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

[CitroJim]

Thanks for the caliper and carb stuff Pete Very appreciated!

I'll only let E5 near Bluebell and normally run Sally my Saxo on E5 too... Never seen ethanol-free fuel around these parts but now I know it exists I'll keep my eyes open for a source...

I gave Bluebell's carb a good clean today and found quite a lot of sediment in the bottom of the float chamber.

After a good clean and blow-out of all the jets and passages I reassembled...

To replace one of the jets I needed to make a special tool from some plastic tube!

Bluebell now runs beautifully I'm sure the TU engine runs sweeter on carbs than ever it does on the monopoint injection fitted to Sally and the S2 AXs...

Tomorrow I'll finish off reassembling under the bonnet and then check over the rear brakes...

For those who follow me on Facebook and Instagram I've posted a video of Bluebell running...

This evening I drove her into her garage for the first time... Made a change from pushing her in!

[Zelandeth]

Nearside front caliper now nicely unseized and sliding freely...



Now to do a bit of work on the carb and see if I can get the engine running sweetly ahead of the arrival of the overhaul kit...

Let me know when the kit arrives Jim. I'm more than happy to stick the body, jets etc through the ultrasonic cleaner for you before you start rebuilding it.

Obviously would make sure it was cleaned and all solvents blown out ready to go for you as I know you need to be really careful handling things like that.

Esso Supreme + fuel in our area is currently E0, though is still labelled as E5 (as there's no official label for E0 - it's "up to 5% ethanol, but doesn't NEED to contain any!).

[CitroJim]

Thanks Zel, that's hugely appreciated and good to know about the Esso Supreme + fuel

[CitroJim]

All under the bonnet is now fully reassembled

This morning I've run the engine up to full temperature and bled the cooling system... In the process I was delighted to find the cooling fan works...

Quite a discovery knowing the thermoswitch is not the most reliable of components... But then again, on the AX it's only single speed so all simpler...

One oddity I noticed is when running it yesterday with no alternator drive belt the coolant warning light was on... Now the alternator is back doing its assigned job the warning light is off...

I have a couple of new fuel filters on order... I feel I'm going to be changing them fairy frequently for a while as during the initial runs yesterday and today quite a lot of rubbish was sucked up into the filter from the tank - as seen in when draining the filter...

At all times the petrol leaving the filter was nice and clean and now, after a good run I see the fuel flowing into the filter is looking clean...

It's won't be rust in the tank as it's plastic... Most likely rust from around the filler cap bayonet which was quite rusty... In cleaning it up it's very likely a bit of the rusty dust from it fell into the tank...

Something to keep under observation...

[CitroJim]

The rest of today has been spent doing a myriad of odd jobs on Bluebell and checking all MoT'able bits again...

Her dim-dips still work - I always thought they were a great idea but they never caught on... Wonder why?

I did a plug reading as when I initially had her running at Alasdair's she was running very rich and really sooting up her plugs...

Things now look a lot happier

I then took her for a test drive along private roads...

She drives beautifully and just as I recall an S1 AX11 Hugely smile-inducing, lively, go-kart handling, nicely sprung and all with zero refinement and creature comforts bar a fierce heater All the reasons I've always loved them...

The S2 AX is still very much a smile inducer but is is much more refined and less frenetic... It lost a few of the S1's raw edges and by gosh that's something the S1 is not short of

And the Saxo, After driving Bluebell it felt like driving a Rolls Royce - very refined, smooth and quiet... An amazing difference... Sadly, as I have always known ever since I started running Daffodil alongside my Saxo, PSA succeeded in making a good practical, comfortable and functional car but managed to erase most of the fun factor from it... The same happened with the Pug 206 as compared to the Pug 205... Such a shame...

[Zelandeth]

In my van the self test for the brake warning light is tied into the ignition light, meaning it goes off along with it on startup. I wonder if similar logic circuitry has been used with the coolant temperature light in the AX.

We're travelling home tomorrow, so I should be about and available towards the end of the week. Between the inevitable jetlag - and us having roofing work starting the day after we get home - I'm likely to be short on time and brain cells for the first couple of days! Just let me know if/when you're ready to give the carb a thorough clean.

There's a lot to be said for a small, light car. I was lucky enough to have a shot of an early Metro again a few weeks ago, man I'd forgotten what a laugh they are to drive. The ability to change direction seemingly by telepathy and sheer involvement in the driving experience is something that nothing modern can seem to match.

[daviemck2006]

And the Saxo, After driving Bluebell it felt like driving a Rolls Royce - very refined, smooth and quiet... An amazing difference... Sadly, as I have always known ever since I started running Daffodil alongside my Saxo, PSA succeeded in making a good practical, comfortable and functional car but managed to erase most of the fun factor from it... The same happened with the Pug 206 as compared to the Pug 205... Such a shame...

The 107/8 and c1 were the same more refined after the 2014 new models Jim. Tha best 107 I had was the first one. It was the very basic one with an engine, gearbox, seats, heater and very little else yet it was amazing fun to throw about the back roads. My 11 plate and Shaun's 12 plate sportiums were more refined, a little slower and still fun to drive. The 16 plate new model c1 I bought felt altogether bigger, roomier, more comfortable and refined and grown up. However I didn't really like it, it seemed to lose a fair bit of it's fun character. My son in law also thought it wasnt near as much fun as the earlier ones, he had an 11 plate basic c1 new, and my daughter now has a 10 plate c1. If I wanted a tiny car again I would go back to an earlier one, the more basic the better.

[CitroJim]

The 107/8 and c1 were the same more refined after the 2014 new models Jim.

Ahh! now having had the pleasure to own a late Series 1 C1 Davie, I must say they put all the fun back into driving and I always thought they were the true spiritual successor to the AX and 205... Despite being a Toyota at heart...

If they could carry bikes I'd have one again in a heartbeat... A truly magical little car!

It does not surprise me the Series 2 C1/108/Aygo is a bit less... What was the wonderful slightly non-PC strapline advertising the S2 Aygo when it was initially released? Something about doing fun to yourself?

In my van the self test for the brake warning light is tied into the ignition light, meaning it goes off along with it on startup. I wonder if similar logic circuitry has been used with the coolant temperature light in the AX.

Could well be Zel, although logic was never a strong Citroen point! And thanks for the ultrasonic bath offer No rush, get yourself settled back home first.. I need to visit you as I'm keen to see your Cavalier - and see you of course

There's a lot to be said for a small, light car. I was lucky enough to have a shot of an early Metro again a few weeks ago, man I'd forgotten what a laugh they are to drive. The ability to change direction seemingly by telepathy and sheer involvement in the driving experience is something that nothing modern can seem to match.

Having owned several, including two MGs and a Turbo, I'd so love to drive a Metro again... My Turbo was a proper smile-inducer - especially when it came onto boost with a nice little wail from the turbo... Even the early base models were proper fun to drive and with a distinct original Mini feel to them.

The Rover 100 version of the Metro was good too... I had one...

[CitroJim]

No mechanical work done today as all the morning - as always on a Saturday - was taken up with parkrun

When I got home I was delighted to see Classic Carbs had delivered... Two days! Awesome service, especially as our Posties were on strike yesterday...

That it's for an AX10 is irrelevant as both the 10 and 11 use the same basic carb. Only the jetting is different and the 10 does not have the vacuum-assisted choke...

One little job I did do today was replace the old fuel filter. I was pleased I did as I found the fuel lines between the pump inlet and the filter and onward to the head of the tank pipe were both a loose fit on the unions and showing signs of cracking and deterioration... The poor fits may have been allowing air to be drawn in. These fuel lines have now been replaced with new pipe and the fit is nicely snug on the unions... I'm happy to see there's no run-back to the tank when the engine is not running...

The new filter is clearly flowing a greater volume of fuel and the fuel on both side of is now looking nice and clean...

I love how a carb'd TU engine fires up absolutely instantaneously from hot or cold - the starter motor hardly has to do any work! So unlike the monopoint injection fitted on both my Saxo and on Daffodil - both always needed a bit of cranking to start both hot and cold... Initially I though it was a fault but now fully believe that's how it is...

Last job today was to give all the cars, including Sian's Pixo, a good clean, both inside and out Here's the two Citroens enjoying the sunshine during their baths

They all scrub up remarkably well...

[CitroJim]

Serious spannering is now on hold for a while due to a nasty infection under one of my fingernails... Most likely from mucky old bits of AX getting under there and doing a bit of mischief Surprisingly painful too...

That'll teach me to play around with old French cars without taking adequate precautions

Now on a course of strong antibiotics and getting a tetanus jab this afternoon...

Proper mechanics gloves now procured.. No more going in bareback for me

[Skull]

No more going in bareback for me

However tempting it might be

[CitroJim]

Due to a nasty infection under a fingernail - likely as a result of unprotected spannering on an old Pug 106 scrapyard parts donor - I'm currently out of action... Unbelievably painful

I'm on antibiotics to treat it and they're working although causing some unwelcome side-effects

I also received a tetanus jab - just in case...

From now on I'll be wearing mechanic's gloves when working on cars and have just received a good stock of them...

So no work on Bluebell but today I discovered she's painted in a rare colour. Allegedly unique to the AX and only used for a year between 1990 and 1991...

It's called Bleu Liberte' and also known as Pacific Blue...

I've certainly never seen another PSA car of the era in the same colour...

Hopefully, work on Bluebell will very soon recommence...

[CitroJim]

Wearing my full protection

And all set for a good spannering session today

[NewcastleFalcon]

I am enjoying your eye for an interesting photo Jim, that's another one, virtually tells the story by itself

Regards Neil

[Michel]

And the Saxo, After driving Bluebell it felt like driving a Rolls Royce - very refined, smooth and quiet... An amazing difference... Sadly, as I have always known ever since I started running Daffodil alongside my Saxo, PSA succeeded in making a good practical, comfortable and functional car but managed to erase most of the fun factor from it... The same happened with the Pug 206 as compared to the Pug 205... Such a shame...

I always thought the "MK2" 106 I had back in 1998, a 1.4 on an R-plate was a great car. It would have been a Saxo underneath. Lovely soft ride, but immensely chuckable.