Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[CitroJim]

Hammonds certainly have a long and illustrious history in lots of prog rock Lexi

I adore their sound...

[Zelandeth]

Hmm, surprised it's not just the same belt as the non A/C equipped car...

It's listed as 1150mm over in the A/C section of the forum, which seems pretty close to my very vague dropping pieces of string into the engine bay, that also states that the lower eccentric tensioner needs to be removed. As it is, today's been pretty busy so I've not had a chance to look into it.

I'll be adding a bit more audio flexibility to this Hammond in due course I reckon by adding a valve based pre-amp which is a pretty easy way to gain a drive control, which you really need for any prog rock tracks... As it is, it still sounds pretty damn good I reckon and you do have a great deal of flexibility of sound thanks to the drawbars etc. It'll be a while before I'm doing anything too elaborate anyway as I'm still in the early stages of actually learning to play the thing properly. Getting it was intended to give me a bit of a kick up the proverbial rear as I'd been meaning to do just that for years.

Found yesterday evening another document that might be of interest to you Jim, here in addition to the schematics found earlier is a complete service manual. PDF Download here

[CitroJim]

Found yesterday evening another document that might be of interest to you Jim, here in addition to the schematics found earlier is a complete service manual. PDF Download here

Very much of interest Zel

[Zelandeth]

That's the most expletives I've uttered in a while.

Was helping a mate today sort out an intermittent starting issue on their car which turned out to be a dodgy ignition switch contact, I learned a lesson.

The collapsing magnetic field when you disconnect the starter solenoid doesn't half give a nice inductive kick...which if you happen to be touching the start terminal while your shoulder is wedged againt the steering column gives you one hell of a belt. That's the most painful shock I've had in quite a while, especially because it was so utterly unexpected when working on a 12V circuit.

[CitroJim]

The collapsing magnetic field when you disconnect the starter solenoid doesn't half give a nice inductive kick...which if you happen to be touching the start terminal while your shoulder is wedged againt the steering column gives you one hell of a belt. That's the most painful shock I've had in quite a while, especially because it was so utterly unexpected when working on a 12V circuit.

Nasty and so unexpected... Good job it was not me, the whole town would have heard it

[Zelandeth]

I think half the town probably did!

Not a clue what voltage it actually got up to, but it was a really solid belt and hurt for ages afterwards, definitely up there with having an argument with valve HT supplies (cheers to the designer for routing that trace right along the edge of the PCB in that telly...).

Was definitely the best "...?" moment in a while afterwards as I sat there fully aware that I'd just had an electric shock, but utterly baffled as to *how* given that it couldn't even be some odd ignition system crossover as it was a diesel car! Was a few minutes later that I came up with the theory that it must have been back EMF from the solenoid coil.

One thing's for sure, I'll not be making that mistake again!

[Zelandeth]

Air con compressor bypass continues...um...or at least it would if I could get the lower eccentric tensioner off...

[CitroJim]

If the Eccentric tensioner Allen head hex has rounded Zel, hammer in a slightly larger Torx bit and then use a long breaker bar on it...

Worked for me in the past.. The Allen bolt is a fairly standard one so easily replaced...

They do get biblically tight for reasons best known to themselves...

[Zelandeth]

It's not rounded, just as you say, biblically tight! Need to get a proper hex bit set tomorrow and have another crack at it.

That all the while when I'm trying not to damage the coolant pipe that's in the way.

Wondering does the tensioner really need to come off? Obviously will need a different belt size (1200mm ish from my very quick measurement - would double check first), doesn't look like it will interfere with anything...

...couldn't they have positioned the engine 1cm further from the chassis rail? Seriosuly...

[CitroJim]

If the replacement belt size is more or less right then you might get away with it after fully retracting the automatic tensioner Zel...

Yep, I know the issue with the pipe in the way.. Good bits that can be driven by a half inch socket and an extension are the way to go..

Get good bits as I've had some crumble when put to the test... Draper ones although I find Draper Expert is generally OK.. Non-expert Draper I'd be keen to avoid...

[Zelandeth]

Given that the belt is cheap, I'll re-measure it tomorrow and see if I can get one the right size and do it that way. At least I can prove then if you can get away with it or not! If not, I'm only a ten quid belt out.

Most of the tools I use these days are the Halfords Advanced ones. Have only had a couple of failures so far (and they were under conditions of severe abuse! - six foot breaker bar on a 3/8" ratchet with me jumping on it), and they've always just replaced them without any quibbles.

[CitroJim]

Most of the tools I use these days are the Halfords Advanced ones. .

Halfords Advanced stuff is very good... I've got a good selection of it and only busted a breaker bar under very extreme abuse involving Xantia hub nuts and a length of scaffold pipe...

Again, replaced without quibble...

[Zelandeth]

Have never really needed a hex set before, Xantia is the first car I've had that makes real use of them. Have to see if they have a bit set that I can use with the existing drivers etc...

Still reckon the "wobble socket" set I bought a few years ago was one of the best tools ever to add to my collection, that and the ratchet ended spanners - though I reckon I will need to upgrade to the ones with the hinged ring section at some point as I've found myself stuck for access on a few jobs. I don't rate Halfords for many things, their parts desk is a joke for one thing (they don't even carry BP6ES spark plugs now...), but their Advanced range tools I've always been pleasantly surprised by. Not cheap mind you, but worth it - especially when you look at the step from there to the likes of Snap-on or Franklin (if I remember them right, the mob who have colour coded anodizing for different sizes).

Got some service items for the Saab tomorrow, have noticed a very occasional misfire at idle when cold lately, so got new plugs, cap and rotor arm to go on. Also got a cheap wiper blade to cannibalise into new blades for the headlight wipers. Need to check my records and see if she's due an oil and filter change too as I can't remember off hand. Need to get myself a new Dymo Tape printer as I always used to put a sticker on the slam panel showing when it was next due, but that vanished in the house move never to be seen again.

[Hell Razor5543]

Every so often Aldi and Lidl do those ratchet hinged spanners. Next time I see them I will make sure to pop the link in my post. I have also seen them have Brother label printers for around £10.

[Zelandeth]

Cheers! Have one of their torque wrenches which has been doing Sterling service for a few years now...