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

[CitroJim]

A little over-engineering goes a long way! Or put another way, it'll likely never go wrong again!

If that ever gives a problem again I'll blame it on the quality of the resistors procured via eBay!!

My cuckoo clock is now all complete, back in its rightful place and happy

As am I, feeling good enough to go for a short run today

[Michel]

A little over-engineering goes a long way! Or put another way, it'll likely never go wrong again!

If that ever gives a problem again I'll blame it on the quality of the resistors procured via eBay!!

My cuckoo clock is now all complete, back in its rightful place and happy





As am I, feeling good enough to go for a short run today

Are you around today then Jim? I've still got a day off.. could have a ride up if it's not raining.

[CitroJim]

A little over-engineering goes a long way! Or put another way, it'll likely never go wrong again!

If that ever gives a problem again I'll blame it on the quality of the resistors procured via eBay!!

My cuckoo clock is now all complete, back in its rightful place and happy





As am I, feeling good enough to go for a short run today

Are you around today then Jim? I've still got a day off.. could have a ride up if it's not raining.

That's a real shame Mike I'm out all day today visiting family. It's the first day in ages we are all well enough to meet up!

I'm out tomorrow too. First meeting to discuss our upcoming 2023 TT race calendar.

All being well I'll see you next week Hugely looking forward

[CitroJim]

Once again I now have three cars on my fleet... More than I need but hey-ho

The status of a certain Nissan Pixo has gone from storage/looking after for my London-based daughter to all mine as her insurance is now due, as is VED. She can't afford either given the costs of living in Fulham so she's given it to me on the basis of 'Can I occasionally borrow it when I'm home Dad?...'

Actually, I need it for when Autumn is old enough to spend some quality time with me... Robyn is not happy for her to be ferried around in my Citroens, especially Bluebell, so I'll need Pix for that as she has ISO mounts for child car seats...

I don't know what Pix's NCAP rating is but it must be better than a Saxo and certainly an AX...

I'll be using Pix a lot more now to keep miles off Sally and use it as my runabout...

I can't ever see Pix becoming a classic but then, in 30 years time she's likely to be a lone survivor so maybe I should cosset her

[Dormouse]

You have just defined Classic as opposed to Rare. The two don't go hand in hand.

[CitroJim]

You have just defined Classic as opposed to Rare. The two don't go hand in hand.

I refer you to any copy of Practical Classics m'Lud... The definition of 'Classic' is defined, and has been for years there, as anything automotive over a few years old...

Therefore, by their definition, Pix is already near that status

To be honest I don't give a flying one as to definitions one way or another. If I've made you perhaps giggle with this then my work here this morning is done

[MattBLancs]

Yes, goes without saying the newer car will be safer.

Quite surprised the Saxo doesn't have isofix, PSA seemed to be quite early adopters - my 1999 306 has them in the back, I'm sure.

Side grumble: I hate the way Euro NCAP define their scoring system! I understand that technology moves on and needs to be more and more stringent to allow "excellent" to be differentiated from just "good" BUT by continuing with 0 to 5 stars they completely eliminate a useful comparison - between new and old.

I.e. a car that previously scored 5 stars would likely be say a 1 star car if tested today. If they instead added another star each year / with each new requirement then you could compare all cars and see that yes 1999 5 star car was good, but a 2023 10 star car was better. Rather than guessing a 2023 2 star car was actually safer than the older 5 star car!

[CitroJim]

Quite surprised the Saxo doesn't have isofix, PSA seemed to be quite early adopters - my 1999 306 has them in the back, I'm sure.

Not as far as I'm aware Matt but then again she has no back seats as almost as soon as she joined me I did a sort of van conversion on her to more easily transport my bikes and parkrun kit... I'll lift the floor and have a look later... Not having a back seat does of rules her out carrying Autumn anyway I definitely know Bluebell has no ISO fixings... That said, i used to carry Robyn and Sian when they were babies in the AX I had then... They used to love the motion of their baby seats sliding back and forth across the back seat when cornering Different times...

A car that previously scored 5 stars would likely be say a 1 star car if tested today. If they instead added another star each year / with each new requirement then you could compare all cars and see that yes 1999 5 star car was good, but a 2023 10 star car was better. Rather than guessing a 2023 2 star car was actually safer than the older 5 star car!

All seems a bit bizarre and yet another way to persuade the great majority to invest in new cars perhaps, playing on their fears? I know my kids take it all very seriously indeed. I have one member of my family who won't even ride in my AX - or maybe that's a reflection on how she judges my driving skills - she is, after all, an ex driving examiner and an instructor before that

I was quite shocked to learn just how badly some 90s cars did in NCAP - not least the Xantia... The Leyland/Rover Metro allegedly did so badly sales absolutely plummeted and it was withdrawn from sale forthwith... Urban legend or fact? I don't know...

[myglaren]

I was quite shocked to learn just how badly some 90s cars did in NCAP - not least the Xantia... The Leyland/Rover Metro allegedly did so badly sales absolutely plummeted and it was withdrawn from sale forthwith... Urban legend or fact? I don't know...

I was in my Accord and a Metro that I had passed earlier, in the last snowstorm of that year, ploughed into the back of the car behind me, that was shunted into me and shoved me into the car in front.
My boot lid was crumpled but there was no damage to the car in front and very little to the car behind.
The Metro just fell to pieces all over the road, poor lady driver pretty much did too. No-one hurt though.
She just forgot to stop

[CitroJim]

Sounds like she had a lucky escape Steve! I had quite a lucky one when I badly crashed my Metro in Cyprus... Good job I hit a cliff side on and not fell off the edge of the same cliff on the other side of the road into a several hundred foot drop! No Armco in those days...

Mine folded up quite alarmingly although it was repaired. Cypriots could repair anything!

I lost control after skidding on some spilt grape juice... It behaved just like black ice...

[MattBLancs]

Quite surprised the Saxo doesn't have isofix, PSA seemed to be quite early adopters - my 1999 306 has them in the back, I'm sure.

Not as far as I'm aware Matt but then again she has no back seats as almost as soon as she joined me I did a sort of van conversion on her to more easily transport my bikes and parkrun kit... I'll lift the floor and have a look later... Not having a back seat does of rules her out carrying Autumn anyway I definitely know Bluebell has no ISO fixings...
...
I was quite shocked to learn just how badly some 90s cars did in NCAP - not least the Xantia... The Leyland/Rover Metro allegedly did so badly sales absolutely plummeted and it was withdrawn from sale forthwith... Urban legend or fact? I don't know...

I think the isofix brackets are off the seat back - certainly they were on my old C4 as with seats folded (common occurrence!) They presented nice handy tie down points in the gap between seat base and boot floor - in which case they'll have gone with your van conversion.

I too heard the Metro crash results were somewhat of a nail in its coffin and sales plummeted as a result.

Am sure I've read the older "big safe tank-like" Volvo's crash results are pretty terrible by modern standards.


Conversely I've also heard the fiberglass TVRs tend to spectacularly disintegrate in a crash, but as this splintered fiberglass structure = dissipating energy, they're pretty good for the occupants.

The old adage of "speed kills" is of course incorrect, it's the abrupt deceleration that does you in

[CitroJim]

Interesting Matt In that case I'll have to make an expedition into the loft to see if my Saxo does have any ISO brackets! That's where her back seats currently live

[CitroJim]

More clock problems... Yesterday, after it's normal weekly wind, one of my grandfathers stopped after about 10 minutes and then would only run for a few minutes before stopping...

This one has always been a bit temperamental and has not been looked at in a good 50 years apart from being restrung with garish blue strimmer line about 18 years ago and a repair made to one of the line pulleys... Both done by me. Dad recommended strimmer line rather than try to source catgut...

Today, it being wet and horrible outside, I've made a start on a full overhaul. The mechanism is a bit worn after well over 200 years - possibly more - of faithful service but the big problem is dirt and gummy old oil...

I've been very brave and fully stripped the mechanism so I can give every part a thorough clean before reassembly and sparingly lubricate it with the correct oil.

There's a lot of bits but I've taken photos and laid them out logically to ease reassembly...

A while back I sourced some new catgut for when I restring it. It's not real catgut but a modern synthetic version. At least it looks like proper catgut and is not bright blue!

I did think about making a new baseboard...

But no, the old one is part of the history and fabric of the clock, it's still able to do its job and although it's a bit historically worm-eaten, it will stay...

Will I be able to reassemble it and will it ever tick again? I must admit it's a bit nerve-wracking working on a true antique and venerable clock like this...

I used to watch dad doing jobs like these on many clocks when I was little so hopefully I've acquired enough of his skills to manage it...

Stay tuned...

[mickthemaverick]

I'm sure that will return to being a fine clock Jim, just take your time (no pun intended) and breathe new life into it as you go

[CitroJim]

I'm sure that will return to being a fine clock Jim, just take your time (no pun intended) and breathe new life into it as you go

Fingers crossed!

I'm regretting not bidding on the box of assorted mechanisms at the auction Mick... I could have done with a few small items from it but having to take 11 complete clocks as well put me off... I should have taken the hit