Woo! Finally a day in the garage! I'm a garage spastic!

Jonny69 · 12-03-2011, 20:41

Had a beer with a couple of London Retro-Riders on Thursday night and the subject of garage spasticity came up. This is when you haven't been in the garage for some time and on your triumphant return to the toolbox, you find you've turned into a garage spastic and can't remember how to use a spanner

This was me today and yesterday.

I took Friday off work to do some spannering and I was surprised how little got done. I managed to get the steering box off the hotrod (which I was amazed I did with so few hand injuries and so much mess) and I fixed the fuelling problem. Rubber fuel hose is useless - it's official. It must have been going for ages because I was having starting problems for a long time and thought there was a carb problem, but I'm hoping it was the hose causing it.

Today was a bit more serious. I took the exhausts off the car to patch up the holes and try and seal them up a bit better, then give them a lick of EHT paint. Well it's taken me a whole day to do that and every tool in the garage. And to cap it all off, the exhausts are still leaning on the garage wall and the bonnet is stuffed under the car out in the carpark

But it doesn't matter, because my hands are smashed to bits, dry, black, and my fingernails are irreversibly dirty and I'm happy

Anyone else get out today? How much of a garage spastic are you?

Desmo · 12-03-2011, 20:54

I've been out fiddling with Dave today. Popped on some fresh new numberplates and also took a look at the rear brake sensor meaning I had to pop off the rear wheel along with some of the trim under the arch. Got to do it all again in the week once a new sensor turns up.

Pheebs · 12-03-2011, 21:29

I changed my beam bulb thingymabob. Done it before, know how to do it... so why was it that when I popped the bonnet, I immediately (without any thought) try and take the plastic light cover off, only to *instantly* snap a catch on it!!

It took me to break that to think "Oh... crud... I'm supposed to be doing it from behind..." and then it took me forever to try and jimmy the rubber cap off. AND THEN! I couldn't get it to release and ended up using a screwdriver to wangle it. Took me about 30mins in total just to get it out and then sort it! Gee whizz!

It took me 5mins on my old car!

My car is rebelling as it knows it's service is coming up

Darrin · 12-03-2011, 23:39

I crawled under the old Jeep today. Still trying to sort out the parking brake. As in put one in. This Jeep has a separate drum brake on the propeller shaft. The backing plate is mounted on the back of the transfer case. It had none of the pieces when I purchased the Jeep.

I managed to get everything all installed (lots of fun finding parts for a vehicle 55 years old) and went to go try it out. Gave the handle a yank and the cable snapped. ANOTHER thing to order and get delivered!!

So I went on to change some fluids. Pulled the filler plugs on the transmission and transfer case (ALWAYS pull the filler plugs first, that way if there's a problem you aren't sitting there with an empty transmission/transfer case and no way to fill it), then pulled the drain plugs.

HOLY HELL!!! The absolute GRUNDGE that came glooping out was horrendous!! Then I pulled the drain plug on the engine. OMFG what kind of IDIOT would not change the oil for 10 years straight??? It looked like it had come out of poorly running Diesel tractor that was in a desperate need of an oil change.

Needless to say the little Jeep is running and shifting SOOOO much better!

Next on the list is to install the inverter and the CB. Then wire up the off road lights. And eventually fabricate a bracket for a York A/C compressor to use as an air compressor for on-board air.

Flibster · 13-03-2011, 21:00

Had to do some welding recently.

I think a half blind monkey with a severe attack of the shakes would have done a better job than I did. But after dressing the weld and doing the customary couple of thwaps with a rubber mallet it all held up - so all is well again.

Also had to help a neighbour with replacing a headlight bulb in her Megane - a nice and simple job I thought.

WRONG!

Whose stupid idea was it to make you have to remove the sodding bumper to change a headlight bulb if you have hands larger than a 2yr old?

volospian · 15-03-2011, 19:53

I fully intended to change the front discs and pads on the Jag on Sunday. A truely simple job. Take the wheels off, tap out the two pins that hold the pads in place, remove the pads, undo the two bolts that hold the caliper in place, slide the old discs off, replace with new discs, replace caliper, fit pads, replace pins, put wheels back on... should be about 30 mins or so a side, if that.

Two hours of smacking the frikkin retaining pins later, I gave up and let the garage do it when they serviced it yesterday. The pins were seized solid. By the time I had given up hitting them with a hammer they looked more like rivets... The garage had to remove the calipers from the car and press the damn things out. Really annoyed me at having to pay to get it sorted but at around £1k per caliper, I didn't want to risk any serious damage....

12-03-2011, 20:41	#1
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Woo! Finally a day in the garage! I'm a garage spastic! Had a beer with a couple of London Retro-Riders on Thursday night and the subject of garage spasticity came up. This is when you haven't been in the garage for some time and on your triumphant return to the toolbox, you find you've turned into a garage spastic and can't remember how to use a spanner This was me today and yesterday. I took Friday off work to do some spannering and I was surprised how little got done. I managed to get the steering box off the hotrod (which I was amazed I did with so few hand injuries and so much mess) and I fixed the fuelling problem. Rubber fuel hose is useless - it's official. It must have been going for ages because I was having starting problems for a long time and thought there was a carb problem, but I'm hoping it was the hose causing it. Today was a bit more serious. I took the exhausts off the car to patch up the holes and try and seal them up a bit better, then give them a lick of EHT paint. Well it's taken me a whole day to do that and every tool in the garage. And to cap it all off, the exhausts are still leaning on the garage wall and the bonnet is stuffed under the car out in the carpark But it doesn't matter, because my hands are smashed to bits, dry, black, and my fingernails are irreversibly dirty and I'm happy Anyone else get out today? How much of a garage spastic are you? __________________

12-03-2011, 20:54	#2
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	I've been out fiddling with Dave today. Popped on some fresh new numberplates and also took a look at the rear brake sensor meaning I had to pop off the rear wheel along with some of the trim under the arch. Got to do it all again in the week once a new sensor turns up. __________________

12-03-2011, 21:29	#3
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	I changed my beam bulb thingymabob. Done it before, know how to do it... so why was it that when I popped the bonnet, I immediately (without any thought) try and take the plastic light cover off, only to instantly snap a catch on it!! It took me to break that to think "Oh... crud... I'm supposed to be doing it from behind..." and then it took me forever to try and jimmy the rubber cap off. AND THEN! I couldn't get it to release and ended up using a screwdriver to wangle it. Took me about 30mins in total just to get it out and then sort it! Gee whizz! It took me 5mins on my old car! My car is rebelling as it knows it's service is coming up __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

12-03-2011, 23:39	#4
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	I crawled under the old Jeep today. Still trying to sort out the parking brake. As in put one in. This Jeep has a separate drum brake on the propeller shaft. The backing plate is mounted on the back of the transfer case. It had none of the pieces when I purchased the Jeep. I managed to get everything all installed (lots of fun finding parts for a vehicle 55 years old) and went to go try it out. Gave the handle a yank and the cable snapped. ANOTHER thing to order and get delivered!! So I went on to change some fluids. Pulled the filler plugs on the transmission and transfer case (ALWAYS pull the filler plugs first, that way if there's a problem you aren't sitting there with an empty transmission/transfer case and no way to fill it), then pulled the drain plugs. HOLY HELL!!! The absolute GRUNDGE that came glooping out was horrendous!! Then I pulled the drain plug on the engine. OMFG what kind of IDIOT would not change the oil for 10 years straight??? It looked like it had come out of poorly running Diesel tractor that was in a desperate need of an oil change. Needless to say the little Jeep is running and shifting SOOOO much better! Next on the list is to install the inverter and the CB. Then wire up the off road lights. And eventually fabricate a bracket for a York A/C compressor to use as an air compressor for on-board air. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

13-03-2011, 21:00	#5
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	Had to do some welding recently. I think a half blind monkey with a severe attack of the shakes would have done a better job than I did. But after dressing the weld and doing the customary couple of thwaps with a rubber mallet it all held up - so all is well again. Also had to help a neighbour with replacing a headlight bulb in her Megane - a nice and simple job I thought. WRONG! Whose stupid idea was it to make you have to remove the sodding bumper to change a headlight bulb if you have hands larger than a 2yr old? __________________

15-03-2011, 19:53	#6
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	I fully intended to change the front discs and pads on the Jag on Sunday. A truely simple job. Take the wheels off, tap out the two pins that hold the pads in place, remove the pads, undo the two bolts that hold the caliper in place, slide the old discs off, replace with new discs, replace caliper, fit pads, replace pins, put wheels back on... should be about 30 mins or so a side, if that. Two hours of smacking the frikkin retaining pins later, I gave up and let the garage do it when they serviced it yesterday. The pins were seized solid. By the time I had given up hitting them with a hammer they looked more like rivets... The garage had to remove the calipers from the car and press the damn things out. Really annoyed me at having to pay to get it sorted but at around £1k per caliper, I didn't want to risk any serious damage....