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

[CitroJim]

Righto, I'm sending Nigella Lawson around this evening to remonstrate with you...

Ohh yes please We could bake such lovely things together

Strange chap. I'd just shag her instead.

After the baking is done perhaps... Got to get your priorities right

You have to look under the bonnet at a small empty space?! Whatever for?! It has a warranty Jim! Just do what every other owner does. Fill it with washer fluid thimball's when it runs out and not worry about the rest until a month before he warranty expires

Ahh, right. Rookie error I see I have much to learn about running a brand-new puddle jumper...

Speaking of thimbles, you should see the size of the oil filter. I reckon it's on an M6 thread

[KP]

You just need to treat it as a rental for 34 months tland then nitpick every single fault with it at that point that isn't wear or rear local fraud dealership hated me as I used to get old transits when I worked at telewest and often spent their time their catching up on missed services and faults that had just been left

[daviemck2006]

And he will not find any faults at 34 months to moan about. I didn't with my 107 and it got the bonnet opened to fill screenwash between services which were pretty much oil and filters only

[CitroJim]

I did get an oil change done on the V6 and a good check-over of both Xantias but due to time restraints (got talking to neighbours) I didn't do any checks on the C1 bar check tyre pressures - which were OK.

Both Xantias were OK but I see the HP pump has a small weep on the V6 which will need doing at some point but it's OK for a little while yet.

I'll most likely do it when I do the cambelt and plugs later in the year. The car is little used now, just for long trips, so there's no great hurry.

The Activa is getting more use now because it's such fun The V6 is a lovely cruiser for a lazy long trips but the Activa is more enjoyable on pleasure trips...

It certainly made me smile today...

[KP]

If you don't already have the seals for the pump Jim I think DH has more stock then all the UK dealer network combined

[CitroJim]

I’ve a pretty good stock here Will, last time I checked... I bought a few full sets in case they ever went NFP...

[KP]

It sounds like between a few of us we might be able to put the citroen stock depot to shame as I have a few for the xm pump

[CitroJim]

Been a busy morning. House cleaned from top to bottom, gardens tidied and both Eyelashes and the Activa have had a much deserved clean, both inside and out.

Sadly Eyelashes has had to loose them because they were beginning to mark the paint on the bonnet It was amazing how they flapped about at speed.

I timed the external wash of the cars perfectly. I'd almost finished before heavy rain came on and saved me the job of rinsing and leathering them

I got a bit of a shower too

Put a new set of wipers on the Activa as I noted one had split last evening when out and about in light rain... They've not done bad. Can't recall the last time I replaced them, if ever!

Just been on the 'bay and bought a quantity of V6 oil filters, sump plug washers and a set of spark plugs for the V6 ready for the time I get an opportunity to swap them and the cambelt. Hopefully next weekend...

[CitroJim]

A good day in the workshop today. I’ve completed the disassembly of a Mazda RX-8 gearbox which we partially stripped in the week to extract the input shaft so it could be modified to work with the modified bellhousing assembly so it can mate with an ES9 engine

When we partially pulled it apart we (or I) had a worry about some unexpected pingfuckets but these were traced to a set of synchro hub detent springs and balls. Another potential pingfucket was the gear selector shaft detents. That's all sorted, the disassembled gear assemblies have been documented, photographed and packed away in an orderly fashion ready for reassembly when the modified input shaft turns up.

I must say the RX-8 'box is a gorgeous piece to engineering, just like the engine it normally lives with. I've rather enjoyed working on what to me is a new gearbox

That done I turned my attention to Kev's (Red Dwarfers) diesel pump from his 605 that's been foxing him. It will run and idle as long as the primer bulb is pressed repeatedly but stops as soon as the bulb is released. Kev sent the pump to me as a kit of parts as he'd already disassembled the pump to try to find the issue.

The car has clearly stood idle for a while as the pump is a bit corroded and gummy inside from rancid diesel. It's OK and with a good clean and polish it'll live again. I believe I've found the main causes of the problem; a gummed-up transfer pressure regulator. It would certainly explain the fault as the pump is unable to build transfer pressure but pumping the priming bulb gives just enough to allow the engine to start and idle.

That'll do for today. I must now rest up ready for Steve's (Trainman) visit tomorrow

[bxzx16v]

Have fun tomorrow Jim.

Mark

[Citroenmad]

The boost controller is no doubt an excellent addition to your Activa Jim, I couldn't have a one without it now.

Pleased your C1 has lots it's makeover!

[CitroJim]

This weekend I planned to replace the V6 cambelt, fix a weep on the HP pump and swap the spark plugs plus any other jobs that became apparent.

Sadly the weather has put paid as I knew, with all else I have on, I could not complete it in a day and planned to spread it over yesterday, this afternoon and Wednesday if needed.

Yesterday was lovely but the forecast is distinctly moist from now on so the job has been postponed. Instead I used the time to get a load of small outdoor jobs done before the remains of Hurricane Bertha hits. She certainly has hit this morning...

I'm off in the V6 to see Dad next Saturday. Already been baking for him. A cake and a batch of flapjacks so far with a batch of scones and a loaf of bread to be added on Friday. It'll be the first decent run the V6 had since the National.

Tuesday I'm off overseas again

The Isle of Sheppey

For that trip I'm driving a Vauxhall. Not really a Vauxhall - a Suzuki cunningly disguised as one

Just finished making a moussaka for dinner this evening - possibly my favourite dish of all. Looking forward to it in about 10 hours time.

I've also baked a loaf of bread this morning.

Soon off for a couple of hours of karate. In Friday's training I did my first proper bit of free sparring. Great fun! I've just ordered a set of proper sparring mitts..

This afternoon I plan on rebuilding Kev's (Red Dwarfers) Pug 605 diesel pump and get it ready for return to him on Wednesday.

[CitroJim]

It's been a good day. The moussaka was gorgeous and karate was excellent this morning

I’ve since baked a batch of scones and spent a bit of time and effort on young Kev's diesel pump.

My hope I'd get it done today was not realised. The pump is so gummy and rusty from bad fuel - possibly wet veg - that each part is needing to be carefully cleaned and polished before reassembly.

I had to disassemble the transfer pressure regulator to free it off and that necessitated the fabrication of a very little special tool to extract the spring clip that holds it together. A polish of all the bits with fine Scotchbrite did the trick.

Then I found the timing device seized solid due to gum which necessitated some very careful work to avoid damage.

Then the lift pump vanes were not sliding easily due to corrosion so it was a case of needing to polish each of those and their slots and then ensuring they could then slide freely.

That's just the start. The job is going to take me weeks! Hope you're in no hurry Kev!!!

So far, just the lift pump, timing device and main drive shaft has been reassembled. 15% of the pump perhaps?

[Northern_Mike]

It's been a good day. The moussaka was gorgeous and karate was excellent this morning

I'm glad you enjoyed it Jim. Many moons ago when I lived in Greece, a friend invited me round for food. His mum was English.

I thought she'd just made a really crappy shepherd's pie....

[red_dwarfers]

Cor, sorry to give you so much work there Jim, I must admit though, I would have struggled to go in much more detail with the cleaning at my current knowledge level. Many thanks and no rush what so ever. The 605 is comfortable in its very own garage that I bought for it!

I'll have to look into cleaning the fuel tank and pipes for certain now.