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

[CitroJim]

The problem is when you attempt to squeeze those three days into twenty-four hours, or an employer tries to get 35 hours' worth in three days.

It's not going to happen.. He currently gets 30 hours out of me for 4 days of work, not the 37.5 for a 5 day week...

I'm wise to that one!

[CitroJim]

My Hacker Hunter bought at NVCF for the princely sum of £8 works a treat. I fired it up using a Laptop Power Supply to give the 18V it needs. Its normal power supply is two PP9 batteries.

I'm just cogitating whether or not to spend just over a tenner on ebay and get a pair... Despite having fixed loads of them in my youth I can't recall how heavy they are on batteries now..

All I know is it sounds beautiful despite it still stinking terribly.. It can do service in the gym (conservatory) for a bit...

Hopefully over time the stink will go... It smells like it's been in a damp place for a while...

[xantia_v6]

My Hacker Hunter bought at NVCF for the princely sum of £8 works a treat. I fired it up using a Laptop Power Supply to give the 18V it needs. Its normal power supply is two PP9 batteries.

I'm just cogitating whether or not to spend just over a tenner on ebay and get a pair... Despite having fixed loads of them in my youth I can't recall how heavy they are on batteries now..

All I know is it sounds beautiful despite it still stinking terribly.. It can do service in the gym (conservatory) for a bit...

Hopefully over time the stink will go... It smells like it's been in a damp place for a while...

That reminds me that growing up in New Zealand in the 60s and 70s it was literally impossible to buy PP9 batteries due to import restrictions. We had transistor radios that were designed for PP9s, but they had to run on 6V lantern batteries (generally sounding awful) or a string of penlight batteries, which got expensive.

[Zelandeth]

Hunters from memory Jim should last for ages on a battery. Think I might have a couple of PP9s here actually, will have a look in the morning and see if they're here or still up north. If I have them you're welcome to them as they were bought in error and I don't have any sets that use them.

[CitroJim]

Mike, that might explain a few 'conversion kits' I saw on ebay to run a PP9 powered device from AA cells...

In the UK at the time there was also a smaller one, the PP7, which if you were a bit strapped for cash you could use instead of a PP9...

Zel, that's appreciated Thanks!

If they have a good battery life then that's the way to go as a portable wireless should be just that and not tied to a mains socket... I have enough of those already...

[CitroJim]

I'm pleased to report a major workshop refurbish (with much help from Team WFA) is now very much complete and completed just to deadline (yesterday) which is why I failed to appear at Little Horwood yesterday

The completion of this major task and much other foundation work has now cleared the way for the Activa V6 conversion to ramp up and progress at hopefully a reasonable pace..

I have updated my blog at http://www.activav6.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; with the latest news and there I'll be maintaining a full record of the work.

Life in general remains excellent and fully occupied.. All is good in all respects...

[bxzx16v]

It's good to hear everything is tickety boo Jim.

Mark

[DHallworth]

If you're now ready to start the Activa work, Jim, missing the D Rally seems a very worth cause!

Looking forward to watching this progress

David.

[CitroJim]

Looking forward to watching this progress

Thanks David Little bit of progress last evening in between essential gardening, essential vintage wireless repairs and turning a gorgeous glut of strawberries into jam!

Full details in the blog: http://www.activav6.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Trainman]

Jim,

Good to see you're moving on and things are progressing with the V6 conversion. Talking of the V6 David and I bumped into the new owner of your old V6 at Ripon. I know the chap quite well, (a fellow C6er) so it's gone o a good home.........

[CitroJim]

Hi Steve, that's good news I take it he's happy with it? I've not heard but then as It was sold on my behalf he may not even realise I was once its owner...

[Trainman]

He does now Jim, he was given chapter and verse..... and I believe he will be over the moon, he hadn't seen it when we spoke....... but was really looking forward to getting it from Mr A

[superloopy]

Jim ... LOTS of info and pics on that V6 conversion please even if the most basic steps. I've got a silex grey V6 and Activa on the drive wondering whether to hold or fold. Who knows ... I could be inspired if it turns out well [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND SMILING EYES] Would need my Dante red activa out of the way first ... but like your workshop tidy up, the prep us the worst part!!

[CitroJim]

No worries Mike I will be certainly adding as much info as possible and by the end I really hope it'll be a full guide to the job...

You have the ideal donors there and it'll be a lovely project. The one thing you need to get is a V6 gearbox... Luckily the same vendor I bought mine from has another. He got mine to me in less than 24 hours...

Then get a manual clutch and flywheel and off you go... Those are best got from a specialist Pug 406V6 breaker. There's one in Chesterfield whose name now escapes me except the old boy who runs it is known as Ade..

You're right about the prep being the worst part I'm so relieved that phase is now over. I'll be even happier when the remains of the donor is gone too...

[superloopy]

Thanks ... worth thinking about but bear in mind that i have absolutely no experience beyond the most basic of tasks so any write-up will be the driver. Looking forward to your progress.