MadaboutKitcars

Your kidding, that is just ridiculous for a part with an obvious design flaw!!

Hi Patrick

Did you strain the mudguard supports at all when you fitted them - anything that could have weakened them? If not I think Marlin should supply free replacements. I wonder if anyone else (other than Stuart) has had the problem?

I wonder who would be to blame if they flew off and damaged some other property or even hurt someone.....

Best regards

Robin

PS you youngsters must be made of tough stuff - its bl00dy freezing today!

I was at Exeter show today got talking with another Sportster owner he has had the same problem with original marlin brackets and has had them beefed up to take the strain. I must say that the new Marlin brackets made from bar are very good and show no signs of weakness.

Only advice i can give for days like today out in Sportster is hood up side screens fitted and heater on full blast then its nice and cosy.

It would be good to get some pictures posted up of the old and new style brackets and whatever folk have done to beef them up.

Cheers

Robin

I collected mine in March this year.
Picture here............
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=432631171&context=set-72157600024149736&size=o

I'm pretty sure they are made from solid bar.
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1347352365&context=set-72157601913959964&size=o

I'd be interested to see where they fracture as I don't fancy the thing comming off at the SVA!

regards

Peter

Peter yours look like the new solid bar versions im sure they will be ok.

thanks, that's a relief.

I've not gotten around to photographing it yet, but will post all the pics as soon as I've done that.

Suspect I have the hollow tube version - I will take a look tonight and post some pictures. i think I will drop a "fishing" email to Marlin and see what they say....

Robin

It was raining as well for part of the trip, I need wipers for my glasses I think its more a case of its road legal and we can drive it and we don't care if it s bit cold / damp!

Had a major ground out over some speed bumps leading up to a toll bridge, its broke the extra exhaust hanger that near the middle of the car!

Mine look exactly the same but they seem to be to light to be made of solid bar.

One difference is that the welds have all been neatly ground down on mine - which could make them weaker. It would be good to see a picture of where Patrick's failed....

Robin

Sorry for the delay here are the pictures:

Wow, that's a dramatic clean break!
You were lucky you didn't loose it at speed.
I think a call to the West Country is in order. Shouldn't be any debate with a photo like that!

Have you shot any more video's?

Peter

No more videos yet Peter its not been the weather for it! We got a proper hosing down last weekend, I need to wait for a clear dry day

Here's the rest of the pictures form the second time it broke:

Thanks Patrick. When I looked at the design I thought that the failure might occur at that point. Have you asked Marlin for replacements yet? It will be interesting to see what they say...

BR

Robin

I've just emailed her the pictures, will call later and see what she says.

Positive response from Terry If they can find some (as they've packed up to move) she will post FOC.

Result!

Well thats a better result than i had well done.
I do hope all of you with the tube type brackets will be contacting Terry before you have any incidents.

Patched it up again, welded some of that steel you can get at B&Q all the way along the pipe. It's thicker than than the metal of the pipe. Its now very heavy but will do until I get the new ones.

For a laugh I worked out my MPG, the block of 100 miles including the second drive to the SVA test came in a 22mpg and the 100 miles after that 25.9mpg which I suppose it not bad from an M20 only driving B roads in a spirited manner!

The car is easy to drive, but on wet roads you need to be careful feeding in the power as a bit too much and you'll have the back end out

Gave the car a 450 mile check over yesterday. Only loose item was a jetex exhaust hanger - this is the spare one should the others snap. The metal is far too soft and just bent. Have replaced the bottom half with part of an exhaust clamp. It's still squeeling and sqeeking and low speed so it may need another solution.

The driver side wing bracket is start to show signs of failing as well now. There was a stream of rusty water flowing out of it the other day while I was out. A nice big crack forming at the front top. Welded that for now so hopefully that will hold until Marlin send me the new ones.

Took the exhaust plugs out just to see what the car sound like, this ended up as a 3 hour marathon that ended with Richard welding some metal to the plugs then using a hammer to bash them out. Took it out for a drive, at low speed the resonance around 2000rpm makes your whole body vibrate! I decided that it really was too loud for daily use like that. Richard welded some nuts to the plugs (so we can just thread a long bolt in next time to get them out). Over 2500 RPM its fine with the plugs out so I think my plan to create a flap system might work - just need to work out how now!

One final issue that came up on the way home yesterday it was idling very high (1300rpm instead of 950 - 950 is the right idle for the map it has). After some investigation today it turned out the throttle was sticking open a little bit. Moved the pedal away from the side of the car a bit (pedal box is a bit floppy here). Siliconed the two ends of the throttle cable where the sharpest bends are and oiled all the moving parts on the throttle body. Now the throttle is nice loose and easy to use again. Also readjusted it as the cable had streched a little.

Patrick,
at your SVA, did the inspector insist that you put rubber strip under the bonnet as well as along the front and rear edges?
Did you glue them on or just pushed it on?

thanks,

Peter

He did, and yes they had to be glued on - we used silicon as it was slightly easier to remove than glue.

I'm 99% sure any other test centre wouldn't have insisted on the under bonnet rubber. I think he only asked for that as he couldn't find anything else!

Thanks, Patrick.
The silicon sealer is a good idea, I had not thought of that.

I'll get some of that cheap stuff in the diy shop that doesn't stick very well

I'll have to order a lot more rubber strip...

Finally bit of construction. The original bracket that held the header tank was a bit floppy so Richard welded up a new one - nice and solid now!