Little bit of help needed ?

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shiplee123

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Hi guys

As u know I'm working on my 69 westy at the moment

I have limited mechanical knowledge so rely on my machanic mate to help me with some of the harder jobs.

There's been a few jobs crop up on my new westy which I wasn't expecting and these have put me behind by several weeks.

My machanic ( who is superb ) can only give me a couple of hours every couple of weeks.

I'm looking for someone local to me ( near beccles Suffolk ) who's experienced , who can come round and give me a few hours help on my bus. Or maybe a full Saturday ?

I'm obviously happy to pay u for your time !

It's close to being mot d and with several more pushes it will b ready but with my friend only coming round every two or three weeks we r gonna miss this season !

Doesn't help that my wife's preggas and gonna pop at any moment so my time is getting less n less.

Needs anti roll bar fixing , new front shocks , rear flexi break pipe , centre idler pin replacing .

The carb needs looking at. It's spluttering and poping at moment so I've purchased a rebuild kit. May have to shell out for a solex if it doesn't sort the problem?

If your local , have got the knowledge , and feel like helping me out and earning a bit of cash in hand beer money please pm me !

Thanks
 
I'd offer a hand if we weren't 200-odd miles away :lol:

ARB is an easy one. Is one fitted already? Have you bought new fittings?
When I last changed one, because I was fitting new rubbers and clamps I just cut the existing ones off with an angle grinder.
Easy to re-assemble too and can be done by a single bod. Bit of brute force and ignorance will help with this. I ended up using mole-grips (or a plumbers wrench) to pinch the clamps closed enough to slip the retaining "clip" on. Bit of hammering later and it was on.

Shocks: even easier on a stock height bus. Just a couple of 19mm (?) spanners required.

Flexi-hose. Not so easy and would recommend a helper when it comes round to re-bleeding brakes. Simplest solution (I think, can't remember how I did it back when I replaced mine 3 years ago) is to drain the brakes down and swap the lines out. Re-fill and bleed. You could probably perform a quick switcheroo without draining but brake fluid chews through tarmac so I went for the longer method.

Center idler pin... never done this bit, sorry!

Carb? Get some carb cleaner first and when the van is running give the carb a quick spray (don't overdo it). If the engine note changes then you've got an air leak that needs sorting. You can spray different areas to try and narrow down where the problem lies in particular. Can't offer much advice on the rebuild as mine leak after I rebuilt them (but that's part of a wider issue on my setup). My rebuild kits came with instructions. I cleaned my carbs using white spirit (good few litres of the cheap stuff from the handyman store) and soaked the stripped carbs in it overnight and then scrubbed with a toothbrush.

HTH - you can do it!
 
Thanks chap

A lot of these jobs I can do if I put my mind to it. These busses are fairly simple.
But I'm no machanic so basic stuff may take me twice as long as someone who knows there stuff!

I've got some carb cleaner and a rebuild kit

I've also got the parts to do everything else ( I think )

It's just the time , running a small business , two young kids and a third on the way not getting the time to think about how I'm gonna do the jobs let alone actually starting some of them

Who's stupid idear was it to buy a new bus when I've got so much on my plate :lol:
 
I rebuilt my Solex 34 carb last year and it made all the difference.
Well worth the job - make sure you take loads of photos and label everything and it will be fine - a couple of hours max once all cleaned up instead of watching crap on TV

BTW
I'm in Yoxford every couple of months visiting family. :)

Spence
 
Yoxford that's 20 min away !
Nice villages down there !
If your ever at a loose end then u know where to come lol
 
How the afternoon can change!

Now sitting in Norwich an Norfolk hospital

Wife just been rushed up by midwife !
 
Thanks gvee

She's all strapped up to wires to listen to baby's heart.

Hospital midwives think things r fine! So that's good !

Stress - I hate hospitals :lol:
 
Well I was about to offer to help but it seems you have something far more important to sort first!
 
Back now

What a day to say the least !

She's been given the all clear to come home and natural birth should b ok!
Bit worrying tho when the midwife tells u to rush of up the hospital :shock:
Oh the joys of bing a parent ! :lol:

Slammed your help would b much appreciated !!!

Your not far away , norwich as far as I remember ?

I'll pm u :D
 
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH fond memories of not being allowed to go ANYWHERE and my hand
being crushed for six hours (labour).Now just a memory 18 years later. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Glad to hear all is well and good luck!!!!

J & P
:D :D :D
 
Thanks guys

Feel like I need a big goblet of wine to calm my nerves from today !!!

..... But I can't cost I have to b sober for the next two weeks in case we gotta rush of up the hospital :lol:

This is the third time we've done all this but do u know it scares the crap out of me all this hospital stuff and being helpless what may or may not happen !

She done well last time ! By the time we got to norwich hospital and in the front doors she had had our baby within 15 mins :shock:

No messing about this time
 
Glad everything is ok, our first one was 15 mins after getting to the hospital, 2nd one didn't want to come out, third decided he couldn't wait and was born at home in the bath, paramedics and midwife missed the action. 4th was pretty straightforward, then we got a telly. You still don't have much time when they get older.
Hope it all goes smoothly for you guys.
 
Phew, glad all is well!!
As for the bus, the jobs listed should be fairly simple & will fill you with confidence if you give them a shot yersel!!! Even better if you have a mate on hand who's a bit handy, crack on with a couple of jobs each, really makes life easier!!!!
 
Thanks lee

Yes all is well. Mrs shippas very uncomfortable but ok. Anytime now matey :shock:

I think I had a bit of a melt down the last couple of weeks :lol: so much to do in prep for new baby , work is extremely busy, and nothing was getting done on the bus which was driving me crazy! :|

As it happens I had an hour spare wed pm and got the anti roll bar and shocks fitted.
I've received the parts I need today to get my lights working this weekend and my machanic has said he's coming round sat for about 6 hours so feeling a bit more positive
 

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