What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[StevenRB45]

Now you're running only one car, you are putting most of the fuel in?

All of it...but I don't pay the gas and leccy

To be fair division of mileage used to be about 4k on the Citroën 8k on the Mazda a year. It got to it's 4th birthday with 16k on the clock, it's looking likely it'll get to it's 5th with 28 or so.

I'd forgotten with 2 years of lockdowns etc. how much things like tyres wear when you actually move the car. Feels like they are disappearing...then you sit and work it out and realise they've done 15k on the front and you've still got 5.5mm left...must rotate them this year though.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Electrical survey - cost £500 paid for this Friday. Good news is its included in the price quoted so just a deposit really. Hopefully no big issues will be identified. I am going to make use of the elctricians while they are here to add one or two things so hopefully a little gain in costs can be had there.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Woken at just before 06.00hrs this morning by our burglar alarm going full blast. Several neighbours at their windows before I managed to rush down stairs and kill it. So far no-one has knocked at the door though. "Utility room" it said on the board but I couldn't find anything a-miss. We do have some pretty spectacular spiders sharing our house so hoping it's been one of those and not one of Mickey's (Mickey Mouse) relatives.

I tried to get back to sleep but the thunder started and then the rain. Actually quite pleased about the rain because I scarified and overseeded my wee patch of lawn a couple of weeks ago and, although I've been watering it the seeds haven't really germinated much so this good soaking should help that. Anyway I looked out the window and saw the wee layby opposite was exhibiting it's usual illustration of poor parking. One car at either end with another parked right in the middle. You can get 4 normal size cars in without too much effort but by parking right in the middle that person was denying a space to someone. Not as bad as earlier in the week when two cars were parked such that they denied spaces to another two. The Toyota on the right is leaving just enough space behind it that something like my Ibiza estate would be difficult, if not impossible, to park there. Then there was a similar space to the next car as you can see here:

and in front of the Astra there is a similar space again. That black car is actually the Deliveroo driver's car (see flat's front door) which is parallel parked to the false kerb you can see if you look carefully at the road on this side of the two grey cars - so it's not actually in the layby space. If the Astra had parked at it's end of the layby (left hand end) and the wee Toyota at it's end (right hand end) then two more average size cars could have used the middle space. I've seen four 500's parked there easily. The Astra driver hasn't a skooby when it comes to spacial awareness and often parks very poorly like this (I've seen it abandoned sometimes with a back wheel up on the pavement because they have no idea which way to turn the steering to get the rear wheels in the right place. Another regular "clown" is the chap who will only park there if he can drive over the pavement at the end, dropping his wheels off the kerbs so he arrives with his wheels parallel to the layby kerb without having to reverse! How do these people pass their tests and how do they live with themselves?

On a more cheerful note I cleaned Becky's MAP sensor with brake cleaner and blew it out gently with some compressed air when I did her service on Saturday, it was badly contaminated with oil but no crusty carbon. We went down to Aldi for the weekly shop and I swear she's pulling more strongly and is more responsive to the throttle - I'm very pleased. Does anyone know if our MAP sensors are the diaphragm type or are they some sort of strain guage/transducer thingy? - I'm interested to know if it's got moving parts like a diaphragm or is it something "cleverly" solid state. I really must try a catch can on the breather.

Now knowing that the rear shoes are showing early signs of delamination, I rang my Factor friends today and they can do me a set of rear shoes for the old girl at around £22.00 which sounds not too bad to me, Anyone bought rear shoes for a 169 lately? S4p seem to be wanting around £30 (I'm pretty sure mine are the earlier shoes, they changed in late 05 2010 apparently? Becky is an early 2010 reg

And finally I renewed the Ibiza insurance today, fully comp including breakdown with Green Flag and recovery/onward journey and protected bonus and low windscreen excess etc for £279 Thought that wasn't too bad for a city address? So that put a smile on my face.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I was talking above about delaminating brake linings. Those of us with less experience may be wondering what I'm talking about so thought I'd post some pictures after doing Becky's rear brake shoes today.

Back when I worked on the shop floor brake linings were riveted, like these old ones from my "might be useful at some time" drawer:

They look like Mini rears to me? anyone? Small copper rivets which were peened over behind the metal shoe held the lining to the metal shoe. You could even buy just the linings and a bag of rivets, strip the old linings from the metal shoes and fit the new ones yourself at a considerable saving over buying exchange shoes.

Then "they" came out with bonded linings where a special bonding agent is used to literally "glue" the lining to the metal shoe and, almost overnight, riveted shoes were done away with.

Riveted linings had their problems, if you let them wear down the rivets would score the drums and sometimes rivets would come loose and cause problems in that way but this usually wasn't dangerous. Bonded linings have a "nasty little secret" which is that sometimes, especially as they age, the bonding agent starts to fail.

Most DIY car maintainers will check the depth of lining material during a service but many don't look too closely at the lining/pad (because delamination can happen to pads too) and it can be easy to miss it. What you're looking for is any separation between the friction material and it's metal backing - the sort of thing you can see in these pictures of Becky's old linings:

And don't be fooled into thinking it's just a little localized failure of the bonding. I stuck a 25 thou feeler under that last one and look at how the bonding has failed:

I didn't have to lever it up, it was just lying there. There's almost no bonding left! What would have most likely happened at some time is that one of us - Mrs J or me - would have braked a bit harder than usual and the lining would have detached from the metal shoe and followed the drum round until it wedged itself between the drum and the shoe stop or maybe the other shoe and jammed the drum solid so the wheel would have stopped rotating - That could be "fun" depending on speed and situation!

So, when you're checking your pads and shoes, look very carefully for any sign of the bonding beginning to fail and if you spot even the slightest of cracks then renew the shoe/pad immediately.

I'm actually slightly embarrassed to be showing you these pics because these linings/shoes should have been changed long before they got to this stage. I'm thinking back to how I can have missed this problem and I realize that it's actually been nearly 2 years since I checked them. Why? because Kenny's "merry men" sorted out a brake pipe problem for me around the turn of the year (oxy-acetylene heat needed) and they then, very kindly put my new wheel cylinders on when the built it back together. I remember being told they'd kept the old shoes to save me money on the job and I guess they hadn't looked too closely at them? No excuse though Jock, you must keep on top of this stuff! Ah well, all done now, just need to remember the hand brake's not going to hold all that well until the new linings bed down. Often a silver lining - pun intended - and today that was that the adjusters were easily freed off and are working perfectly!

 

[s130]

On a car I've never had a brake shoe delaminating but did on our caravan, which I suspect is a common problem. Now what is interesting/common is that many caravan owners don't think about about proper brake servicing. Depending on the hub and backplate design one can often see the edge of a shoe to check lining thickness but this is often not sufficient.

On older chassis/trailers then the hub nut is the old style tapered roller bearing with castle nut and split pin. These were really easy to remove to check the shoe. On later more modern hubs (AL-KO Euro Axle is probably the market leader) then the hubs are fitted with deformed single shot M32 x 50mm flange nuts that are torqued to 290 NMm or 214 ft-lbs. To remove these you need 3/4" sockets and bars as 1/2" just bends. Even some large windy impact guns can not shift them. It is the deformed nut end that adds a lot more required torque to the job of removal. Net result is that often those who service themselves just do the lining edge inspection, dust assessment and adjust, skipping the hub removal.

All that said I do remove the hubs but have also had a lining delamination and breakup. I think the reason for this that trailer overrun activated brakes can on long down hill runs (especially in Europe) get really hot and heat soaked often going through large thermal cycles. The final nail in the coffin is that unlike your careful car break pedal control overrun activated brakes often jerk on causing the drum and pads to snatch instead of progressively engage. This will then try to rip the lining off.

The American trailers have electric brakes which I gather are progressive and controlled by the car's braking system.

 

[The Panda Nut]

On a car I've never had a brake shoe delaminating but did on our caravan, which I suspect is a common problem. Now what is interesting/common is that many caravan owners don't think about about proper brake servicing. Depending on the hub and backplate design one can often see the edge of a shoe to check lining thickness but this is often not sufficient.

On older chassis/trailers then the hub nut is the old style tapered roller bearing with castle nut and split pin. These were really easy to remove to check the shoe. On later more modern hubs (AL-KO Euro Axle is probably the market leader) then the hubs are fitted with deformed single shot M32 x 50mm flange nuts that are torqued to 290 NMm or 214 ft-lbs. To remove these you need 3/4" sockets and bars as 1/2" just bends. Even some large windy impact guns can not shift them. It is the deformed nut end that adds a lot more required torque to the job of removal. Net result is that often those who service themselves just do the lining edge inspection, dust assessment and adjust, skipping the hub removal.

All that said I do remove the hubs but have also had a lining delamination and breakup. I think the reason for this that trailer overrun activated brakes can on long down hill runs (especially in Europe) get really hot and heat soaked often going through large thermal cycles. The final nail in the coffin is that unlike your careful car break pedal control overrun activated brakes often jerk on causing the drum and pads to snatch instead of progressively engage. This will then try to rip the lining off.

The American trailers have electric brakes which I gather are progressive and controlled by the car's braking system.

The last time I did our caravan (long gone) I found it had two near side backplates welded onto the axle from new. How the brakes worked worked at all is still un fathomable. In fairness Alco I believe were the maker sent a technicial rep out the very next day and also rectified the the fault, all the service parts appeared without charge. The whole thing was treated with as much seriousness as you could expect. I never felt the brakes were working right and eventually decided to look myself. All these things make you realise how important it is to maintain things. And Yep I agree those are BMC/BL parts. Those were that days when you could fit things and expect then to last until worn out. My experience of brake pads and shoes is that none have lasted without delamination on any car in the last 20 years since they started the 'big step forward' (for whom I have no idea) bonding technique. It almost a matter of chnaging at around 2 years regardless of use to ensure things are as they should be. On the Fiats the shims that are bonded to the back of the pads fall off after a year or so. This means the pads cant be run down to the ear limit, you have to add at least 1mm, but as they delaminate anyway if makes no difference to the life span. Its alarming that modern brakes are failing in so many ways. Our newest car needing to have the caliper slide pin dust caps put on (missing since new) after its three year service adds no confidence either. With all the stupidly overpowered cars runnning about its more than a miracle there are not a welter of serious incidents related to all these short comings. When you add the brakes dragging and overheating due to delmination and self adjusters competing its frightening. Perhaps I know now why I look in the mirror so much if I am needing to anchor up smartly!!

 

[StevenRB45]

One of those work conversations that starts with "Why aren't you working to the latest plan" and ends with "Because you've never f@@kin sent us the latest plan...so we assumed the last one you sent was the latest plan".

Technically this is no longer my job...but the person whose job it is was off and I'm awaiting re-assignment to someone else so hours of fun to be had.

Another conversation today involved asking what was Coo testing... apparently it's to do with fallout from the robot. Nothing to do with pigeons...

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Not sure whether this is a grumpy or smile but I've just read about something which I thought might happen - people, yobs, stealing the cables from electric car chargers. Apparently they cut the cable from the plug right up to where it enters the charger, even leaving the plug still attached to the car if there's one on charge at the time (don't ask me why they don't end up electrocuted) and make off with the cable so they can sell the copper - I'd guess there must be pretty thick wires in them to be passing such current? The dealer where this had happened was a Porsche dealer who said the Merc dealer opposite him had suffered the same violation. He went on to say each charging station was going to cost thousands to repair and he has no idea how he's going to protect his machines whilst still allowing them to be accessed by his customers.

They'll have to find an answer to this if it's not to seriously impact electric car ownership.

So far I've only seen a couple of instances of cars with IC engines parked at electric car charging stations, thus denying access. I'm actually a little surprised there's not more of this going on.

 

[s130]

Well a couple of months ago we were dead without a phone for over a month because 2km of phone trunk cable was stolen. I gather the thieves entered two roadside BT/Openreach main ground access chambers, cut the cable and winched it out. Simple roadside car charger cable would be easy prey with bolt cutters and electricians live working rubber gloves.

What I don't understand is how they fence the metal / copper / aluminium. Years ago scrap yards were made to have licenses and only accept this sort of stuff from similarly licensed scrap/waste dealers.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

What I don't understand is how they fence the metal / copper / aluminium. Years ago scrap yards were made to have licenses and only accept this sort of stuff from similarly licensed scrap/waste dealers.

That's what I understood too, but these sort of people, because legal compliance is their last concern, always find ways round "stuff"

 

[vexorg]

It's a bit naive to think just because you need a licence that it will stop all metal theft.

 

[vexorg]

This reminder of the 2019 Tory manifesto seems appropriate today:

 

[StevenRB45]

This reminder of the 2019 Tory manifesto seems appropriate today:

I have absolute confidence that wish Thatcher...Following on from Poundland Thatcher and the strange golden retriever toff hybrid will continue the work started by Maggie in selling the entire country to the lowest bidder so they can asset strip the good bits and then the tax payer can bail out the stuff they have no interest in/cannot make money on.

I also have absolute confidence that they'll find a random photo of Keir Starmer or whoever they are scared of punching a Jewish Bame puppy in the face to roll out 3 days before the election.

Do I think another party could fix it? No..but hey they could be less overt about absolutely screwing the population for the advancement of private interests.

 

[s130]

It's a bit naive to think just because you need a licence that it will stop all metal theft.

Not naive. To fence 2km of trunk phone cable is not exactly the same as common scrap metal and odd bits of lead

 

[StevenRB45]

Not naive. To fence 2km of trunk phone cable is not exactly the same as common scrap metal and odd bits of lead

These things stand and fall on enforcement...

Same way as it's been illegal to run without a dpf forever and MOT fail.

But somehow everyone knows a "guy" who can provide the necessary service.

In the unlikely event of a spot check they've got an issue..but chances of getting caught are pretty slim.

 

[s130]

These things stand and fall on enforcement...

Same way as it's been illegal to run without a dpf forever and MOT fail.

But somehow everyone knows a "guy" who can provide the necessary service.

In the unlikely event of a spot check they've got an issue..but chances of getting caught are pretty slim.

Indeed, spot checks and enforcement will catch but as you imply these are usually few and far between.

However in this 2km of cable, phonelines down for over a month, and all the customer compensation (I got over £8 per day), cable cost, man hours (multiple teams for over a month) must have cost BT/Openreach a small fortune and major criminal damage which should have hopefully triggered a major hunt for those involved. Shame it didn't take out Wrexham Police HQ as that would have upped the game somewhat

 

[portland_bill]

My partner has a carer come in each morning to get her out of bed, wash and dress her. The carer company has just changed, so we now have to educate new carers in 'our' ways.
First issue, Monday morning, carer arrives at front door, and rings the bell. If my partner was able to answer the door, from her bed, she wouldn't need a carer. Instructions are to use the back door, where a keysafe is positioned, but simple instructions seem difficult to follow.
Tuesday, different carer, again to the front door. Me not there that time. they nearly went away, but just before departing managed to read their instructions.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Electrical survey - cost £500 paid for this Friday. Good news is its included in the price quoted so just a deposit really. Hopefully no big issues will be identified. I am going to make use of the elctricians while they are here to add one or two things so hopefully a little gain in costs can be had there.

Installation scheduled 17th Oct. Fingers crossed. I jinxed it.. Cloud and rain arrived yesterday. 19mm

 

[StevenRB45]

Wife has had an email from work...the Ambulance service have decided they are going to give staff money they were overcharged for salary sacrifice cars back.


This would normally be good news...

But the back story of this is, external company overcharged the staff. It was discovered they sent the money back to the NHS trusts...they have sat on it for literally months debating IF they would give it back. It wasn't even communicated to the staff they'd had the money at all initially. Until other NHS trusts had started returning the money to their staff and it became impossible to deny the existence of it or its source.

Now not a legal expert...but they had no legal claim to that money at all surely. Apparently we'll see it October... hopefully along with her payrise..at which point I'm sure the tax man will help himself to the point it'll be barely noticeable.

 

[The Panda Nut]

My partner has a carer come in each morning to get her out of bed, wash and dress her. The carer company has just changed, so we now have to educate new carers in 'our' ways.
First issue, Monday morning, carer arrives at front door, and rings the bell. If my partner was able to answer the door, from her bed, she wouldn't need a carer. Instructions are to use the back door, where a keysafe is positioned, but simple instructions seem difficult to follow.
Tuesday, different carer, again to the front door. Me not there that time. they nearly went away, but just before departing managed to read their instructions.

Hi Bill. I'm sorry for your wife's situation and fully appreciate the difficulties and the stress it generates including fear and desparation caused when things like this happen. My thoughts are with you and my respect for what you do for her. I hope a little understanding will help give you a small boost. I whole heateldy wish the government would get a grip and raise tax to properly fund caring and social care. Its something we all need to have. TAlk of tax cuts when we have issues of this nature without the funds for a proper basic service appalls me. I urge like minded members of the firum to email their MP's demanding action as it's our only method of trying to improve matters.