In one of the threads currently running, a member raised a call for a compendium of tips and solutions that would help members work their way out of some insurmountable mechanical problem they were facing.
We have cars that are getting on a bit and some components which have gone past their useful service life just don't want to be dislodged. The 'book' method doesn't help any more as the component has become too stubborn with age and alternate methods have to be used to effect the repair. I'm thinking, for instance, about removal of seized cylinder head studs, water pump bushes, ball joints, rubber bushes, caliper pistons, macpherson struts removal, seized nut/bolt in aluminium and so on. This isn't about the uninstalling and re-installing of components which in themselves are tricky, but tips on how to deal with the part that simply won't disassemble or is really difficult to reassemble. By the nature of this subject, all sorts of practices never envisaged by the workshop manual etc. will be required, so we'd have to bear in mind that suggestions would be best limited to 'Old Engineers Tricks' lest there is much danger and the ugly liability monster rears its head in our midst.
Some subject areas can be answered by simply appending the URL which points to the relevant article amongst our postings, but others may require a description of something you have done which has solved an otherwise insurmountable problem (an old engineers trick) which serves a purpose on the Stag very well.
If there is enough content, it could be a valuable help to an enthusiast who hasn't met a particular problem before and desperately needs some 'ready reference' pointers and tips that he can try before opening a thread. If you're willing to contribute to this thread, I'm happy to cobble responses into a submission for the 'How To' section, probably indexed alphabetically by the main component. Even an URL that points to a suitable subject will do, but I'll edit the 'chaff' out.
To set the ball rolling, I'll have a go at the Ball Joint Removal subject I suggested above, as they can be pretty stubborn so-and-so's. Any other takers?
With best wishes,
Duncan, Skye
We have cars that are getting on a bit and some components which have gone past their useful service life just don't want to be dislodged. The 'book' method doesn't help any more as the component has become too stubborn with age and alternate methods have to be used to effect the repair. I'm thinking, for instance, about removal of seized cylinder head studs, water pump bushes, ball joints, rubber bushes, caliper pistons, macpherson struts removal, seized nut/bolt in aluminium and so on. This isn't about the uninstalling and re-installing of components which in themselves are tricky, but tips on how to deal with the part that simply won't disassemble or is really difficult to reassemble. By the nature of this subject, all sorts of practices never envisaged by the workshop manual etc. will be required, so we'd have to bear in mind that suggestions would be best limited to 'Old Engineers Tricks' lest there is much danger and the ugly liability monster rears its head in our midst.
Some subject areas can be answered by simply appending the URL which points to the relevant article amongst our postings, but others may require a description of something you have done which has solved an otherwise insurmountable problem (an old engineers trick) which serves a purpose on the Stag very well.
If there is enough content, it could be a valuable help to an enthusiast who hasn't met a particular problem before and desperately needs some 'ready reference' pointers and tips that he can try before opening a thread. If you're willing to contribute to this thread, I'm happy to cobble responses into a submission for the 'How To' section, probably indexed alphabetically by the main component. Even an URL that points to a suitable subject will do, but I'll edit the 'chaff' out.
To set the ball rolling, I'll have a go at the Ball Joint Removal subject I suggested above, as they can be pretty stubborn so-and-so's. Any other takers?
With best wishes,
Duncan, Skye
Martin.
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