What's made you smile today?

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Andy, all respect to you, you've made a lovely job of that bike.

We had/have three kids and I spent hours running around behind them pretending to hold onto the saddle until they could balance on their own - don't remember balance bikes back then. Daughter was quickest to learn, but then she's always been the most daring/biggest risk taker of the three. Our local tip had a shop like Andy's but then they modernized and streamlined the whole thing, no doubt at great expense to all us tax payers, and the shop never reappeared. I used to like going to the tip but dread it now as it has the most violent "sleeping policemen" in the whole of Edinburgh. For a start there are far too many of them and they are the screwed down rubber type and no matter how slowly you go they punish the suspension brutally. There was a brilliant recycling shop opened up in an empty warehouse near us a couple of years ago, absolutely tons of stuff and all useful. Bikes for around £15 to £20 and they looked worth having. Then suddenly it wasn't there any more.

Now the youngest grandchildren can ride their bikes I think we're through that stage - good thing as I can't move fast enough to be much use as a "supporter". The girl took ages to learn but the wee lad (five years younger than her) pretty much just jumped on and rode away! Probably wanting to be "better" than his sister!

Over the years I've heaved a couple of kids bikes out of skips and refurbed them but even more I've rescued a number of tricycles, scooters and a pair of roller skates from skips while out on my walks. The kids love the scooters more than anything because these are not like the modern ones with dinky wee wheels, no siree, They have nice big wheels with "proper" tyres which lets them go fast and are much more stable.

My oldest boy lost control of his bike on a steep hill when he was only about 5 years old. Knocked himself out briefly and slammed his head into the end of a bit of electrical conduit which punched a neat circle of skin out of his forehead. Neighbour's son rushed in the front door hysterically shouting "Jonny's dead, Jonny's dead! Mrs J, a trained first aider, very calmly examined him, wrapped him in the blanket she'd picked up on the way out the front door, rang the ambulance and ordered me to gently lift him into the house out of the rain. He came round while I was carrying him but couldn't see! I thought he was blind/brain damaged. I've never felt so worried in my life. By the time the ambulance came he was seeing light/dark/shapes again - it was concussion of course. They took him into the hospital for 24 hours for obs but, luckily, he made a complete recovery. I remember thinking "what's the white circle on his forehead" when I first saw him. Not realizing at the time that I was seeing the bone of his skull! There have been a number of very scary incidents with the kids/grandchildren but I think that was the worst.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I have a 10A charger, about the size and shape of the crypton, bought about 50 years ago. A bit more sophisticated than the Crypton, with both a voltmeter and ammeter. Two switches, 6v/12v and Low/High. Makes a lot of noise, but still works fine.
I had an Oxford equivalent of the CTEK, for a week or so. I wrote a letter to a classic car magazine, who published it as their star letter, and sent the 'prize'. As I didn't have a use for it at the time, and another was supposed to be on the way, (Another letter, but that one never arrived) I gave it to my brother, as his charger had given up, and he had multiple batteries, always flat. That lasted a week. One day he called to complain about the free charger I'd given him, as it had exploded. Battery in bits, charger in smithereens, some parts embedded in the ceiling. After questioning, it seems he had set the charger on top of the battery being charged. Lead acid batteries give off hydrogen while charging. There's a reason chargers come with long leads, to keep them away from the hydrogen. Hydrogen very quickly combines with the oxygen in the air, as it is an element that does not like to be alone.
When most electrical devices come with the shortest cables the manufacturer can get away with, the long leads on a charger are a bit of a clue.

Neither of mine boast a voltmeter but both have an ammeter and are switcheable between 6 and 12 volts by reversing a wee two pin plug - you can see the one on the front of the old Endura (silver machine) just to the left of the fuse. You can still see the 6v above it. The Crypton has the same but it's underneath. The Crypton has a "boost" switch - you can see it on the front to the right of the meter. When in "normal" (as it is in the picture and for most of the time when I use it) it charges at around 4 to 5 amps. move it to the right "boost" and it jumps up to 6.5 to 7 amps. It gets a bit hot and you can hear it's transformer buzzing in Boost so I tend to just keep it in "Normal".

I've seen several exploded batteries but never actually been around for the event. From the remains I've seen it's obviously quite a violent event and with all the acid being sprayed about? well, I'm glad I've never been there! Our college had a dedicated battery shop where batteries were kept and maintained for the whole college. There was a carboy of conc acid and containers of distilled water and a proper charging bench connected to a "serious" battery charger. Every student did a week in there learning about batteries and testing and charging them as well as issuing them to the class workshops and bringing the used ones back for testing/charging. I learned a great deal about lead acid batteries at the college and set up a smaller version of the same thing when I myself became a trainer in charge of a section, so I always had one man in charge of batteries and I think this avoided many difficult and maybe dangerous situations. I understand that modern "sealed" batteries gas much less than the one's I learned about but they still have vent holes and I'm sure still produce hydrogen so anti spark measures and no naked flames around batteries is as important as ever.

 

[FiatMatt94]

Serviced Scarlett at home on Friday morning, whoever did the last service 3k miles ago did the sump plug up really tight but eventually it came undone & all was well, I treated her to Castrol GTX as I got the oil & plugs on eBay with 20% discount code.

Denso W20TT plugs £9.60
15w40 Castrol GTX 4 litres £16 bargain
Genuine Fiat oil filter £10
Genuine Fiat air filter £10

She seems to really like the Castrol GTX & Denso plugs, then I was out with my cousin later on in the day & she was driving good but we could both hear there was a very slight air leak from somewhere which affected her very slightly so when I got in I investigated under the bonnet which didn't take me long to find the culprit, the air ducting which goes from the air box to the exhaust had a split in it & it had also been cut down by someone in the past so as a temporary measure until my new one comes I've cut it down a bit more as much as I could get away with & held it on the ends with duck tape which for now has really worked so that's definitely the culprit, I went into Warrington yesterday to try & get one with no luck so when I got in I was having a browse through eBay & came across a Genuine Fiat new old stock air ducting pipe for a 899 Cinquecento although it had a different part number as it was for a very early carburettor version which we didn't get here, I thought surely it must be the same & also Fiat have a habit of changing part numbers randomly so I looked on Eper, the air box & the bracket on the exhaust where it attaches both have the exact same part numbers as the Seicento so I thought that'll do & was only £6 with free delivery

 

[StevenRB45]

she was driving good but we could both hear there was a very slight air leak from somewhere which affected her very slightly so when I got in I investigated under the bonnet which didn't take me long to find the culprit, the air ducting which goes from the air box to the exhaust had a split in it & it had also been cut down by someone in the past so as a temporary measure until my new one comes I've cut it down a bit more as much as I could get away with & held it on the ends with duck tape which for now has really worked so that's definitely the culprit

I could be wrong on this and this is very much if memory serves but I feel as though this may be placebo effect.

If it's the Cardboard/metal tube off the exhaust manifold it's only there to draw warmer air off the exhaust manifold in winter running cold starts.

These were regularly crushed/ripped/binned by people doing services the car should run entirely fine without one most of the time.

It could be flap in your air box is stuck in the cold start position perhaps so it is drawing air that way rather than the usual trunking.

 

[FiatMatt94]

I could be wrong on this and this is very much if memory serves but I feel as though this may be placebo effect.

If it's the Cardboard/metal tube off the exhaust manifold it's only there to draw warmer air off the exhaust manifold in winter running cold starts.

These were regularly crushed/ripped/binned by people doing services the car should run entirely fine without one most of the time.

It could be flap in your air box is stuck in the cold start position perhaps so it is drawing air that way rather than the usual trunking.

Thanks StevenRB45, I'll look into this on the next dry day as today is damp & miserable here although she seems ok now I'll still have a quick look, many thanks

 

[bugsymike]

I could be wrong on this and this is very much if memory serves but I feel as though this may be placebo effect.

If it's the Cardboard/metal tube off the exhaust manifold it's only there to draw warmer air off the exhaust manifold in winter running cold starts.

These were regularly crushed/ripped/binned by people doing services the car should run entirely fine without one most of the time.

It could be flap in your air box is stuck in the cold start position perhaps so it is drawing air that way rather than the usual trunking.

Older carb models especially on a cold damp morning benefit from a cold air supply of more dense Oxygen, but less noticeable with modern ecu controlled injection.
I agree warm air from the exhaust aids initially, but many used to notice the improvement of a cold damp morning.
Though when servicing customers cars if I found the "cardboard corrugated alloy tube" damaged I would always replace it.
It can also help with "icing up issues" that some suffered. A friend's tuned up classic mini had a Reece Fish Carb that had to be fitted with a later heating device for that reason.
I believe there was a cheap "go faster" mod sold on eBay etc. which basically plugged into the temp sensor circuit to make the ECU think it was cold and give more fuel etc.

 

[StevenRB45]

Older carb models especially on a cold damp morning benefit from a cold air supply of more dense Oxygen, but less noticeable with modern ecu controlled injection.
I agree warm air from the exhaust aids initially, but many used to notice the improvement of a cold damp morning.
Though when servicing customers cars if I found the "cardboard corrugated alloy tube" damaged I would always replace it.
It can also help with "icing up issues" that some suffered. A friend's tuned up classic mini had a Reece Fish Carb that had to be fitted with a later heating device for that reason.
I believe there was a cheap "go faster" mod sold on eBay etc. which basically plugged into the temp sensor circuit to make the ECU think it was cold and give more fuel etc.

Aye but we're talking about an SPI Seicento.

"Back in the day" as it were I had multiple fire engined old Fiats as did friends and I think at that point it was very much a hangover from the previous generation cars that had a carb.

Between us we probably had every variation of that tube from none, to random heating duct found at a building site to brand new one from Fiat...and none of them seemed to make an appreciable difference.

It's more odd to me to would cause a change in the noise if it was leaking when most the time it's not part of the induction system unless the valve opens.

Feel like the "resistor" mod pre-dates eBay..

 

[bugsymike]

Aye but we're talking about an SPI Seicento.

"Back in the day" as it were I had multiple fire engined old Fiats as did friends and I think at that point it was very much a hangover from the previous generation cars that had a carb.

Between us we probably had every variation of that tube from none, to random heating duct found at a building site to brand new one from Fiat...and none of them seemed to make an appreciable difference.

It's more odd to me to would cause a change in the noise if it was leaking when most the time it's not part of the induction system unless the valve opens.

Feel like the "resistor" mod pre-dates eBay..

I used to love my old Fiat Uno's, £300 a time and take all the thrashing, until the rot got around the rear top shock mounts
Mind you, ex wife used to run them up and down fields loaded up with the small straw bales even on the roof when helping out, all at my expense
I bought a dinghy at auction and tied it to the roof and climbed through the windows, another time five of us went to a steam rally, I wanted to take the van, but for a peaceful life we took the Uno, I saw a cheap Yamaha DT125cc, so we drove all the way back with it hanging out of the tail gate breathing in the exhaust, at least that stopped the moaning next time when I said take the van
I see chip tuning is still alive and kicking on eBay so some market for them, but I remain unconvinced.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

It can also help with "icing up issues" that some suffered. A friend's tuned up classic mini had a Reece Fish Carb that had to be fitted with a later heating device for that reason.
I believe there was a cheap "go faster" mod sold on eBay etc. which basically plugged into the temp sensor circuit to make the ECU think it was cold and give more fuel etc.

I think these hot air tubes were mostly intended to combat carburetor icing and were of some use in damp weather when it was very cold but weren't all that effective.

I see chip tuning is still alive and kicking on eBay so some market for them, but I remain unconvinced.

Unlike days of old when camshafts, cylinder heads, exhaust systems etc were the way to power todays engines respond well to "chip tuning" BUT. If you're going to do it then please consult with a proper tuning establishment who will ensure it's done properly. Buying a "tuning chip" off an unknown where likely what's been done is that the turbo wastegate has been tied down is a sure passport to a ruined engine. You pays for what you gets.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Panda axle before

after

 

[PuntoHowTo]

My youngest grand daughter is still having problems with the balance bike after seeing a video of a young lad with his feet on the rear wheel frame supports when we are trying to get her feet nearer the ground for learning the balance side.
I still recall running round and round in the local park with her mother and twin sister after taking the stabilisers off from their early bikes.

Apparently a lot of the expensive balance bikes have a little place you can put your feet for coasting, its nothing more than part of the frame that sticks out. What shocked me was seeing that some of these tiny bikes cost more now than the really posh bikes of my youth.

Mountain bikes have always been my thing way more than road/racing bikes, I was a little crazy when I was younger hurling myself down hills and over obstacles on a bike my parents bought me, which was in hindsight never really built for the job.

Its nice, that even at 2 our little-un is enjoying cycling so much. in the coming weeks, I hope to get him out on some tracks and trails that he can push himself along on, and stretch his legs a bit.

The balance side of it, he seems to have mastered in seconds. The stopping bit not so much, hence the need for a bike with a brake, that being said I suspect I will now have to train him on how to use the brake, and I also suspect the reason they don't put front brakes on balance bikes is to avoid toddlers catapulting themselves over the handle bars all over the place.

Balance biking is becoming a bit of a sport in its own right and they hold events and races etc. I don't suspect I would go that far with him but its interesting to see it has evolved to being something more than just a stepping stone to pedal cycles.

Andy, all respect to you, you've made a lovely job of that bike.

Thanks I hope that our little one doesn't follow the same path as your boy, that being said if anything like that happened to me or our mates when I was young we would have just all run away to avoid getting in trouble.

 

[portland_bill]

Older carb models especially on a cold damp morning benefit from a cold air supply of more dense Oxygen, but less noticeable with modern ecu controlled injection.
I agree warm air from the exhaust aids initially, but many used to notice the improvement of a cold damp morning.
Though when servicing customers cars if I found the "cardboard corrugated alloy tube" damaged I would always replace it.
It can also help with "icing up issues" that some suffered. A friend's tuned up classic mini had a Reece Fish Carb that had to be fitted with a later heating device for that reason.
I believe there was a cheap "go faster" mod sold on eBay etc. which basically plugged into the temp sensor circuit to make the ECU think it was cold and give more fuel etc.

Liquids do not burn, they need to vapourise to become flammable. When the manifold is cold, the fuel, from either the carb or SPi, condenses on the walls of the manifold, and has to evaporate from there to get into the engine. The choke enrichens the mixture, so that the fuel lost to condensing, still leaves enough for the engine. Then as it warms up, the fuel evaporates and is drawn in to burn. This is why carb engines cough a lot during initial warmup, as the fuel mixture is akin to slopping it in from a bucket. The warm air intake helps the warming process, reducing fuel consumption, and reduces the likelihood of flooding the engine with liquid fuel. With no warm intake, it may be more difficult to start on the coldest of mornings, but otherwise should be fine.

Port injection happens so close to the valve, that condensing is insignificant.

 

[portland_bill]

I've seen several exploded batteries but never actually been around for the event.

I've witnessed one, very violent, top of rubber battery hit the ceiling, after glancing off the guy's forehead. Acid like a cloud, over the guy's clothes and face, although the battery top helped shield some of this.
Guy had come to collect his battery that we were charging. Refused to put out his cigarette. Was not going to be asked/told by a 15yr old (me). Marched across to the charger, bent down over the battery, (still attached to the charger), and Wump!.
We used to service outboard motors, and had a large galvanised bin, full of oily water, that we'd clamp the motors to for testing, as they needed water cooling. Our foreman, a very large guy, just picked the battery owner up, carried him horizontally across the yard (funny to see), and dumped him head first into the oily water. He held him in there for perhaps a little longer than necessary, (part of the punishment), heaved him out, let him gasp for air, and dunked him again.
When he came out again, he was an oily wet mess to his shoulders, but not in pain. He went home, showered, and returned, with just a few tiny marks on his face. Made a big apology, thanked the foreman, and bought a new battery.

 

[bugsymike]

Liquids do not burn, they need to vapourise to become flammable. When the manifold is cold, the fuel, from either the carb or SPi, condenses on the walls of the manifold, and has to evaporate from there to get into the engine. The choke enrichens the mixture, so that the fuel lost to condensing, still leaves enough for the engine. Then as it warms up, the fuel evaporates and is drawn in to burn. This is why carb engines cough a lot during initial warmup, as the fuel mixture is akin to slopping it in from a bucket. The warm air intake helps the warming process, reducing fuel consumption, and reduces the likelihood of flooding the engine with liquid fuel. With no warm intake, it may be more difficult to start on the coldest of mornings, but otherwise should be fine.

Port injection happens so close to the valve, that condensing is insignificant.

All this I agree with and was taught at as an apprentice in 1969
The problem of "icing up" on the Reece Fish Carb was ice forming around the bell mouth well before any fuel areas and was on a tuned 1960s Mini. @portland_bill you may have even spoken to him at Wadham Stringer/Kenning Bulpins? Newton Abbot in the past, Ian P, he will be about my age now 71
He was the one who offered me his worn Weber carb and A series manifold in the early 70s which I tried on an old 1955 split screen 803cc Morris Minor for one day, it went a lot better, but used a weeks worth of fuel that night so was returned!!!
Re the batteries, as an apprentice I was told to change the spark plugs on a Mk 2 Ford Consul whilst the battery on charge, the socket bar shorted the positive terminal and blew the side out of the battery, but luckily missed me. Another time a coach battery on charge was disconnected and blew up in the guys face, but we got him washed off immediately. It was an old St Trinnions style Bedford that we used at college for our Kart racing team.

 

[portland_bill]

All this I agree with and was taught at as an apprentice in 1969
The problem of "icing up" on the Reece Fish Carb was ice forming around the bell mouth well before any fuel areas and was on a tuned 1960s Mini. @portland_bill you may have even spoken to him at Wadham Stringer/Kenning Bulpins? Newton Abbot in the past, Ian P, he will be about my age now 71
He was the one who offered me his worn Weber carb and A series manifold in the early 70s which I tried on an old 1955 split screen 803cc Morris Minor for one day, it went a lot better, but used a weeks worth of fuel that night so was returned!!!
Re the batteries, as an apprentice I was told to change the spark plugs on a Mk 2 Ford Consul whilst the battery on charge, the socket bar shorted the positive terminal and blew the side out of the battery, but luckily missed me. Another time a coach battery on charge was disconnected and blew up in the guys face, but we got him washed off immediately. It was an old St Trinnions style Bedford that we used at college for our Kart racing team.

I visited Newton Abbott quite a few times, but that would have been mostly for new car swaps, and occasionally the parts department. Rarely had cause to visit the service departments, and usually little time to chat.
I think it was Newton Abbott that I collected the company MG TF from. (Might have been a TD) A red car, belonging to the group, and used as a promotional tool. No-one wanted it, as once you got it, you were responsible for housing it, and maintaining it. It got stale if left in the showroom too long so became a pain. Very happy day wnen another branch called asking if they could 'borrow' it. Do you remember it?
It was a lovely drive from there back to Dorchester, roof down, sunny day. I think it had the later 1500 engine, so could keep with modern traffic.

 

[bugsymike]

I visited Newton Abbott quite a few times, but that would have been mostly for new car swaps, and occasionally the parts department. Rarely had cause to visit the service departments, and usually little time to chat.
I think it was Newton Abbott that I collected the company MG TF from. (Might have been a TD) A red car, belonging to the group, and used as a promotional tool. No-one wanted it, as once you got it, you were responsible for housing it, and maintaining it. It got stale if left in the showroom too long so became a pain. Very happy day wnen another branch called asking if they could 'borrow' it. Do you remember it?
It was a lovely drive from there back to Dorchester, roof down, sunny day. I think it had the later 1500 engine, so could keep with modern traffic.

Although I was at college with Ian, I worked for a garage in Torbay at the time, later when I had my own small business I had a trade Unipart account with Wadhams, I did buy their old LDV 200 delivery van via the sales department, so mostly dealings with parts and workshop area. By then I think Ian had his business near Bishopsteignton. I did attend their Christmas Party which in those days many dealerships did, the Local Ford ones I recall also, though mostly through a "haze" as was the norm in the trade.
I think Nick Heathman ? was the local Parts Rep at the time.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Although I was at college with Ian, I worked for a garage in Torbay at the time, later when I had my own small business I had a trade Unipart account with Wadhams, I did buy their old LDV 200 delivery van via the sales department, so mostly dealings with parts and workshop area. By then I think Ian had his business near Bishopsteignton. I did attend their Christmas Party which in those days many dealerships did, the Local Ford ones I recall also, though mostly through a "haze" as was the norm in the trade.
I think Nick Heathman ? was the local Parts Rep at the time.

We had some epic Christmas parties at the training establishment I worked for. We used to do lots of "favours" for locals and other instructors etc, etc and the usual payment was a bottle of spirits or case of beer. It all got stacked at the back of the main store. Then, on the last working day before Christmas, we would send the trainees home early, lock the gates and break the booze out. We were all tradesmen and definitely enjoyed a drink. At that time I cycled to work on my old Raleigh "policemans bike" - upright with rod type brakes - I almost remember, more than once, finding I couldn't ride the bike home and having to push it. In fact if I hadn't had it I probably wouldn't have been able to keep my feet. Once, just once, my daughter tells me I arrived at the foot of our front path and fell into the flower bed. By the time they opened the front door and walked down to me I was asleep! Mrs J was all for just leaving me there but my wonderful kids insisted on bringing me into the hall where I seem to remember I awoke some time before dawn the next day. Memory is a bit foggy though!

 

[bugsymike]

We had some epic Christmas parties at the training establishment I worked for. We used to do lots of "favours" for locals and other instructors etc, etc and the usual payment was a bottle of spirits or case of beer. It all got stacked at the back of the main store. Then, on the last working day before Christmas, we would send the trainees home early, lock the gates and break the booze out. We were all tradesmen and definitely enjoyed a drink. At that time I cycled to work on my old Raleigh "policemans bike" - upright with rod type brakes - I almost remember, more than once, finding I couldn't ride the bike home and having to push it. In fact if I hadn't had it I probably wouldn't have been able to keep my feet. Once, just once, my daughter tells me I arrived at the foot of our front path and fell into the flower bed. By the time they opened the front door and walked down to me I was asleep! Mrs J was all for just leaving me there but my wonderful kids insisted on bringing me into the hall where I seem to remember I awoke some time before dawn the next day. Memory is a bit foggy though!

Ha,ha! Happy days.

 

[The Panda Nut]

All this I agree with and was taught at as an apprentice in 1969
The problem of "icing up" on the Reece Fish Carb was ice forming around the bell mouth well before any fuel areas and was on a tuned 1960s Mini. @portland_bill you may have even spoken to him at Wadham Stringer/Kenning Bulpins? Newton Abbot in the past, Ian P, he will be about my age now 71
He was the one who offered me his worn Weber carb and A series manifold in the early 70s which I tried on an old 1955 split screen 803cc Morris Minor for one day, it went a lot better, but used a weeks worth of fuel that night so was returned!!!
Re the batteries, as an apprentice I was told to change the spark plugs on a Mk 2 Ford Consul whilst the battery on charge, the socket bar shorted the positive terminal and blew the side out of the battery, but luckily missed me. Another time a coach battery on charge was disconnected and blew up in the guys face, but we got him washed off immediately. It was an old St Trinnions style Bedford that we used at college for our Kart racing team.

I had to deal with a battery explosion at work. Careless use of jump battery blew it all over the guy using it. Clearly battery charging / jumping and changing is something that needs more respect. Scarey and scary!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I had to deal with a battery explosion at work. Careless use of jump battery blew it all over the guy using it. Clearly battery charging / jumping and changing is something that needs more respect. Scarey and scary!

It's only after you've seen the power stored in the average car battery, maybe as a result of a serious short etc, that you realize the awesome power stored therein. It's one of the things that worries me about electric vehicles and their so much larger capacity batteries. But then I suppose I should say, so why am I not worried by the bomb in the boot - or under the floor if you own a Honda - that is the petrol tank and the answer is, well I am, but it doesn't frighten me as much as thinking about a very big battery shorting out. Why? I've no idea. Familiarity with petrol I suppose after a lifetime of working with and respecting it?