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

[Zelandeth]

At least there doesn't seem to be the same degree of deliberate sabotage on the redways in MK as on the cycle paths in Oxford.

A friend of ours ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks a few years ago when they ran into high tensile fishing line that was tied across the cycleway at head height.

The police response was "it happens all the time, nothing we can do." The doctors said he was very, very lucky. An inch higher he would have been blind as it would have hit him square across the eyes. A few inches lower, he likely wouldn't have survived.

[CitroJim]

A friend of ours ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks a few years ago when they ran into high tensile fishing line that was tied across the cycleway at head height.

That's horrendous Zel Tantamount to attempted murder... In fact if the police could have appended the person who had me off my bike in the hit and run that's what the charge would have been...

He, like I, was very lucky. Thank goodness...

The police response was "it happens all the time, nothing we can do."

That's disgraceful and a clear abrogation of duty

This afternoon I've been replacing blown bulbs in Daffodil's instrument pod and heater panel

As she's a Citroen, the job was not straightforward The new bulbholders were just a tad larger than the originals so some gentle work with a file was needed!

I bench-tested the pod before letting it back near the car...

Bench test!

That looks good Now to test in-situ before reconnecting the speedo cable...

In-situ test of all lights....

Even better

And the heater panel is now nicely lit... It was previously totally dark...

The heater panel at night!

I can't reconnect the speedo cable and reassemble the dash just yet as the arm that has to pass through a small gap to do the job currently cannot due to the gravel rash on that arm being in a critical state of healing...

[NewcastleFalcon]

I can't reconnect the speedo cable and reassemble the dash just yet as the arm that has to pass through a small gap to do the job currently cannot due to the gravel rash on that arm being in a critical state of healing...

Pity its not bob-a-job week Jim Get it done under your supervision for a shilling!

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/t ... 42343.html

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

I can't reconnect the speedo cable and reassemble the dash just yet as the arm that has to pass through a small gap to do the job currently cannot due to the gravel rash on that arm being in a critical state of healing...

Pity its not bob-a-job week Jim Get it done under your supervision for a shilling!

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/t ... 42343.html

A great idea Neil It certainly needs a slim arm to do the job My arms are very slim and even with my girly hands I can only just do it... Makes me wonder how on earth anyone with normal man-sized hands and arms ever managed it...

Unless it was the accepted practice to engage the services of one of their children after suitable tuition!

[mickthemaverick]

I used to love Bob-a-Job week when I was a scout. You got to go in houses that you had only admired from afar and always to do simple jobs. I don't remember ever having to really work for the bob, just things like go to the shop for bread or take the pop bottles back etc. I still have a few of the Job Done stickers somewhere which we used to hand out so householders could prevent further calls to their house. Good days!!

[CitroJim]

Today was rocker box gasket day for Daffodil

What a job!

The old gasket had gone hard and was cracked...

This cracked me up...

To extend it's life a good deal of silicone sealant had been used on it in the past

Silicone layer 1

Silicone layer 2

It was top-quality stuff and it took me hours to remove it all

I then cleaned everything up, including the baffle and rocker box itself

baffle plate before cleaning

Squeaky clean!

In the process I found a one of the spacers that hold the baffle tight was missing... This may account for the odd little rattle I have at slow idle...

Baffle spacer

I will have to fabricate one on the lathe but that means pushing Daffodil out of the garage...

Daffodil, you're in the way!

I was pleased to see the engine is nice and clean inside

A nice clean engine

And here's the rocker box all clean and with a nice new gasket - all ready for refitting

And all done!

As always... To be continued

[Hell Razor5543]

Remember to leave one tiny, insignificant problem behind; nothing serious and something you can live with, otherwise a Citroen without a problem will create a new and unique problem, just to feel normal (and it will take AGES to work out WHAT it is and how to fix it!!!).

A blown light bulb will be enough to keep Daffodil happy.

[CitroJim]

Remember to leave one tiny, insignificant problem behind; nothing serious and something you can live with, otherwise a Citroen without a problem will create a new and unique problem, just to feel normal (and it will take AGES to work out WHAT it is and how to fix it!!!).

very true James! That'll be her clock then It's going to be a really big job to fix with a great risk of damage to the instrument pod...

The clock currently believes there only about 15 hours in a day

[mickthemaverick]

The clock currently believes there only about 15 hours in a day

That's right isn't it? Up at eight, you can't be late for Matthew & Son.....etc, then bed at 11 time to go to heaven!!

[CitroJim]

The clock currently believes there only about 15 hours in a day

That's right isn't it? Up at eight, you can't be late for Mathew & Son.....etc, then bed at 11 time to go to heaven!!

Mick, love it You're on the ball today

[Zelandeth]

It's always nice when you open an engine up and find it's a good deal cleaner than expected. Still remember being somewhat surprised when I pulled the timing cover off the van to change the gasket (which utterly failed to fix the leak I might add!) and found this.

Doesn't save me from having one annoying sticky hydraulic tappet though on one of the inlet valves. It usually wakes up after a few minutes but still bugs me.

I'm assuming these things spotted dotted over Linford Wood at the weekend were something to do with one of the running events in the area? Figuring that if anyone would know you would, Jim!

Makes a change to find something new there other than abandoned electric scooters.

[CitroJim]

I'm assuming these things spotted dotted over Linford Wood at the weekend were something to do with one of the running events in the area? Figuring that if anyone would know you would, Jim!

I've no idea Zel... No running events there to my knowledge this weekend past and not part of the 6-Pack series... I will look into it...

[RichardW]

That's an orienteering marker, the thing hanging next to it is a punch that is used to mark the card to prove you have been there.

[Zelandeth]

That's an orienteering marker, the thing hanging next to it is a punch that is used to mark the card to prove you have been there.

Thanks! I learned something today.

Was just quite surprised to see so many pop up seemingly overnight. I assume there must have been something on at the weekend.

[Armidillo]

...

I'm assuming these things spotted dotted over Linford Wood at the weekend were something to do with one of the running events in the area? Figuring that if anyone would know you would, Jim!



Makes a change to find something new there other than abandoned electric scooters.

I can add a little bit more (yes we have weird Swedish sports in Australia as well as weird French cars!). I have set a number of orienteering courses, and although the course setter checks the control sites in advance, the flags are typically hung at the last moment, and pulled in again quickly after the event. This minimises the chance of flags disappearing, which rather spoils the fun. It also minimises the chance that competitors who might be training in that area could gain an advantage by learning where some of the flags are before the official competition.

The thing on the left is an SI (Sport Ident) unit, which replaces the punch and card mentioned by Richard (so last century!). The SI unit is programmed with the control number and the time and date. Instead of a punch card, the competitor carries a micro-chip encased in an elongated plastic stick. The competitor uses a map with all the flag locations marked on it to find each flag in turn. On finding the flag, he/she plunges the stick into the hole in the SI unit. Using the magic of very short distance wireless data transfer, the control number, time and date are "stamped" onto the microchip stick.

At the finish, the contents of the stick are downloaded onto a computer. The winner is the one who visits all controls in the right order and in the quickest time. The SI system makes cheating virtually impossible - not that orienteers would cheat, as they are all jolly good chaps .

Jim, I'm a bit surprised you're not more familiar with orienteering, given your enjoyment of the the great outdoors, plus I understand you have a military background (Orienteering was developed as a training exercise for the Swedish military). It is a great way of combining physical and mental exercise - you are reading the map and solving puzzles (how to best find the flag) while trying to keep moving across often rough terrain as quickly as possible.

However I have found many runners are focused on improving their times on known circuits that they run regularly, and don't find the idea of every run being unique their idea of fun at all - each to their own!

Cheers

Alec