Catch Up

So what have I done since the last time we met ...

The new clutch master cylinder was yet another fantastic ebay buy. The hole in which the brake pipe fits was the wrong size and thus I had to "test" an Auto Suppliers cylinder repair kit. As I am fully aware where these seals come from, I fully expect to be replacing these in the near future! Ta to Lionel for his assistance.

The winter wind and rain have not been kind to the Beast. The car port roof had to come off for the window man and it was several months before any decent weather allowed it to be put back on. The filled arches are now cracking, the filled lower front wings are cracking, the outer sills are showing signs of rust, most of the hood poppers are shafted and the bottom of the doors are bubbling. I love TR7s me.

New Beastport Roof

Action this winter has been very limited, or that is, not at all. However, the new Beastport roof is nearly complete. Unfortunately, the clutch master cylinder is now so buggered that we had to push the car out of the Beastport, where it now rests smothered in covers and ropes as it can not make the 5 yard journey up the drive. The cylinder is now a must for this weekend.

Doctor Brinton

Despite the leaky clutch I decided to go and see Guy in Redditch as he had promised to have a butchers at the timing and position of the distributor. It got there ok, nice drive actually as 2nd october was a sunny day.

He got it out, twiddled it around and put it back in. And then twiddled the carb idle screws. Et voila, there's the 2 cylinders back that I had "lost". Took it for a run. Much better, sounds better, runs better, and no more flat spots when I put my foot down.

I then showed him the green stuff brake pads that I had purchased. Off came the wheel ... Princess 4 pots already on. How TF was I supposed to know, looks like a brake caliper to me! That's £100 saved as I don't have to get any!

The drive back along the dual carriageway was fab! I fear a speeding ticket may arrive soon!

Clutch Master Cylinder

Uh oh! Everything was going so well, it passed the MOT with very little work or money. I have been driving it regularly, going on silly 10 mile drives home. And there lay the problem ... the clutch is getting a little spongy. Got to work this morning, and there is black gooey fluid running down the back of the clutch pedal, and there is no fluid left.

My clutch master cylinder has sprung a leak. Luckily, the company for which I labour provide a master cylinder repair kit for a “well known Triumph spares company”, otherwise it's about £40 for a new one.

Typically, I have booked a day at Guy's on Sunday to give the Beast a good tune. I fear this may not happen ... Uh oh!

MOT

It passed! Got an advisory for a rusty NS sill, it's a TR7, what's new. I have a brake issue though. I purchased green stuff standard TR7 pads and they were too small. So what have I got?!

Quick MOT Update

Ed has just seen the Beast being driven back from TravelGas. This means that a) I will get a call in five minutes to go and get it or b) the brakes/bush are still dodgy ...

Why I shouldn't have a classic car #642

All I needed to get was a top steering column bush and some brake pads. I decided to get some "green stuff" kevlar backed pads as they are better than standard and with standard 2 pot calipers, I need better pads.

I also decided to get two more SU piston things to replace the other two that I bent the last time I opened the bonnet. And some brake shim things and brake pin things. And a garage full of the four elements of the hood studs that keep falling off. I also got a poly lower bush. Even though the MOT suggested an upper bush.

By the time the bits arrived due to the fact that I only ordered it all on wednesday afternoon, I got the car to Phil's at 1130, which was too late to start the jobs.

I had a eureka that I had fcuked up with the bush and then spent an age contacting various people, Guy, Lionel and Ed, and various Motor Factors and specialists. To get a £4 piece of plastic next day AM, was going to cost £13 delivery. Oops.

Confession time. I phoned Phil. The carpet had apparently been rubbing against the bush and had pushed out off place. A quick fiddle put it back in the right place. And the brake pads, the kevlar posh ones that cost £10 more than standard? They are the wrong ones.

Thus, I have bought half a dozen press studs things, the wrong brake pads, the right bush even though it's the wrong one and it isn't needed anyway. Not a good day.

Although, I know now that the bush I meant to get is the same as the one in the (proper) Mini!