Win one, lose one.
Since bleeding the brakes I've had zero enthusiasm for things mechanical as the A352 has been playing silly buggers yet again.
Yesterday I had a slight feebleness bypass and decided to address a couple of Weber related problems. The first was the attachment points for the air cleaner. There are four M5 tappings in the carb. body, two if which were completely stripped, and the other two almost. Looking at the meagre amount of cast ally around these, I'd previously fought shy of tapping them out to M6, as disaster seemed to be beckoning. Sod it, I thought, it's got to be done. I gaffer taped over the choke holes etc., carefully cleaned my M6 tap and set to with extreme caution, backing off every couple of turns and popping a drop of oil in to pick up the swarf. A nervous 40 minutes or so later the job was done.
Next question: screws or studs? I decided on the latter, cut four to length, thoroughly cleaned both them and the carb. tappings with acetone, and screwed them in with Loctite. Another job done. The second problem will have to wait.
I quit while I was ahead.
I'd been to Sainsbury's in the Lotus earlier and thought I'd go for a spin as the forecast for the rest of the week wasn't too clever. Despite the brilliant sunshine and the Lotus being bright red, I wasn't able to.
I generally think of Gloucester as fuckwit central, but this took the biscuit, the surprise being that it was 'only' a BMW rather than a Chelsea Tractor. I couldn't be fagged to go knocking on the doors of my legion of numpty neighbours so, despite the miniature Satan on my shoulder urging me to key it or douse it in brake fluid, wrote a polite (yes, really!) note in huge black felt tip and trapped it under a wiper. I heard it leave as dusk fell.
Regards, Mick
I did one myself outside my gate using aerosol line marking paint so I could get my motorbike in and out. Did it make a blind (yep) bit of difference? Nope. Gloucester is technically a city but the mentality is that of an isolated medieval village...
Thanks for kind words regarding the S4. It garners nearly as much interest as the A352
. I'm displaying it at the Castle Combe Historic meeting this weekend, I'd better get the bucket and sponge out!
Regards, Mick
Surely they won every time, what with their extra fingers giving them superior ball grip?
The after game banjo concerts weren't much consolation either...
Regards, Mick
Woo Hoo!
Today the nice postperson delivered my new V5c
'Triumph Moss Monaco'. That'll do.
Re-bleed brakes; cover seats; get her running properly; buy insurance; job done.
Maybe I can replicate the original inspirational photograph this Yuletide after only four years?
Regards, Mick
Homing in....
Yesterday I wandered down to the sunlit cave and re-bled both the clutch and brakes, this time successfully. Riding that wave, and with a freshly charged battery and a squirt of ether, I fired her up. Lumpy and reluctant to idle, but running
. The next two days are forecast fine here in Gloucester, so I can have a good game under the metaphorical bonnet.
It seems that, at long last, I have a genuine purchaser for the A352. Its insurance runs out on 2 December so perhaps everything will fall nicely into place?
Regards, Mick
One step forward...
Thanks for supportive comments everyone
, I'm not getting excited over closing a deal on the A352. Given all the past disappointments I'll believe it when it's trailered away and I have a wad of 50s in my pocket.
Anyway, back to the Monaco. In yesterday's clement weather I enthusiastically marched down to the cave hopeful of making meaningful progress. I decided to go back to basics on the engine. I cleaned and reset the points, set the static ignition at 6° advanced and adjusted the throttle stop and idle mixture jet screws on the DCD to their basic settings. Using full choke she started instantly and after immediately moving the choke to the intermediate warm up setting she ran very sweetly - result. Unfortunately the brand new starter solenoid decided to ignore its 12v signal from the ignition switch so I had to use the button. I started her again but this time the solenoid stuck on. Damn! I took it off, removed the rubber cover and liberally applied WD40 around the button whilst working it. I also gave it a couple of stiffish belts with a hammer. Replacement revealed an operative button but still no response to the ignition switch. I double checked both its earth and trigger voltage but no change
. Hoping the WD40 might work its magic overnight I called it a day.
Regards, Mick
Hi Paul
It's undoubtedly a Monaco, and it's one I hadn't seen before. Thanks for posting. Looking at the supplementary grilles and giveaway wheels I agree with Dpaz that it's 2CV or Dyane based. The body behind it looks to be a Lomax 223/4.
The three in the link are also Monacos, I like the one on wires, well disguised but clearly Spitfire/Herald/Vitesse/GT6 underpinnings.
I'll post a picture and the link on the Moss Owners FB page and await developments.
Regards, Mick
Hi Paul
Apologies for delay in replying. That's a new one on me, thanks for posting.
Nice dash, apart from the flip up starter, too plasticky for my taste. Carpets, in a Monaco? Knuckle protection required with that gear stick position! At least it's X-Flow powered, rather than P*nto (swear word in my book). Shame there's not a rear view, are they mirrors on the back mudguards
?
I went with a friend and looked at a Ford (Fix Or Repair Daily) based one in Bristol about ten years ago. We dragged it out of the lock up on its flat tyres to find it was thick with rust, scary wiring, no engine or gear box, and a very tatty interior. Only the body was really worth saving. He wanted £450 so I took a pass on it.
Regards, Mick
Hi Dpaz
No. The one we looked at was green and had been on the road. The Ebay one was red and didn't look to have been completed, let alone registered.
Regards, Mick
At last, a little progress!
Over the last week or so, shrugging off the winter/coronavirus/sale of Lotus and A352 blues, I tackled the covers for my two part backrest. Not having used a sewing machine before, I practised on some scrap pieces of vinyl uintil I could run a halfway decent seam. I'd first given the machine a service, discovering that its been designed for much smaller Germans than mine. Working out the most economical layout for cutting out the panels from the roll took a good while, as did marking them out. Anyway, I bit the bullet and machined the simpler passenger's side first and fitted it using staples around the back. I then moved on to the the larger and more complex driver's side, which has the cutout for the tunnel. The results, as can be seen, are fairly average, but I'm hoping that once the sun's heated them a few times they'll settle down a little.
I squirmed into the drivers side and adjusted the seat belts, which are the ex-WD twins of Paul's, and made some brrrrrrrrrrrrm noises. Three things were apparent: a length of protective split edging is needed on the lower edge of the ally angle locating the steering column: I need a 10" rather than a 12" steering wheel (I'm not as accomplished a contortionist as I used to be); and there's a leak in the braking system somewhere as the previously hard pedal is now jelly. It's no fun if it's easy!
Regards, Mick
No, but I thought I'd trim the excess fabric from the top inner side of the passenger cover. A 45° cut is obviously what's needed. D'Oh! Look closely and you'll see the ugly patch I had to make.
What sort of machine and fabric did you use for your tonneau cover please? I have a some double duck but only a domestic machine, which I don't think will be man enough for two layers.
Regards, Mick
New Project. Didn't Happen
I've been considering another project for a while now, as the decks are more or less clear, and something to take me back to my early 80s roots came up last week: a Triumph based Dutton B-Type, c/w 2CV rectangular lights, just like my first Phaeton.
It looked challenging, but eminently rebuildable, so I saved it and looked forward to placing a winning bid yesterday afternoon. £2,086? You're 'avin' a larf intcha? The last B-Type I bought, admittedly without engine and 'box in 1991, was £50! So, hopes dashed.
I was going to stretch to £1,500 as an absolute limit but it shot beyond that early, so no exciting countdown with finger poised over 'Enter' (IMO Snipe takes away all the fun). Ho hum, I'll keep looking.
Regards, Mick
No problemo. Always interesting to read others' thoughts on automotive subjects
.
Regards, Mick
My spiffing 10" steering wheel arrived in short order, so I shot down to the cave intending to fit it forthwith. However, the thought of fiddling with the tiny mounting bolts in the freezing cold deterred me, so I took this rather average picture instead to show how much easier it will make getting in.
I'd bought and added the Tricolores a few days before having seen them in an old photograph. The eagle eyed amongst you may also spot my similarly coloured but sadly faded Monza badged gear knob. I bought it in '68 or '69 from Les Montgomery in person in his Super Accessories emprorium, lashing out the princely sum of 7/6d (that's 37½p for you young 'uns). Happy Days!
Regards, Mick
Fitted
On fine days at this time of year, the sun is just high enough to bathe the south facing cave in its warming rays. Encouraged thus today, I ventured down and swapped the steering wheel. A couple of the M5 screws weren't cooperating so a gently pass with the drill was required. Anyway, half an hour and it was job done
.
I took this much better photo' which shows both the improved access (the left knee/tunnel interface was the problem) and the famous gear knob in all its faded splendour. Once I've fettled the brake hydraulics I can now hit the road.
Regards, Mick
p.s. Before the expected barrage of pedantic criticism, I do plan to ponce up the alignment of the slots....
Hi Paul
MOT? MOT? It's exempt. Only joking! I had that style of switch on the A352 and before that on my Mk1 Marlin Roadster without a mention from testers. Why would it be a problem?
Regards Mick
Mictor O'Meldrew
Thanks Paul. Self cancelling indicators are one of my pet hates, along with other so-called driver aids. IMO they simply allow drivers to put their brains into neutral, rather than maintaining concentration. I chunter to myself when behind the wheel and "Manouvre, Signal, Mirror." aimed at the car in front is a favourite. I think the fault lies in learners being nowadays taught to pass the test, rather than to drive. Rant over.
Regards, Mick
I'm unsure if it would fit between my and my daughter's houses to get it down to the cave. If I knew how wide a Sherpa/LDV/Freight Rover is I could work it out. I just performed a search for this info. but couldn't find it
.
Also, it's outside my permitted radius of quarantine travel, although I could always be testing my eyes...
Regards, Mick
Many thanks for that Paul
.
I braved the howling wind and pissing rain with my surveyor's tape yesterday afternoon and the net gap, taking the vulnerable soil pipes each side into account, is 92" so is more than enough.
Seems bidders are incapable of keeping their powder dry, pushing up the price by showing their hand early. I expect the vendor is delighted....
Regards, Mick