Activa plumbing!

[djadams]

That bush / ally housing is around £30 all in.

Wow - OK, agreed, that's really not so bad. If the dealer quote me that price I'll happily order one in and quit complaining Thanks for the good news!
I'm consoling myself with the thought that for the bush to have failed whilst I was gently easing things around fitting the other mount it must already have been very nearly shot

As for the leak, there really isn't much LHM high up, the junction near the return pipework connector that was leaking really does appear to be the epicentre (or perhaps just near the epicentre... who knows...! )

[mirafioriman]

If it's a high pressure leak it's worth checking that all the unions are tight. I've noticed on mine many tightened up quite a bit with a spanner.

[djadams]

Right then... New engine tie-bar mount/bush thing ordered and collected, along with a new dipstick (as the one with the car was missing the bit of the handle that goes down the tube and seals it). Sure enough, the mount was less than £30. Those will hopefully go on tonight...

Meanwhile, new pipe seals finally collected from GSF and as I'd left the car up on stands, I had a quick look at fitting one to the joint I'm suspicious of. Sadly, the back-nut is tighter than I fancy trying to undo with an open-ended spanner, I only have flare-nut spanners down to 9mm and Halfrauds don't carry an 8mm flare wrench. So, I've just ordered a Britool one off ebay for £6 delivered, but will have to wait for it to arrive before having another tentative go - the last thing I want is to round off the flare nut!

Meanwhile, one of the nuts on that union was slack enough to undo with an open-ended spanner, but having unscrewed it from the union, I couldn't then get the pipe out to replace it's seal... Surely these normally slide in and out really easily? What does it being really hard to shift imply?

[Chris570]

Meanwhile, one of the nuts on that union was slack enough to undo with an open-ended spanner, but having unscrewed it from the union, I couldn't then get the pipe out to replace it's seal... Surely these normally slide in and out really easily? What does it being really hard to shift imply?

It's french, once you get it out you'll see why it was hard to get out. they arent all that easy to do, even on the bench. Nothing to worry about. you'll swear at it for a while and then it'll fall out

[djadams]

you'll swear at it for a while and then it'll fall out

Right, I'll just have to quit being such a pansy with it then...

Once I've got my 8mm flare wrench, I'll pull it all apart, and probably wish I hadn't...

[Deanxm]

It help to gent ly wiggle the pipe side to side or in a circular motion to uncompress the rubber seal and then it should slide out easily, carefully fit the new seal into the port and then slide the pipe into it on reassembly.
D

[Hell Razor5543]

If you need a small flare spanner, somebody in another post suggested cutting a 5mm slot (using an angle grinder) into a ring spanner, converting it into a flare spanner. Combo spanners are quite cheap.

[CitroJim]

If you need a small flare spanner, somebody in another post suggested cutting a 5mm slot (using an angle grinder) into a ring spanner, converting it into a flare spanner. Combo spanners are quite cheap.

That's good idea that. Even better is to do the same with a 1/4" drive hex socket and weld a short handle onto it. A good well-fitting socket with a hex rather than a bi-hex is the very best tool for really tight and stiff 8mm unions which I've known to round off even when using a hex flare nut spanner.

[djadams]

Delayed response, but all seems well now - the 8mm Britool flare spanner turned up last week and was put to good use splitting the joint and replacing a seal. The side I thought was leaking came apart easily enough once the stubborn back-nut was persuaded, and the seal inside seemed rather distorted. Put back together with a new seal and all seems well so far. Nice nice...

[CitroJim]

Excellent stuff If only all Activa leaks were that easy...

[djadams]

I now have a new Activa challenge, which deserves a new thread...

[6speedmanual]

Dan
The bush is not available separately.
However, as the bush is small and very hard rubber and the other end of the link is into a big softish bush, I reckon you could find a solid turned nylon bush would be almost as good and longer lasting (if 100K miles is not enough LoL)
Do you have access to a prototype machine shop? I thought I saw somewhere you are in Vehicle engineering?

Peter

[Hell Razor5543]

IIRC CitroJim has managed to make Activa bushes in the past. It probably is worth asking him what he used, etc.

[6speedmanual]

Yes, the same black nylon/nylatron material would suit.

Actually my Activa (Xantia 3rd Millenium) has a "Jim" style bush at the rear CAR ram. Wondered if it was one of his when I saw it.

Peter

[CitroJim]

yes, it will be. I supplied Captain Slow with one...

The details on how to make one are here...