa, 110 HDi, 2.1TD Xantia and the ES9 V6... This one's actually from a Pug 406 V6...

As a bonus I now know exactly what is involved in the job of swapping the fifth gear pinions that some have suggest swapping from an HDi to an Activa to give it a longer top gear..

It's easy enough apart from the three synchro detent balls and springs that like to try and make bids for freedom...