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

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 16 Feb 2010, 10:43

xantia_v6 wrote: I don't know how you will get it into the lounge...

Unless you knock 2 walls out of the kitchen...

I've pondered this in the past Mike

I think, personally, a nice red Activa would make rather an attractive focal point in a lounge

I think it'll be a while before the spannering starts on the project Sid, there's an awful lot of planning in a job like this and my approach may well be a bit different from that of BL Autos and Handyman. I shall need to get the potential convertee up, running and MOT'd even before thinking about doing the job proper so that all problems can be resolved first. The convertee must be in A1 condition generally before conversion starts so there are no surprises.

My V6 was a case in point. Apart from a duff gearbox, there was a myriad of other issues that only came to light once the gearbox was fixed and the car back on its feet. If I had known the full extent of those other issues before setting out, things might have been different.

Better again today

Still grotty and a bit spluttery but the old energy and desire to do something is returning

Trouble with me is that I'm so rarely ill that when I am it seems like the end of the world is nigh and recovery seems, at best, improbable

back to work tomorrow methinks...

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 16 Feb 2010, 11:31

Excellent Jim. No doubt as project evolves some details will change. Pug V6 manual gearbox?..........hens teeth without buying a full car? Having a new project is like travelling hopefully and is a nice feeling .

A whole lot different than when we were younger and had to finish any project to get car back on road for work as our only daily driver

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 16 Feb 2010, 13:21

Sounds like a decent project Jim

Koukku · Unread post by **Koukku** » 16 Feb 2010, 16:22

Yet another interesting project

Have you looked into the possibility of having a limited slip diff?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 16 Feb 2010, 22:29

Koukku wrote: Have you looked into the possibility of having a limited slip diff?

No, not sure if they're available for an ML5 but it would be a good idea

I'm feeling much better now so had a play in the workshop on the leaky Activa Ram.

I had a look into putting heatshrink around the ram joint as discussed. I needed to make a hole in the side of the heatshrink for the leakage return spigot and reckoned that hole would have to be carefully made to avoid it splitting as the material shrank. I made up a hollow punch to do the job by grinding an edge on the end of a piece of 7mm steel tube. That worked a treat.

I shrank the bandage on and ended up with this:

It looks good but sadly I think it will have been a waste of time. the heatshrink material I used is quite soft and remains so after shrinking and is able to exert no force. It is soft enough to be peeled away even though it is shrunk to perhaps only 50% of it's maximum shrink.

Ahh well, it was worth a try but I reckon it is back to the drawing board

I looked at how my recently fitted ram was leaking. Interestingly, it is leaking only when the suspension is going from high to low. Statically it is not leaking at all and nor is it leaking going from low to high

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 17 Feb 2010, 00:13

What about some high performance tape Jim? Put an oil proof membrane on first. I think Butylite or Varnamo Butyl rubber may do. It has a tape that joins it together for pond liners...........wrapped round tight. Sometimes leather can be used as a gaiter too

That area that the shrink wrap covers. If that was taken off and same area covered in High Mod Sikaflex. Then tooled in nice and smooth and finished with wet finger to a thickness of 3mm. It would be like a covereng round it once hardened........like a lead pipe with a bossed joint (wiped).

Just throwing some stuff out loud mate

Dommo · Unread post by **Dommo** » 17 Feb 2010, 00:52

What did you use to heat it up Jim?

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 17 Feb 2010, 09:36

CitroJim wrote:
I looked at how my recently fitted ram was leaking. Interestingly, it is leaking only when the suspension is going from high to low. Statically it is not leaking at all and nor is it leaking going from low to high

Doesnt surprise me. When my ram leaked due to the pipe coming off, there was very little LHM coming out when in normal or high, it was only in low it really pissed it out. The compression of the ram internals must force the fluid out, rather than the compression of the LHM from the rest of the system.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 17 Feb 2010, 21:43

The problem will then be sealing it to withstand pressure from within.

What is the undersurface made from Jim?

I know there is a relatively new product from Forte which rejuvinates rubber seals in power steering racks as an additive to the ps fluid...not sure if anything like that would be suitable or even mixable with LHM?

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 17 Feb 2010, 22:11

I am sure you can fabricate something better than the heatshrink, I would try for something a bit more positive, maybe a thickish rubber sleeve and a clamp band with a hole for the tube? Maybe I have misunderstood the problem.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 17 Feb 2010, 22:56

What about slipping a section (or two) of cycle inner-tube over the heatshrink to press the heatshrink against the ram?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Feb 2010, 21:44

No, you've understood the problem perfectly Mike and that, along with your idea Richard, is good.

The heatshrink idea was very much a MK1 and now something that really seals it is needed. I will be pursuing this and with better health on the way, the time is ripe.

I must be on the improve. I braved the elements this afternoon and replaced my leaky rear ram with my brand spanker. It was a rather soggy afternoon and busy under the car I did not even realise the rain had become torrential until it dawned on me that my lower legs and feet were soaking.

I did the job in two hours start to finish with no dramas and no douches vert or even any split LHM for that matter

You do loose a litre and a half doing the job though.

The weather got so bad I had to break off for a couple of hours and finish off in darkness.

I've been out in my Activa this evening and took it for a longish run.

Not having driven it for three weeks it was magical and reinforces just how great the Activa is

Worth every penny of the cost of a new ram! Activas rock, they really do...

Anyway, I had to get my Activa back on her feet as tomorrow my new Activa is due to arrive and it needs to occupy the driveway. More news as it happens on that

I found a slightly better method of swapping the rear ram. Do the whole job with the suspension on high so that the rear ram is compressed to its shortest length. It saves all the effort of jacking wheels up and down to get the ram out of its eyes.

It also helps to whip the Activa balancing sphere off. Just a little bit more room afforded.

It was good today to go out and play cars; just what I needed. I've missed it terribly and I think my inability to do so delayed my recovery...

In an way though, it's worrying just how necessary cars are to my wellbeing. Like a drug...

Unread post by **myglaren** » 18 Feb 2010, 22:31

CitroJim wrote:
It was good today to go out and play cars; just what I needed. I've missed it terribly and I think my inability to do so delayed my recovery...

In an way though, it's worrying just how necessary cars are to my wellbeing. Like a drug...

Pity you can't get them on an NHS prescription

Nice one with the rear ram Jim!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Feb 2010, 22:56

myglaren wrote: Pity you can't get them on an NHS prescription

Now there's a thought Steve

"One Xantia, to be taken as often as required, with LHM"

Warning, may become addictive...

I'm going to rest up my V6 for a while now and use my Activa daily for a few weeks. I'm still wondering if the chronic under-use it had last year somehow contributed to the rear ram dying so soon. Besides, the new ram cost me a lot of money so I'm going to enjoy it

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 18 Feb 2010, 23:38

Excellent Jim.

Are cycle tubes not still made of natural rubber?.........if so oil will kill it. You could hold an oil proof membrane on with long coiled springs wrapped around tight top and bottom then interlocked and cable tied or wired........ like elastic bands. Make shroud from a CV or steering rack boot OR ..what kind of membrane is in a sphere?

Get one opened Jim till we have a look