Life on the edge - the Diary of a C5

[CitroJim]

A girl can dream. Although I can make my powerful turbo whistle on damp days……

Ahh, there's nothing like a nice turbo whistle The Paxman Valenta as originally fitted to the HST was the true superstar in that respect although the EE in the Class 37 can do a fair impression of it

For me, nothing quite beats the music made by the Maybach engines fitted to the Western region diesel-hydraulics

The Maybach in the little blue Hymek plays a beautiful tune and actually so does the 8-pot Sulzer in the 'Crompton' stabled next to it

Minehead - July 2026

I love big diesels

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!

My MOT repairs have had a setback.

Papa discovered that the weld on my ramps had cracked. Now once upon a time he would have simple rewelded it back up but these days he has no welder and 2nd hand ramps were cheaper! Cheapskate!!!!

However, these ramps are taller than the old ones were Now, if my superb wheels are on the ramp and my hydraulic suspension is raised fully he has (some) space to work, hence his repair of my efficient exhaust. He has discovered that these new ramps lift me up MUCH too far for his jack to come anywhere near my subframe!

A jack with sufficient lift was much more expensive than some smaller ramps so guess what he’s bought?

Oh well, they will arrive. Eventually…..

Love to all

Otterchops
In Confinement

Xxx

[MattBLancs]

Sounds too late as purchases already made, but I've got one of these:
https://ebay.io/m/MyXpOi

A Halfords Speedi lift trolley jack. Note this specific one, there's a later one with the same name that's essentially a normal jack with an extension tube that sits in the jack head mounting to give a higher max height.

It seems to be discontinued at Halfords (both my type and the later one too)

[CitroJim]

Reminds me, I need a new trolley jack... Mine's started leaking around the pump piston...

Never a dull moment with these fine French vehicles is there Otter?

[Xantianut]

Indeed not, Jim.

The new ramps are plastic. PLASTIC!!!!! I ask you…..

Anyway, that’s my RHS suspension rebuilt and de clonked. However, I’ve got him!!!

My RH brake calliper is seized.

New one on order…..



Don’t you love being in control??

Love to all

Otterchops

Oh, mustn’t forget. I think the old fool overtightened this clamp….

Just a bit. I made him struggle to get THAT off I can tell you….

[CitroJim]

Plastic ramps? What's the world coming to

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!!!

Papa thinks I am ready for my MOT but I threw him a curve ball! My lower slider pins were seized on both sides so the Old,Fool tried simple violence. It failed. So he tried heat….

The left hand one needed a LOT of heat, he got the carrier glowing red! Then put his Mole grips on it and found that the pin was coming out of the hole as he twisted. Sensibly, he switched to a 19mm spanner. He commented on some odd brown smoke coming out then…

B A N G!!!!!

The pin came out, bounced off my rhs tyre and chipped the paint on my new stands!! He was most impressed! The rhs one came out with Mole grips and his trusty hammer. All new pins well and truly greased and put back in.

Ah, but he had not finished as yet. My rhs brake calliper, brand new, was seized solid. So that’s on its way back and he went back to a trusted supplier. Advance Auto Parts. Never had a bad one from there!

So I’m back on my stylish alloy wheels and ready, I hope, for my Test.

Papa, please book it soon?

Love to all

Otterchops.

[CitroJim]

Oh gosh! What a tale of woe Otter

May the test me 100% this time