Life on the edge - the Diary of a C5

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!!

Today is my Adoption Anniversary! 6 years with Papa!!

The good news is that all my repairs are now completed. I have a nice, new rubber over my rear suspension cylinder and 2 new front balljoints fitted along with some new wiring to my front brake wear warning sensors. The wires had frayed where they passed through the bracket on my hubs so new wire from behind my inner wings to the sockets. Soldered and everything! With proper heat shrink over the joints. That blow torch is hot!

I now just need new valves on my rear tyres but Papa is preparing some stylish alloy wheels from a Xara VTR+! So are new front tyres on the agenda? Daddy's iPad says so!!

Hoping to see some of you on the road soon.

Otterchops.

[bobins]

Happy anniversary Otters

[CitroJim]

Gosh how time flies! I can well remember when you first appeared in these pages Otter Happy anniversary and delighted to hear all is well

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!

Well, I have FINALLY passed my MOT and it just shows how important they are. Last time out, I failed with excessive movement on the front near side wheel. Papa assembled his tools and set to work. The problem was not the bushes but the through bolt on the front bush that was slightly loose. Suitably tightened with Papa's BIG wrecking bar I have passed.

Papa says that not only has the clock gone from my front suspension but my steering feels sharper again.

Now to get my nice alloys fitted.

He did try but ATS lied to him regarding their ability to fit tyres to centreless wheels. They then needed chasing up to get the refund. Needless to say, Papa is NOT HAPPY and with good reason I think.

It does mean I can take my dog for a walk anyway. Well, I think she's mine.....

Love

Otterchops.

[CitroJim]

Congrats on the MoT Excellent!

[harryp]

PM sent!
Regards, Harry

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!

Well, 2020 was not what any of us expected! I've hardly been out so haven't burned much diesel. This lead to an embarrassing problem this week when my fuel lines waxed and I could not start. Papa has bought me some more diesel that has an anti-freeze (Winter Diesel) to try and stop this happening again but then it is August that he last bought any diesel. Tight sod!

I will have to wait for my nice alloys because Dadd's Phone is not well, having trouble taking a charge. When he saw how much repairs would be (Cries of HOW MUCH!?!?!?!) he investigated a new one. More cries of HOW MUCH?!?!?!? So he looked for a second hand one. Still a lot of money but just one payment. Still, his Wallet, a true Yorkshire Wallet if ever there was one, is plotting.....

I have also been used to haul the eviscerated reminds of the Washing Machine to the Dump. He tried to fix it, even ordered new bearings to discover the large cast metal spider behind the drum had corroded and broken up. Cue a lot of Naughty Words and a Test for my rear suspension.

I am enjoying having a Greyhound. She rides in the back with Mummy and is no trouble at all. I think Lily appreciates my air conditioning and comfy ride. She goes to sleep anyway in the car!

Love

Otterchops.

[CitroJim]

Good to hear from you Otterchops

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends!

Papa has a little job to do on my powerful engine. I am still a grumpy starter, even with the warmer weather and Winter Diesel in my tank. Papa sprayed my glow plugs with WD40 which cured it for a bit so there's some dirt to be removed.

Also, when Papa fitted my new door locks after some nasty, unspeakable git tried to nick my diesel, he dropped one of the door handle bolts down inside my door. Idiot! The drivers' lock now does not work. Can he get a new bolt from somewhere or is it a new handle to strip for parts? As for getting the remotes to work, he's failed UTTERLY!! Even with Lexia to hand.....

He may be an Old Fool but he's My Old Fool.

He's getting his 1st COVID jab tomorrow and taking my greyhound for a walk.

Love

Otterchops!!

[Xantianut]

Hello, Friends.

Papa has come up with a Plan to have my alloys machined so they can go on a standard wheel balancer.

What is the best size for the hole re strength and easy Access?

Love

Otterchops

[white exec]

Tempting, but if these are centreless alloy wheels, be cautious about removing metal and possibly introducing a weakness where none existed before. In the event of an accident, some awkward questiins could be asked.

[bobins]

The attachments that adapt centreless wheels to go on standard wheel balancers are relatively common, but you do have to seek out a tyre place or garage that both has the kit and knows how to use it. Part of the problem is that the garage won't want the faff of taking off the shaft that's used with a standard cone and putting on the adapter, so they'll say they can't do it

This is the sort of adapter:

Centreless adapter 1

Centreless adapter 2

[white exec]

Centreless wheels were, apparently, fitted almost exclusively to Citroen and Peugeot vehicles, according to my local indy tyre fitter - who keeps a (now new and expensive) 3/4/5 stud centreless adaptor to hand.

The adaptor needs to be properly set for however-many studs, and then put on to the balancer machine shaft and itself spun up to "zero" it.
As bobins says, many fitting bays can't be bothered with this, or simply don't know.

On my return trip from Scotland (after an NC500 week with Davie, and a new pair of front tyres), I had hopeless attempts by tyre fitters to do the balancing in
- Inverness (visits to three fitters, including Peugeot)
- Warrington (two fitters)
- Bordon, Hants (complete fiasco)

Finally got home (UK to Costa del Sol) to have my local guy do it in <15 mins, and without hitch.
____

I was warned not to attempt machining out on XM 'Monte Carlo' alu centreless, because of the structural importance of the centre portion.

[bobins]

There are other centreless adapters out there - there's a version with a drilled out plate where you place the studs in the matching holes......

Centreless adpater 4

It still requires the shaft (for the standard cone adapter) to be removed from the balancer and this to be mounted, then the calibration process to be done, then the wheels balanced. Not a showstopping process in itself, but not the sort of thing your average tyre monkey wants to be doing on a Saturday morning.

I think more and more you'll only find the adapters being used in specialist PSA garages or by the enthusiast with their own wheel balancer at home.

[white exec]

Centreless on Citroen goes right back to 2CV (maybe further?), and lots of more recent O.E. alloys.
Fortunately, southern Spain is awash with Citroen vehicles, and not rusting, so good support here, indy's included.

As decently-equipped as I am, I think I draw the line on a wheel-balancing machine here