My first real drive and I got the smile factor

[Tonyw]

Hi All,

I finally went out in my stag today for the first time. I bought it in September last year and have rebuilt the engine amongst other things and finally got the MOT this week.
I got the tax this morning and forwent one month so I could go out in it today for the first time!

As the wife was coming with me and the temperature has dropped significantly I decided to put the hood up which is a little worn. Once it was up I found that the zip on the rear window has gone!!!
Is there any way of repairing it? I have currently managed to put some tie raps in to hold it!

After finally getting out and getting that grin factor you all talk about, I went to a local store and returned to drop off some items at home but found the heater was not getting hot so panicked and thought I had an air lock, although the temperature gauge was fine I think this is the old phenomena of Stag paranoia!! I then bled the system and went back out in my daily runner!

Oh well I will try it again tomorrow!!

[keeny]

Many be worth checking your heater valve is not stuck closed as they often seize up due to lack of use,im glad you are now enjoying the rewards for all your hard work
Happy motoring
Keeny

[Pete]

Many be worth checking your heater valve is not stuck closed as they often seize up due to lack of use
Keeny

Yep - mine was. WD40 and mole grips fixed it.

Enjoy the car Tony!

[AlanD]

check all the rods and cables, it will proberbly be one those, i heard the guys where cables have slipped from under the clip, this happened to me, pig of a job, and also connecting rods have come adrift, if you look in the drivers footwell you will see all the rods and the valve, slide the control and watch them and see if they move. A daft question, you did put the heater control on hot when you replaced the coolant?

hope this helps

Alan

ps if you do need a new seal for the valve LD Parts sell them, they are for the carbs but fits perfik on the valve, i have one fitted, bout 12 months now and still good, also if you need a clip for the cable you need the GREEN one same supplier

[Tonyw]

Hi All,

Thanks for the info.

I have not had a chance today to run the car today but I did set the heater to hot when filling the coolant, but as suggested the valve may have been stuck in the closed position!! I will check on all the items suggested tomorrow.

The other problem that I had is that the zip on the rear window has broken / separated does anyone know a way of fixing this or is it a new hood?

Thanks again

Tony

[milothedog]

Hi Tony,

I had this on my first run after rebuild in 2009. If the heater valve is stuck and you have moved the control there is a good chance the cable behind the lever has kinked (bent) what you need to do is get your head down in the foot well and move the control to check if it is operating the valve, if not you need to investigate and find out what's happening when you move the control through the Cold to Hot positions.


Ian

[rjahunter]

I did the same - 50 yds in our private road and just got into second ! I don't yet have either MOT, insurance or road tax so thought it was time to turn back.......

[SteveS]

I had the same problem with my Stag when picked it up in September; it had hardly been used and the heater valve had stuck. There are number of threads on this forum on this problem and I think there is a clear description on one of the Technical forums. The fix is easy but even so I found that the valve was still sticking. To get round this I started the engine and let it warm up and then I manually moved the valve until the copper pipes in the footwell turned from cold to hot. Now the Stag is very toasty. glad to hear that you are enjoying your new Stag as much as I am