Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[MattBLancs]

Oh that's fantastic, what a lovely little thing

[CitroJim]

A photo from 2008/9, built by my late Father in Law.

It uses a gearbox (3 forward, 1 reverse) from a flash sit on mower, belt driven from a 3 1/2 hp Briggs engine and feeds the back axle by chain. The disk brake is integral on the g/box output shaft.
The Jeep has long gone with the mechanical bits put into a rear engined go kart which I still have in the barn.

That's magical

[MattBLancs]

Filled up the Blue 308 SW last night,

492 miles,
£51.30, 136.7 PPL, 37.53 L
( 37.53 / 4.54 ) 8.27 gallons

59.5 MPG over the tank full!
Think on board computer suggested 60 mpg which is pretty accurate too! Amazingly good.

I must try actually trying to drive it gently, it's had cruise control at 70 when the road is clear (and often it isn't!), the never ending 50 mph average speed roadworks on the M6 help.


Other thing that surprised me is quite how long the gearing is!

30 mph in third is about 1500 rpm, (actually pulls ok in 4 th about 1100 rpm but it advised a down change to 3 rd)
70 mph in sixth is about 1800 rpm. 6th is ok down to about 55, below which again it isn't labouring but advises a down change.

In comparison, the other 308 SW, albeit a 1.6 HDi but still a ML6 six speed gearbox, is much much shorter gearing: 30 mph in fourth is near enough 1500 rpm as a comparison.

[CitroJim]

That really is excellent Matt

[MattBLancs]

Suspension clonk on the blue 308 = sorted.

Anti roll bar drop links, one ball joint very worn.

As a bit of an experiment (and because I had a pair of them "in stock" from years ago)

Anyone want to play a game of "name that drop link" ?

Old: steel, "new" plastic

Oh, suspension clonk on the other 308 is a step nearer: I realised the 3/4" deep 41mm socket in the set I've bought, has enough depth internally to accept the bottom ball joint (without modification unlike the 1/2" deep 41mm socket I bought) hopefully next weekend's task.

[CitroJim]

It amazes me that quite highly stressed components like drop links can be made of plastic!

[MattBLancs]

It amazes me that quite highly stressed components like drop links can be made of plastic!

Yes, on the car what these are intended for

Spoiler: show

306

there's also a steel version much like the 308 version.

I've read a few times the theory that the plastic versions last a bit longer than the steel ones - as it's the ball joints that give up, rather than the steel rod. Perhaps that little bit of "give" protecting the joints from some of the shock loading

[MattBLancs]

Another trailer trip, 300+ kg of plasterboard and some 3x2" timber for studwork,

Not full but a decent load

[CitroJim]

Excellent!

[MattBLancs]

Pumped the blue 308 tyres up again on Sunday (after the message came up on Thursday morning, not many miles since then)

Down to 1.45 bar (should be 2.6 or 2.7 bar on the fronts (unloaded/loaded conditions, respectively))

Pumping up by hand with bicycle track pump, as it was late on so too noisy using an electric pump or the compressor.

Don't think I'll put up with too many more re-inflation work out sessions before I give up and get some more tyres on order. Might try a new valve core at the weekend and a quick look for nails. It'll be a pair of tyres when I do the change as will step down to 55 profile from the (ex 508) 60 profile tyres the wheels came with

[darbuck]

Hi Matt, Did you get the C5 running after.

[CitroJim]

A new valve core is a good call Matt...

Pumping up by hand with bicycle track pump

That's all I ever use now on the cars... Mine works really rather well...

[MattBLancs]

Hi Matt, Did you get the C5 running after.

Hi, no I've not had chance to look at it yet. Not done the promised video either, have I?! Soon, soon, hopefully...

[MattBLancs]

A new valve core is a good call Matt...

Pumping up by hand with bicycle track pump

That's all I ever use now on the cars... Mine works really rather well...

Mine is a cheap one from Aldi from years ago. I don't think it's loosing much air, but is hard work! I'd just finished my tea and was rushing as loosing the light - was glad if wasn't all four that needed their pressure doubling to bring back to spec, that's for sure!

[darbuck]

Alright no worries. I wouldn't fancy that either.your flat out with the trailer. I got a lend of a friend of mines builders lorry to bring home paving slabs. It was an experience as he had overloaded it which I didn't realise until I was on a bumpy road and it was like driving a shopping trolley on springs let's just say it was an experience I don't plan to do again. I have more of them shift so t am going to get it again but with half the weight next time.