23HF14

[removeduser185]

How interesting. I will have a look at the things you suggest. It is so frustrating - I am constantly reading articles about restorations, people bringing Land Rovers back from the dead - and all of them seem to get their vehicles to run smoothly with little effort. There's mine - looking superb and it runs like a dog! Anyway, we'll soldier on and see where we get to. At least I know it can run properly if it's set up properly - with Jon's carburettor it was a delight - and instantly so.

Hope you're well and able to get the things you need. One great advantage with living in this part of the world is the way the local shops have swung into action to deliver - the patisserie in town is selling and delivering fruit and veg, supplied by the local commercial catering firm while the pet shop has a nice line in bog rolls and potatoes!

[removeduser185]

I had a pleasant little fiddle with the Lightweight yesterday and it is now running pretty smoothly. Basically, I think I have been trying too hard and over-cooking the tuning - it needs a good run, for starters, some new fuel and, of course, as it never gets beyond the drive and has been started on choke, it hasn't been easy to set up - the plugs soon got pretty sooty.

Anyway, I weakened the mixture markedly and it seem a lot happier. It runs smoothly enough - there's still a bit of a burble at the exhaust pipe which ought not to be there, but that may just be because I trimmed off the last 4-5 inches of it (it was a standard one with the kink in rather than a Lightweight one with a straight tailpipe). Certainly, it started first time and needed no choke today when I took it outside.

The issue of the one missing cylinder is/was interesting as well, particularly as it used to be no2 and was now no3. I had a thought... the two wires running from the low tension connectors on the coil to the electronic dizzie were resting on top of the No3 HT lead. I re-routed them clear of all the HT leads and it now runs evenly on all four. May be coincidence, but, I have an evenly running engine again, so I don't care!

Other things? I bought a pair of front floor mats for a standard series. They're Britpart ones, but seem to be suitably thick and sturdy. I cut the edges down a bit and they are now installed and looking excellent. So I was pretty pleased with that.

I have also returned my wing mirrors to the spares box - at least until I run the car without doors. I should imagine REME was mightily relieved when Land Rover moved the rear-view mirrors to the doors from the wings. Don't they just get in the way, when you're fiddling in the engine?

Insurance is due later this month - but, with it still SORN and some weeks to go on lockdown, I might just have to suspend it for a month or two.

[fv1620]

The issue of the one missing cylinder is/was interesting as well, particularly as it used to be no2 and was now no3. I had a thought... the two wires running from the low tension connectors on the coil to the electronic dizzie were resting on top of the No3 HT lead. I re-routed them clear of all the HT leads and it now runs evenly on all four. May be coincidence, but, I have an evenly running engine again, so I don't care!

Good bit of detection Fred might well be significant. Insulation is not perfect, handling some HT leads I have received a jolt by capacitive coupling.

I'm sure you are itching to give it a good burn up, that would be good for both you & the vehicle. We're looking forward to one of those parked by reservoir pictures

[Ridgy]

Fred

Don't forget insurance is for fire, theft and accidental damage as well as driving on the road! Heaven forbid anything should happen but personally I keep the cover running on all my vehicles all the time. Remember the poor chap on here a while back who had a garage fire.....

Cheers

Steve

[removeduser185]

I'm sure you are itching to give it a good burn up, that would be good for both you & the vehicle. We're looking forward to one of those parked by reservoir pictures

Oh yes! Not a day goes by without my having a wistful wander round the Land Rover - even when I'm working on the Discovery (or helping my son with his bike). I spend a lot of time thinking about it and wondering what else to do with it. I'm just sorry I can't hop in and pop over for a chat at the moment.

Don't forget insurance is for fire, theft and accidental damage as well as driving on the road! Heaven forbid anything should happen but personally I keep the cover running on all my vehicles all the time. Remember the poor chap on here a while back who had a garage fire.....

You're right, of course, Steve and, yes, I do remember the garage fire - horrendous. I shall do something, certainly. Sad thing is that "Third Party F&T" is now barely cheaper than fully comp. But, classic insurance for the Lightweight isn't exactly a bank-breaker, I suppose.

[andrewjsimpson1977]

Hope you manage to get out soon buddy... I do miss having a natter and a brew whilst wandering aimlessly around a swap meet.

[andrewjsimpson1977]

Here’s a photo of what I mean about the extinguisher brackets. It’s an easy fix - just a steel square with a ‘C’ cut in it.

CC55DE39-B7C7-42F4-BE66-C4FBBD6413AC.jpeg (1.23 MiB) Viewed 1681 times

..I’ll add it to the pile as I’m not busy

[removeduser185]

Ah! Thanks Andy, that is most kind. Are you still sure you don't want the tow hitch backing plate (see Howard's thread)?

[andrewjsimpson1977]

Ah! Thanks Andy, that is most kind. Are you still sure you don't want the tow hitch backing plate (see Howard's thread)?

Mine’s on the way already don’t worry Ian - thanks again though - keep it for the next needy restorer that passes by.

[removeduser185]

I have been offered the chance of an MoT for the Lightweight. The local MoT man is only doing the cars of key workers, but, if the garage calls him in, then they pay him for the day and, if there are any slots left, he offers them up to a friend of mine's garage at short notice.

I want an MoT so that I can de-SORN it onto a VHI registration which can't be done without a valid MoT. So, in anticipation of a short-notice phone call I decided to do a quick pre-MoT check. Lightweight out of the garage into the sunlight. Everything was absolutely fine... except the indicators and hazards decided not to play. I quickly traced it to the earth lead from the hazard warning and turnlight unit. No problem... made up another one fitted it and... no indicators or hazards. Dug out a spare unit - same result which was quite a surprise. Played around for an hour or so trying to fathom what the problem might be. No luck. Put it back in the garage and went and had lunch. After lunch, went back to it. Jumped in, drove it out of the garage and... turned the 6-way switch from "convoy" to "off". And, all of a sudden, I had indicators and hazards! Amazing! When I was trying out the lights I must have turned them off one notch too far. What a dick! Still, I now know everything works as it should and I probably won't make the same mistake again!