"mouse" in my steering

"mouse" in my steering

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Discussion

tomtrout

Original Poster:

595 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
It would appear that I have a very annoying squeak coming from my steering column whenever I saw on the wheel. The good news is that it's so loud in my car when I'm properly underway that I can't hear it! I presume my squeak originates from the rubber column bushes and it's something I am going to have to live with? Do other Vixen owners keep mice in their steering column or am I the only lucky one?

prideaux

4,969 posts

149 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
quotequote all
tomtrout said:
It would appear that I have a very annoying squeak coming from my steering column whenever I saw on the wheel. The good news is that it's so loud in my car when I'm properly underway that I can't hear it! I presume my squeak originates from the rubber column bushes and it's something I am going to have to live with? Do other Vixen owners keep mice in their steering column or am I the only lucky one?
Your the lucky one from my experience just call her Mickey wink
A

foxdog

156 posts

242 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
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WD40 Worked for me.

A

Moto

1,235 posts

253 months

Sunday 20th April 2014
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No mice in the steering. However sounds like your car's now on the road. Have I missed a post and if so congrats.... can we see a photo of the finished article?

tomtrout

Original Poster:

595 posts

163 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
Hi Steve. Yes the car is pretty well finished but I need to book up a MOT test before I can really get a feel for what she's like. Also having some difficulty getting the twin carbs properly balanced. I think a session on a rolling road with somebody who really knows how to fettle webers will be money well spent. There are quite a few jobs I would like to revisit,the transmission tunnel cover particularly bothers me so will be recovering that at some stage but I really just want to enjoy driving it this summer.

I was a little worried about how heavy the steering was until I remembered that I had not put any air in the tyres since completing the rolling chassis three years ago! Also managed to find an extra 1/2 inch of clearance under the exhaust after giving them some air! Still only around 3" between the bottom kink in the tail pipe and the road so lots of care needed on some of my local lanes.

A few pics of how she looks at the moment but I will post some more once I get her road legal.


[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/bQ8rZOAO[/url]

tomtrout

Original Poster:

595 posts

163 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
I did try a quick squirt of rocket 40 but without the little plastic tube I don't think I managed to penetrate into the mouse nest. Will try again!

ATE399J

729 posts

237 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Could be the springy tubey thing that connects the horn push to the slip ring behind the steering wheel, try some copperslip.

prideaux

4,969 posts

149 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
tomtrout said:
Hi Steve. Yes the car is pretty well finished but I need to book up a MOT test before I can really get a feel for what she's like. Also having some difficulty getting the twin carbs properly balanced. I think a session on a rolling road with somebody who really knows how to fettle webers will be money well spent. There are quite a few jobs I would like to revisit,the transmission tunnel cover particularly bothers me so will be recovering that at some stage but I really just want to enjoy driving it this summer.

I was a little worried about how heavy the steering was until I remembered that I had not put any air in the tyres since completing the rolling chassis three years ago! Also managed to find an extra 1/2 inch of clearance under the exhaust after giving them some air! Still only around 3" between the bottom kink in the tail pipe and the road so lots of care needed on some of my local lanes.

A few pics of how she looks at the moment but I will post some more once I get her road legal.


[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/bQ8rZOAO[/url]
She really is a beauty Andy well done looked great in the garage but out she just pops a real credit to your hard work yes a rolling road or at least a good one who understands webbers etc would be money very well spent.
Enjoy many happy years with her
A

Moto

1,235 posts

253 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
tomtrout said:
Hi Steve. Yes the car is pretty well finished but I need to book up a MOT test before I can really get a feel for what she's like. Also having some difficulty getting the twin carbs properly balanced. I think a session on a rolling road with somebody who really knows how to fettle webers will be money well spent. There are quite a few jobs I would like to revisit,the transmission tunnel cover particularly bothers me so will be recovering that at some stage but I really just want to enjoy driving it this summer.

I was a little worried about how heavy the steering was until I remembered that I had not put any air in the tyres since completing the rolling chassis three years ago! Also managed to find an extra 1/2 inch of clearance under the exhaust after giving them some air! Still only around 3" between the bottom kink in the tail pipe and the road so lots of care needed on some of my local lanes.

A few pics of how she looks at the moment but I will post some more once I get her road legal.
Andy, she's looking tremendous. Bet you're well pleased.

Good idea to enjoy the summer driving and leave any final fettling until the winter. Can't be too hard to find someone local to setup the carbs. I had mine done on the local RR in Hereford but a bit far for you.

As already mentioned, check the horn push. My spring at the back also chaff's on the slip ring and is noisy. I've tried a number of soln's, non so far having worked very well.

If you find yourself driving her through Herefordshire give us a shout.



Astacus

3,382 posts

234 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Wow, what a great looking little car! Whens the MOT?

Mr Tiger

406 posts

128 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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A beautiful looking Vixen! Is it a very early S2?

Good luck with the MOT although I doubt you'll need it.

Chris

tomtrout

Original Poster:

595 posts

163 months

Monday 21st April 2014
quotequote all
Yes it is a very early S2 first registered in Jan 69. I will want the garage to check the steering geometry as I have only messed around with a ground leveling laser to make sure I have a least a little bit of front toe-in. Having all four wheels pointing in the right direction will help but I must say it already steers very well. I will try and get the MOT sorted asap.

I have also just received some info from DVLA about previous owners and interestingly (to me anyway) the first owner kept the car for 22 years and the second owner for 19. I also have a few receipts from a Willwood Tune garage in Stockport dating back to the late 1970s when the car was still with the first registered owner. It seems the first owner did very few miles in the car from around this time with the car only covering 1200 in 14 months. In Dec 79 the recorded mileage was 39,000. I think the 55,000 recorded miles I have on the clock might just be the correct mileage. I guess it is possible it has covered 155k but pretty unlikely as the car was last taxed in the late 80s. I didn't have the speedo serviced and I was half expecting the needle or the odeometer to be stuck but they are fine.

Re my squeak. I suppose it could be the slip ring but I think the rubber column buses are more likely to be the culprits.


ATE399J

729 posts

237 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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tomtrout said:
Re my squeak. I suppose it could be the slip ring but I think the rubber column buses are more likely to be the culprits.

But the rubber column bushes don't move and have a steel sleeve with a nylon inner. Easy to see if its the horn thingy though, just take it out!!

By the way, I can only echo what others have said, well done, a really lovely looking car.

Phil

tomtrout

Original Poster:

595 posts

163 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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The mouse is dead! Well done Phil, it was indeed the brass slip ring and all that was needed was a tiny blob of copper grease on the contact end of the spring-loaded plunger. Almost like a Bentley now - well maybe not!