DIY with function over finesse!!

[myglaren]

I have on that is stuck open. It does 'thermostat' at a fairly low temperature when turned off but I may just apply a little percussive maintenance to it.

From a post long ago, reducing the flow to the toilet made the growling worse so the solution is to leave it alone. Only does it about once a week.

[CitroJim]

Tightened up, opened the other valve, turned on the boiler and pressurised it. All went well and so I removed the 'decorator's' top and fitted the actual TR cap.

Good work on the valve swap, sometimes they stick and can be jolted free with a tap on the sprung pin (visible with the top of the TV removed)

I have to do this on occasion with mine... Lubing them with a bit of light oil seems to help. I've also had a couple of TRV heads fail too... Watch the ones available on certain n on-line shopping sites... Quality can be very variable...

[CitroJim]

Way back in this thread I posted a bit about some dead shredders with duff gearbox bearings and my adventures in finding suitable materials to make some new ones.

This project went on a far-back burner as other projects took priority. Yesterday and today I have had a bit of time to resurrect this project.

To recap, aluminium was rubbish, brass wore surprisingly quickly and phosphor bronze was good but a 'mare to turn on the lathe.

I now have three shredders working reasonably well. One with a combination of phosphor bronze and original bearings, one with brass - which I know will not enjoy a long life but will be fine for light domestic use - and now, as a further trial, one with hard nylon bearings.

I turned them using Nylon-66, the same stuff as I have used in the past to make Xantia Activa rear ram bushes. Prima-facie it is as close to the original bearing material as I can tell.

This material will be given a stern test tomorrow when a mountain of shredding will be put through it. If they're good, I may retrofit the other two with hard nylon bearings.

Time and lots of little bits of torn paper will soon tell

[Gibbo2286]

I remember the first Morris Oxford, the MO had a camshaft gear made from Tufnol Jim.
Company's still going I see.
https://tufnol.com/

[CitroJim]

Ahh yes, good old Tufnel... I saw a discussion about it still being available in a discussion on a vintage radio forum not long ago...

I used to make all sorts of things out of it in my professional life. A very versatile and essential material to have in the workshop. I'll always remember quite pleasant smell it made when machined...

It's good for bearings and if my current experiment with Nylon 66 fails, I'll get some of an appropriate grade and try it...

[CitroJim]

The three shredders in all their glory...

Sorry for the dodgy publication visible on my Haynes Manual shelves... In my defence, I found it in a skip back in the summer and rescued it...

That's my story and I'm sticking to it

[MattBLancs]

Does the Focus manual cover the DV6 - could be of use yet?

I've a Haynes shelf too Jim, they are generally worth little second hand (and I normally buy them second hand too) that does not seem worthwhile flogging them.

P.s. haven't found the Lindsay Porter colour manual any use, think I paid £2 for it, think that was plenty!

[CitroJim]

That's a nice selection Matt Does the baby one have a section on nappy changing?

'Reassembly is a reversal of removal following a good clean-up of all components and application of the appropriate anti-corrosion cream...'

No, that Focus manual is for earlier ones (2001 - 2004) and covers the DuraTorq and Endura diesels...

I also have the Peter Russek manuals for the Xantia and XM...

[Huskyxantia]

Alternatively get the travelling paving chaps to do the job and pay them with the lawnmower!!

Don't forget the lift to the cash point

[mickthemaverick]

When I cleared my storage unit last year I came across a total of 23 workshop manuals, mainly Haynes with a few Autobooks and a couple of manufacturer ones. I listed them all on the bay and over a couple of months I sold the lot bar 1, netting £268. So well worth the effort.

A couple of note were the one that went to Florence being a Fiat one and the very last one to go about 3 months ago having been relisted many, many times was the Renault Clio to a young lady first car owner who has also emailed me a couple of times with questions about doing jobs on the car!!

Nothing like a satisfied customer!

[MattBLancs]

Wow that's a decent total Mick! The Haynes I've sold in the past have all been piffling amounts (when postage and eBay / PayPal fees totted up might be as little as £1 - £2 actually heading my way) so didn't think I was sat on a gold mine!

I'd love to have alternatives to Haynes (and in reality I am logged in to the alternative, here!) The Peter Russek manuals seem well regarded, but don't cover anything in my "fleet"
Not stumbled upon any manufacturer own literature but guess it doesn't exist in paper form nowadays so won't end up on eBay to snap up.

[moizeau]

Revue Technique manuals are very good, loads more info than a Haynes, but then again so are the Mr Men books.....but you need to be able to read French.

[MattBLancs]

Je suis un petit poit

(As a school classmate used to mistakenly say. Think "Je voudrais" should have been the first bit! Teacher took the Mick mercilessly (in french, never heard a word in English from her, unless you were having a second bonus telling off, after a french telling off first!) and subsequently always invited "the little pea" to sit down/ stand up separately from the rest of the boys and girls!


Or long story short, a super manual in french wouldn't be any good for me (sadly!)

[moizeau]

It would, very detailed pictures and very detailed torque figures and the list of what to remove first is LISTED, not 'refer to page xxx, chapter z'

[CitroJim]

Or long story short, a super manual in french wouldn't be any good for me (sadly!)

At that Matt but you know, even if you're like me and struggle with my own native language it's amazing how well you can read and understand technical French. I had a RT manual for the Xantia in French and I could always get the gist of it and as Pete says, it's very good with diagrams and pictures...

I got expelled from the French class but then I can't blame them as I could barely speak English fluently then, let alone any other language! In fact I couldn't until quite late in life actually. It's all a bit different now as you can't shut me up... Making up for lost time perhaps Now stick a microphone in front of me with a PA system attached and a gathering of people and I'm away... I simply love public speaking and I'm famous for it...

Back on topic... If there ever was a topic We had a sherdathon today and the shredder with the brass bearings broke - as expected - but the one with the Nylon-66 bearings did a sterling job. The one with the phosphor bronze bearing also stuck it out to the end...

Here's the proof

And one of the bearings, showing no wear

We did find the motors don't like continuous duty. They get very hot and loose power. They're fine once cooled down...

So now I'll make sets of Nylon-66 bearings for the other two...

The three shredders cost a tenner. I must have spent at least twice that on experimental bearing material