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

[CitroJim]

We've found a subject where we are poles apart there Jim, I can't stand anything at all swinging from the mirror when I'm driving.

If that's all we're poles apart on Mick, then that's not bad at all

Thing is, in an Activa they don't swing They just stay put...

Maybe in Daffodil they might be more mobile!

Speaking of Daffodil, I've just had notification her MoT is due in a month... Good job I've cracked on with the work on her in good time...

Hoping to do a bit more on her today...

[CitroJim]

After a long run and a good virtual bike ride this morning I got a bit more done on Daffodil despite the intense cold...

Before the aforementioned cold drove me back in the warmth of the house chilled to the bone I did succeed in removing Daffodil's LH rear brake drum...

Trying to drum up some enthusiasm here...

This was the side that suffered a wheel loss and has damaged threads...

The wheel bearing is in a bad way, it's on the verge of collapse... Not that I believe the two are in any way related...

The brake mechanism itself is in good order and just needs a clean and simple overhaul...

Tomorrow should see that done, along with the fitting of a new drum and bearing...

Then it'll be the same job on the other side...

All is progressing nicely

[CitroJim]

Happy New Year all MIne's started very well with two new running challenges:

A double virtual LEJOG....

LEJOG Day 1 progress...

And RED January... A challenge to run every day in January for mental health and to raise funds for MIND...

RED Day 1 progress...

Having suffered poor mental health for most of my life, this charity is very close to my heart...

Running, cycling and playing cars do no end of good for my mental (and physical!) health

I've enjoyed another good session on Daffodil today... Her LH rear braking system is now overhauled...

I fully stripped the brakes...

Checked the shoes for contamination and checked the auto adjustment mechanism was free and in good working order before giving the whole assembly a good clean...

And reassembled

I pressed the wheel bearing out of the old, scrap drum as I need it to act as a mandrel to press the new bearing into the new drum...

And finally, I trial fitted the new drum to check the shoes were retracted sufficiently far...

Tomorrow I'll press in the new bearing and fit the drum. For now the drum is in the warm, quietly expanding whilst the bearing is in the freezer and shrinking in the cold... Doing this makes it easier to press in the new bearing without any risk of damage...

I could have just left the bearing outside, it's almost as cold as the freezer!!!

And then it's to do the same on the RH side

[Zelandeth]

Have a job which I reckon will be up your street just now Jim, but which has become apparent that I'm never going to summon the enthusiasm to sort. Need to drop it off next time I'm on an errand over your way. I'll fore-warn you so you don't just randomly find a box on your doorstep.

To be fair, aside from cleaning the head, pinch roller and aligning it I've never touched the machine since I got it ten years ago.

Audio is quite muddy...but that I think may be just somewhat down to "because 8-track" as they're not exactly hi-fi at the best of times.

The actual fault though is that if the left channel volume control is advanced anywhere beyond about 25% that channel breaks out into a horrendous 100Hz (and several harmonics of it) oscillation.

My money is on it just needing some TLC in the power supply and decoupling capacitor department. Access I seem to recall is decent too once the case is off. However I'm just really struggling to drum up enthusiasm for this sort of thing at the moment. Have been enjoying the computers and calculators a lot but this just isn't drawing me in right now...but I'd like to get it back in service again. Seem to recall you however have been enjoying the techie repairs so if you fancy taking a look, let me know. Obviously it goes without saying that there's zero stress, obligation etc. You know how I operate! Plus it's been playing up for at least the last three years so it's hardly mission critical.

If you're up for taking a look at it let me know and next time I need to head out that way I'll drop it on the doorstep for you. Obviously not making a trip just for that given current situation!

[CitroJim]

Excellent, be happy to have a look at it Zel And it'll be good to see you too, social distancing allowing

[CitroJim]

A lovely day here today, bright sunshine and temperatures nicely into mid single digits... Almost tropical...

So after running a very lovely half marathon I gave Sally a decent bath and a bit of pampering... She was covered in muddy grime and was looking very dowdy... Poor girl...

Sparkly...

She scrubs up really well

Then it was back to Daffodil and her rear brakes... I did the same on the RH side as I did yesterday on the LH...

When I came to test them I found a problem... The slave cylinders on both sides are seized solid... I can bleed plenty of fluid through but I can't make the pistons move which means no rear brakes... The handbrake works well though...

I had my suspicions yesterday when I could not retract the LH shoes to my complete satisfaction...

Time for new cylinders but first I must flush out all the horrid old dirty and contaminated brake fluid... I believe it's the cause of the rear cylinders seizing as the stuff i bled out was a nasty brown and contained worrying amounts of sediment...

I suspect the cylinder pistons and bores are corroded.

The fluid also appeared to be tinged purple which might indicate DOT5 fluid may have been used for a top-up at some point... DOT5 is dyed purple to differentiate it from DOT4 and DOT5.1

I worry now for the health of the master cylinder and front calipers... Touch-wood they appear to be OK...

It does explain why she was hard to get through the last MoT on rear brake efficiency/balance...

Now to look for a source of new cylinders...

[xantia_v6]

Now to look for a source of new cylinders...

You don't fancy sleeving them?

[lexi]

I suspect those brake cylinders will be available and probably similar to Pug 206. I have them to do. -5 up here though and no room for spannering ATM..........boats have the space and time.

[Hell Razor5543]

Might these be of interest, Jim?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-AX-1 ... SwDTdfTmk0
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Peug ... SwfTpfUQqc
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-AX-R ... Sw4PlfTVu4

[RichardW]

Post up the VIN Jim, and put the part nos up, there appear to be 2 types depending in whether a pressure compensator is fitted (or a 3rd type if ABS is fitted). They appear to be AX only however...

Amusingly, the parts database lists a 4x4 version - anyone ever heard of one???

[mickthemaverick]

Just for interest after you've sorted your cylinders Jim, I've posted up info on a couple of books which you are welcome to borrow when times get better if you want. They are in consecutive posts beginning with this one.

[CitroJim]

Just for interest after you've sorted your cylinders Jim, I've posted up info on a couple of books which you are welcome to borrow when times get better if you want. They are in consecutive posts beginning with this one.

Mick, those books look very interesting, thanks

Post up the VIN Jim, and put the part nos up, there appear to be 2 types depending in whether a pressure compensator is fitted (or a 3rd type if ABS is fitted). They appear to be AX only however...

Mine's the ones with the compensators built-in Richard... They were only used on the later S1 AX10 and 11 and the S2 AX10. All others had the external compensator...

VIN is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

Whilst you are looking Richard, could you see if the rear hub dust/grease caps are still available? One is lost and the other is badly mangled..

Thanks

a 4X4 AX? No, news to me!

Might these be of interest, Jim?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-AX-1 ... SwDTdfTmk0
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Peug ... SwfTpfUQqc
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-AX-R ... Sw4PlfTVu4

Thanks James, hugely appreciated top find

Now to look for a source of new cylinders...

You don't fancy sleeving them?

I'm not that skilled Mike!!! And my lathe is not up to the accuracy required

I ran a good run this morning More miles toward LEJOG It was also the 10K run for the Enigma Running Keep on Truckin' virtual event for this rather tasty bit of bling

Enigma Running

I think Eddie Stobart may have been the inspiration for this medal

Now we're in Tier 4 all running events have now gone virtual again I've just heard an event I was due to run, taking part in Salcey Forest later this month, has been cancelled... A shame as it's one I rather enjoy, a 10K night run around the forest

[Gibbo2286]

I've got this sitting on my shelf, it's from GMF it's Citroen but I can't remember what for.

[CitroJim]

I've got this sitting on my shelf, it's from GMF it's Citroen but I can't remember what for.

Not an AX one Eric, the cylinders on mine have flat piston ends and a flat rear face where the pipe and bleed nipple is...

Be good to know what it's for... Visa, LN or 2CV perhaps?

[RichardW]

Jim

Service.citroen doesn't have info that far back - it removes the option for petrol engines on your VIN, and leaves only Electric or 4x4!! I think 95608853 and 95608854 are the right ones, which is the first link James posted - now sold though, to you??

The dust cover is 374032, allegedly still available - mind you £10.16 each!! Looks to be common with Saxo, so you should be able to get a pair somewhere.

Edit: quite a few on ebay if you input that part no, inc genuine ones for << than £20 the pair!