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

[CitroJim]

Gosh! I only meant my comment about vintage WD-40 being collectable in jest! Just goes to show...

The clock movement is now fully reassembled and is currently on soak-test before final assembly of the face, hands and the top case..

I'm going to have to get a new baseboard made as the old one is so badly warped in all directions it makes levelling the movement very difficult... I have a feeling it's weak as it seems to bow a bit under the weight of the weights...

I'll have to farm that job out as I'm allergic to sawdust and have no woodworking skills or tools whatsoever..

I don't know what's in the clock oil but I seem a bit allergic to that too, as I am to white spirit - the major constituent of WD-40 - and other solvents. The only solvent I'm reasonably OK with is brake and clutch cleaner...

[mickthemaverick]

Do you have a suitable place to farm that out to Jim? If not you may like to consider my mate who hopefully we'll visit on Thursday. He is a highly competent engineer whose hobby is rebuilding watches as well as anything else that comes along. He was the man who built our kitchen from scratch including all the worktops which appear seamless!!

[Gibbo2286]

If you have watched Henry Cole's TV series 'Find it fix it flog it.' you will have seen stuff that's little more than 'tat' can fetch really silly prices.

[myglaren]

What about 'baby oil' Jim?
IKEA have a version for oiling chopping boards with that is baby oil without the smell. Expensive though. Just a low viscosity mineral oil.

[RichardW]

That base board looks very rough, Jim - original, or a later addition do you think? Is the thickness critical? And what about the slot in the surface on the RH side - required or just some historical quirk? Really you'd need a nice piece of hardwood already well seasoned then cut down to size (needs to be well dried out, or it too will warp!). If it didn't need to be too pretty I could probably make something. I've got a nice piece of Elm here, but I'd need to think of a way to reduce the thickness as it's about 2" thick!! Actually I think my mate's got a thicknesser...

[CitroJim]

That base board looks very rough, Jim - original, or a later addition do you think? Is the thickness critical? And what about the slot in the surface on the RH side - required or just some historical quirk? Really you'd need a nice piece of hardwood already well seasoned then cut down to size (needs to be well dried out, or it too will warp!). If it didn't need to be too pretty I could probably make something. I've got a nice piece of Elm here, but I'd need to think of a way to reduce the thickness as it's about 2" thick!! Actually I think my mate's got a thicknesser...

I think it's likely to be original Richard... It's a typical Grandfather of the period using a standard bought-in movement - from Birmingham in this case - with the case having been put together locally, usually by a local cabinet maker. This one was built in my home town. According to dad the job of making clocks was a side-job when other work was scarce. Another side-job was coffins! Dad was apprenticed in a cabinet makers...

So on that basis, any wood lying about might have been used for the baseboard and other non critical parts... You can see the variety of scrap wood used by looking in hidden places... These clocks are a bit like Arthur Daly cars - good on the surface...

But yes Richard, the wood requirements for the new baseboard you have absolutely spot on Not the sort of stuff you'd get from the local DIY outlet... I have no idea where I'd get a suitable bit from nowadays around here...

With my automotive hat on, I'm wondering if a nice piece of ash might be good? It's good for car bodies and Moggy Minor Travellers...

The slots and holes are all functional. The two big slots allow the weight lines to play out across the width of the drums/spools as the clock winds down, two holes are for the movement mounting bolts and the other two as line anchors. The old board can be used as a template to make a new one...

It definitely needs renewing but I must keep the old one as part of the history of the clock.

What about 'baby oil' Jim?
IKEA have a version for oiling chopping boards with that is baby oil without the smell. Expensive though. Just a low viscosity mineral oil.

Good thinking Steve I'll see if I can borrow a bit from Autumn for a test... I'm sure she'll understand - especially as the clock might well be hers one day!

Do you have a suitable place to farm that out to Jim? If not you may like to consider my mate who hopefully we'll visit on Thursday. He is a highly competent engineer whose hobby is rebuilding watches as well as anything else that comes along. He was the man who built our kitchen from scratch including all the worktops which appear seamless!!

No, not anyone or anywhere I know around here Mick... We can discuss more on Thursday - looking forward to that immensely - and I can bring the old baseboard along...

[MattBLancs]

Stuff that is out of sight isn't given much finishing some times.

Off the wall suggestion / offer of help:

I have Aldi's finest router and some spare pieces of 28mm solid beech worktop. This is the usual "stuck together blocks" but machines nicely and is strong.

If you can give us some dimensions then I would be happy to have a go if you want?

[CitroJim]

Stuff that is out of sight isn't given much finishing some times.

Off the wall suggestion / offer of help:

I have Aldi's finest router and some spare pieces of 28mm solid beech worktop. This is the usual "stuck together blocks" but machines nicely and is strong.

If you can give us some dimensions then I would be happy to have a go if you want?

That would be awesome Matt, thank you I think that beech worktop will be fine as it definitely won't warp! And it's not visible when the clock is all together. Likely to last another 200 years too

I'll do an accurate drawing of the old one later today...

[CitroJim]

I've been taking full advantage of the reasonably fine weather today so no clock work... That's for tomorrow when the rain returns...

After a visit to the dentist for a routine check-up, where it was found I need a small filling I did a load of domestic work and hung out a line of laundry before going for a cold, occasionally wet and very windy bike ride... When it wasn't wet the sun shone a treat It was a good ride and pedalling into such a strong wind is good training. Last time out I noticed my HR was unusually high - a sign I was not quite fully recovered from what laid me low over New Year. I was pleased to see my HR was back to normal during today's ride

After that I did a bit on Bluebell... I'd never been happy with the fuel filter position and the quality of the fuel lines to and from it... The fuel filter, having the wrong tilt on it was not ideal.

Original fuel filter arrangement

So today, armed with the correct specification of pipe, stuff properly rated for unleaded petrol and bearing the correct markings, I made it a little better and put the filter in both a better place and correctly orientated and with as near to the correct routing to the fuel pump as possible.

I'm still not happy. I discovered these fuel filters soon get hard and brittle in the presence of petrol. I'll be procuring a proper metal bodied filter with a glass sight bowl on it and then I'll be happy the job is done properly...

I've not found one I'm content with yet. If anyone has an recommendations for one with 5mm inlet and outlet spigots then please do

I was never happy with Bluebell's clutch and thought it was on its way out as the clutch pedal sat significantly higher than the brake pedal and made driving a bit of an issue at times as my foot could foul on the side of the clutch pedal when going for the brake. Not ideal at all and potentially dangerous.

Today I checked it's adjustment and found it grossly maladjusted...

Properly adjusted to bring the pedal heights the same has transformed the clutch operation and made Bluebell an even nicer drive

My fears the clutch was badly worn were totally unfounded

And I really must de-rust the brake servo and make it look nice

And my laundry almost fully dried today in the sunny wind

[Hell Razor5543]

A program you might want to watch, Jim, is "The Repair Shop". It is on various channels; normally BBC1 but also on 'catchup' channels such as Quest. One of the specialists is Steve Fletcher, who is a four generation clock smith (and his son is following him into the trade). Some of the clocks he has worked on are unusual, and he (on the Royal special) worked on a clock for the then Prince Charles.

[CitroJim]

I will do James, thanks

I've only ever known one Steve Fletcher... I'm not sure he was into clocks but I often had a big urge to clock him

[CitroJim]

It's a wet play day today so it's back to the clock...

I found a bit of MDF in my workshop which is ideal for making a new baseboard for the clock movement...

I donned facemask, pulled up my big-boy pants and set to work. I have no woodworking tools so I'm making do with metalworking tools...

The state of play at lunchtime:

A bit rough and not in keeping withy the rest of the clock but then again, the old board was made very roughly... What dad used to call an example of 'hedge carpentry'...

At least a thick piece of MDF is strong, won't warp and will be unattractive to the woodworm...

I'll sign and date the finished article for the benefit of those that will inherit the clock

[CitroJim]

The new baseboard under test Just the going train for now...

So far, so good... The little translucent thing sitting on the baseboard nearest the camera is a baby spirit level. The movement must be levelled in both planes and the pendulum must hang plumb for reliable operation...

I'll give it a day to settle and then reassemble the striking train to test that before final reassembly...

[Hell Razor5543]

Jim, have you seen the two part program "Longitude"? It is about the clock maker John Harrison (and, to a lesser degree, Rupert Gould) who developed a working chronograph that helped mariners know their position. The former is played by Michael Gambon, with the latter Jeremy Irons. I saw it on Channel 4 ages ago, but it is available on DVD.

[myglaren]

Excellent film.