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

[CitroJim]

Although it's a bit old fashioned as it still uses Compact Flash cards

Very cutting-edge at the time Dual media you might say - roll and Card A bit like mine then, it uses both SD and CF cards...

I used to borrow my girlfriend's dad's Voigtländer* Bessamatic with Zoomar lens. Fabulous camera.

Ohh err, what a big lens you have Steve!!

[myglaren]

It was. Note that the zoom is controlled by pushing or pulling the ring around the lens barrel.
Quirky but an excellent and fast lens.

[xantia_v6]

If we are digging out our old cameras, this was my mother's in the 1950s and early 60s I believe that it was very expensive when new, but it is in dire condition now.

It is an early post -war SLR, with several innovative features that seemed like a good idea at the time.

[CitroJim]

Wow Mike! That's got to worthy of restoration

[xantia_v6]

I know that in good condition they are worth real money now, but this one suffered a failure of the shutter mechanism in 1965 and was sent to the nearest approved repair centre (in Australia), who kept it for 2 years before pronouncing it unrepairable. They offered to send it back to the factory in Switzerland, but by then it was technically obsolete compared to the Japanese SLRs coming onto the market.

It spent the next 30 years in a box of photography junk kin dad's garage, and then 30 years in mine.

The serial number indicates that this example was made in 1951, but I am sure that my parents could not have afforded it then, more likely dad bought it from a friend in about 1954.

[myglaren]

Alpas were very expensive and well thought of in the sixties, way out of my price range even if a Hasselblad was my everyday camera. Haven't seen an Alpa in decades.

[CitroJim]

Alpas were very expensive and well thought of in the sixties

For an SLR, I'm amazed at how small it is! Just from that, I can both understand why they were very expensive and a real skilled job to repair.

[CitroJim]

Knowing now the circumstances surrounding its failure, I had another look at the dead smart charger I have...

I've checked all I can/capable of checking and no success... It's such a shame that unless you are really lucky, they're virtually irreparable

One thing I was concerned about with this particular one was the absence of any real strain relief on the mains lead. It is held in the case only by virtue of an O Ring that might seal it against minor dust/moisture ingress but does nothing to restrain. A smart tug on the lead and out it comes... Ditto the leads to the battery.

I believe this may well infringe CE and UKCA regulations. It can be seen that the unit carries these markings.

The thing is, both cable glands have grooves that will take a clip to stop them pulling out but none were found to be fitted. Maybe an oversight - I'll offer the benefit of the doubt but...

I consider this device, lacking in adequate cable strain relief and retention, to be dangerous, especially in a workshop/garage environment.

[bobins]

About the only thing that might shed some lght on what has failed would be a thermal imaging camera to identify something getting too hot or something that should be warming up staying cold. If only you knew of someone with such a device......

[myglaren]

I read recently that the CE marking can be legit but not mean what we expect it to, it merely means China Originated. The logo's are very slightly different but hard to tell unless side by side and even then it can be difficult.

[CitroJim]

About the only thing that might shed some lght on what has failed would be a thermal imaging camera to identify something getting too hot or something that should be warming up staying cold. If only you knew of someone with such a device......

Sadly not on this one The fault is solid and unchanging under any circumstances... That said, thermal imaging can shed light (excuse the pun) on lots of electronic faults. Back in the day, a hot soldering iron tip and a can of freezer spray was invaluable for tracing such faults... Thermal imaging would make it a lot quicker and certain...

I read recently that the CE marking can be legit but not mean what we expect it to, it merely means China Originated. The logo's are very slightly different but hard to tell unless side by side and even then it can be difficult.

So basically then, it's meaningless

[CitroJim]

Finally got back to doing a bit on Bluebell late this afternoon after a lot of other more urgent business had been completed - that included, inter alia, the Tuesday Redway Runners club run

I'm in the process of removing the starter motor to overhaul it... It's possibly the most difficult job on an AX as as it's buried deep down the back of the engine and has to be got at from above - unless you remove a driveshaft...

In this view you can't see it but if you looked down from the centre of this picture you will see a bit of it!

Looking at the photo, it looks like the PCV is full of mayonnaise. It's a trick of the camera light - it's actually perfectly clear...

The starter can be seen here along with an impediment to its removal:

The impediment is the gear selector rod and it must be disconnected at the balljoint to the right so that it can swing out of the way...

So far, the balljoint has resisted all attempts to separate using what are really tools not fit for purpose. I need to either make or procure a proper wedge splitter for the job.

It was good to be out doing a bit of car work after what seems a long time away due to the workshop being just too cold to work in during the mini ice-age we've just lived through...

Tomorrow I'm looking at a Hyundai i10 to see if the replacement of a duff aircon compressor is within my abilities. Somehow I'm doubtful...

[mickthemaverick]

I think I still have a wedge splitter Jim if you need it, but I'm not certain and I'll only go look for it if you want it. SWMBO arrives at Heathrow tomorrow 06.30ish so I won't get a chance to look until lunchtime!

[CitroJim]

Thanks Mick, I've just ordered one...

And may SWMBO have a good flight home At least it's warmed up a bit for her

[CitroJim]

A day of mixed fortunes today...

I successfully popped the gear linkage rod balljoint using a wedge I made almost 5o years ago now as an apprentice-piece when learning how to mill during machining training. I made a pair, for splitting track rod ends. Over the years they've done me well

And my magic 'half-moon' ring spanner proved just the job to loosen the hidden starter motor mounting bolt I originally bought this tool for getting at one of the nuts on the XUD diesel pump mounting flange...

I found one starter mounting bolt completely missing... The reason being a mangled thread :

A tap soon fixed it...

Then, starting to strip the starter, I find the brushes are well worn but still have a bit of life in them - but not much... Gosh, those springs look a bit of a potential source of 'ping-f$$k-its'. See later

And the commutator, although in good condition, was very dirty...

All cleaned up well, and after cleaning the solenoid plunger, I reassembled...

This disaster struck

I could see they might and one did... I'd just refitted the last brush spring when one made a bid for freedom just as I turned my back

It's still at large, despite turning my workshop inside out and upside down On the plus-side, my workshop has today received a good clean-up and tidy

I've sourced some suitable replacement springs so all is not lost

And, I have a spare starter - one came in the kit of spares included when Strawberry came to live with me.

I had a look at my friend's Hyundai i10 today to see if replacing the aircon compressor was within my abilities - sadly not The engine bay is really tight for space and it's a massive job to get at the compressor... I made my apologies...

And also today I gave Polly a very much-needed wash and gave Strawberry a run as she's not moved since her MoT... She's fine and started up instantly