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

KP · Unread post by KP » 17 May 2011, 09:15

Not sure i would say they are great.

My brother has just px'd one against a Kia Soul as his clutch was just letting go at 40k and just over 3 years old....

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 23 May 2011, 14:22

Pleased to report Old V6 has just flown through her MOT despite me biting my fingernails into oblivion

Only advisory was the front tyres being 75% worn....

Now there's a thing... V6s are quite hot on front tyres. They've lasted barely 12,000 miles

citroenxm · Unread post by **citroenxm** » 23 May 2011, 14:32

I've heard a lot about hydractive having an appitite for threshold... however. My hdi exclusive 110 has so been the opposite... I've so far got 20k out of 4 tyres... hard/soft mode does work too....

Paul

Bloody predictive text... TYRES not threshold ......

Paul

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 23 May 2011, 14:42

citroenxm wrote:I've heard a lot about hydractive having an appitite for threshold...

Indeed, mine gets through thresholds like there's no tomorrow Paul.

citroenxm · Unread post by **citroenxm** » 23 May 2011, 14:54

Lol.. thanks Jim... an edit added...

Paul

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 23 May 2011, 18:15

citroenxm wrote:Lol.. thanks Jim... an edit added...

Ahh! Thanks for that Paul

20K on an HDi is not bad at all. Ive just realised that my tyre consumption is nearly in Xac territory

Unread post by **DHallworth** » 23 May 2011, 18:30

Great news on the MOT Jim!

My fiance drives very gently and is currently on 15k miles on her Michelins. They're only 50% worn too!

Am quite happy if she can make a set of fronts last for 25 - 30k miles on her Xantia HDi Exclusive.

When I drive it I feel guilty as the torque off the 110 is quite adictive!!

David.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 23 May 2011, 20:45

CitroJim wrote:
citroenxm wrote:Lol.. thanks Jim... an edit added...
Ahh! Thanks for that Paul 20K on an HDi is not bad at all. Ive just realised that my tyre consumption is nearly in Xac territory

P7's seem to last me quite nicely

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 24 May 2011, 21:27

Congratulations on the MOT Jim, mind did you really think it would have failed, it is yours afterall

12K miles from a pair of front V6 tyres, I thought you would be a careful driver Jim

Seems about on par with my C5s mind, I can imagine the Activas like to eat tread far more though.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 25 May 2011, 06:26

Citroenmad wrote: 12K miles from a pair of front V6 tyres, I thought you would be a careful driver Jim

That's just it, I am!!!

Activa tyres last considerably longer

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 May 2011, 08:31

A very interesting day yesterday

Xantia V6 was due to visit for a height corrector swap. At the appointed time I heard a nice low burbly V6 sort of sound approach my house and looked out at a big, bright red car in my drive. That's an odd colour for a Xantia. It was an odd Xantia too, one disguised as a V12 E-Type Jag

The E-Type had gathered an advisory on one of its rear wheel bearings and we took a look.

It was an education of many parts, from knocking off the wire wheels to seeing exactly how the jag IRS rear suspension was engineered. In the event, the wheel bearing was OK but there was still play. On the IRS the drive shaft forms the suspension top link and there appeared to be a lot of play in the outboard UJ. To check, it was necessary to free the driveshaft from the hub - the two are splined together in the conventional way.

"That's easy!" the owner said "One little tap after the hub nut is off and the spline will come apart..."

One little tap did nothing, bigger and bigger taps did nothing, mighty taps did the same as did a puller

The splines were well stuck together.

Finally we removed the hub and driveshaft complete so that we could apply the hydraulic press to the job. This we duly did and expected the splines to separate meekly and without fuss. One ton, 2, 3, 4, 5, pump, 8 tons, 9.... Not a peep. Finally at 10 tons the press red-lined with no movement from the shaft at all... The driveshaft was really well stuck in the hub.

After a few re-applications of 10 tons with no result, we then soaked the assembly in good old Plus-Gas, let it soak in and then tried the press again. 10 tons came up on the gauge and still no movement. Pressure released and reapplied and then BANG!!! it finally let go

And all because of a tiny bit of corrosion on the splines. A bit of a polish up with Scotchbrite saw them then sliding together and apart a treat.

The outboard UJ (A Hardy-Spicer joint) was found a bit worn and attempts were made to source a new one locally...

Shockingly, nobody around here stocks parts for '72 E-Types

Disgraceful.

So, all we could do was reassemble and order one in. Reassembly of a Jag IRS is fun. The lower hub pivot is critically shimmed to a very, very tight clearance and getting those shims back in is an art

Finally, we set up a dial gauge to measure the bearing play on both sides to check it was in limits.

Working on an E-Type was a very enjoyable diversion from the usual Citroen stuff

The E-Type is a gorgeous car and the V12 sounds heavenly

Today I'm off to chase down a very tiny LHM leak on Old V6...

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 29 May 2011, 12:45

Well done Jim. Another Hardy Spicer(gkn) may have crossed over from Land Rover or the like. Trouble is that parts guys don't have time to rake through stock as they only deal in numbers. Rimmers would have that UJ?

I have seen 15 ton on a small crankshaft BSA big end..............nothing.

Did the guy have 2 ES94 engines bolted in under the bonnet then?

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 29 May 2011, 12:51

Exellent Jim, the E-Type is a wonderful car, i was in convoy with a Aston martin DBS yesterday in the Activa and that sounded absolutly lovely.

D

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 29 May 2011, 15:19

lexi wrote:Another Hardy Spicer(gkn) may have crossed over from Land Rover or the like. Trouble is that parts guys don't have time to rake through stock as they only deal in numbers.

I phoned about 10 motor factors in the region, and 9 of them said they don't carry any UJs any more, and one was out of stock of that size.

The Jag half-shaft UJ is fairly beefy, they are used as driveshaft UJs on trucks, but could not find one yesterday.

lexi wrote: I have seen 15 ton on a small crankshaft BSA big end..............nothing.

The rear hub on the other side came apart with hand pressure (last time I had it apart).

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 May 2011, 20:12

lexi wrote: I have seen 15 ton on a small crankshaft BSA big end..............nothing.

No, 10 tons is a bit girly, I agree. It's just that I only have a girl's press and it maxes out at 10 tons...

Yesterday and today's adventures makes me think I really need a 20 ton one...

Toby_HDi came for a visit today to have new wheel bearings and swivel joints fitted to his 406 Coupe front hubs. They're all but identical to Xantia ones..

One set of bearings pressed out OK but on the other side a bit of rust had got to grips with them and we saw the press redlining at 10 tons again. Once again Plus Gas helped and finally the bearings gave up the struggle..

I normally hate swivel joints but today they were so easy. Toby brought with him a five foot long 400 ft lb 3/4 drive torque wrench. That and my old blacksmith's vice made very light work of them indeed!!! My 3 foot 1/2" breaker bar would not touch them. I have something to add to my shopping list now - a giant 3/4 drive breaker bar and some matching usefully sized sockets....

During the work, Trooper30 and Xac popped in to make it into an informal FCF mini-meet

After the hub fun, Toby and I had a look at his Activa. We found his suspension stuck firmly in hard mode and after seeing the ECU had recorded a permanent fault on the rear electrovalve, we found the electrovalve to be short-circuit. This is an unusual failure but I guess the internal diode which usually fails open-circuit decided to fail short-circuit just for a change.

We proved it was not the wiring at fault by disconnecting the electrovalve and what a hellish job this is on an Activa

The Activa balancing sphere has to be removed to offer any sort of access at all and in trying to disconnect the plug by feel alone (it's completely hidden) the plug retaining spring popped off. It appeared lost for ever but eventually was found wrapped around the ram pipes. A good hiding place as it looked as if it belonged there! The risk of trying to swap an electrovalve coil on Toby's only working car was a bit high so rather than try, Toby now has a spare, good coil to swap with the duff one when time and circumstances permit.

All in all, a very good day

I must confess I'm a bit tired now and glad it's a bank holiday tomorrow...