Bit of an idiot...

[wombat172a]

I've parked my car in front of our drive, blocking my housemates car in. We're both at work and he'll be back and needing his car before I'm back. The keys for my car are in my pocket and I'm stuck in central london.

There's another guy at home who might be able to help move the car, just need to work out how.

It's a mercedes E220 (W124) auto estate, left in park (handbrake not on)

My plan is this:
Get the guy at home to jack the car up on one rear wheel with a trolley jack, with jack wheels facing the direction of the car.
Crank the wheel by hand in a clockwise direction using a socket on a wheel nut.
The differential should allow the remaining wheel on the ground to spin backwards.

Sound reasonable, or would this be the second idiotic thing I've done today? (it's not even 8am )

Thanks

[wombat172a]

Spare key is about 230miles away, might well give the bounce logic a bash later once we're back.

[wombat172a]

SLCZ3 said:

Jack the rear end up, on large heavy duty trolley jack, and thus move.

Hmmm not got a large HD one to play with, just a small size one.

I think I should prolly list what we've got to play with.

One guy who is a Mechanical Engineer but knows nothing about cars (only passed his test last week)
A small trolley jack
A 500kg engine hoist
A large selection of spanners and sockets
About 4 crates of Kronenburg (useful for making MechEng work)
No keys - car is in Park, handbrake is off
WD40
LM grease
Contents of kitchen (girls might dissaprove of kitchen utensil use)

[wombat172a]

AB said:

wombat172a said:

Spare key is about 230miles away, might well give the bounce logic a bash later once we're back.

"We're back"?

You'll have the key then?

Ah no, the car is in staines, I'm in central london, and the spare key is in plymouth.

[wombat172a]

Problem: The lazy MechEng is still asleep and won't answer his phone.

[wombat172a]

MechEng is awake, and confused.

Have explained my plan, of jacking up one wheel and cranking it. He is still confused.

[dramatic voice over] Will MechEng make it out the door? Will he lock himself out? Will the mercedes be moved in time for flight to oz? Will the mercedes be destroyed in the proceess? Who knows? Stay tuned.... [/dramatic voice over]

[wombat172a]

Well he's awake, nearly got run over though. He has a jack, and the socket set. Should have an answer in less than 15mins.

[wombat172a]

RacingPete said:

What is the surface of said drive... I think that vital information is key to my solving of cryptic problem #235 (rating: Medium)

It's tarmac, reynolds numeber of 1-1.5 maybe?



Well he's attempted my one wheel off the ground tactic and has failed. Another solution is now required. Prolly going to see if we can lift both wheels and move it.

[wombat172a]

Duane Pipe said:

You're in London - can't you get an instant courier?

Seems a bit like cheating, but I'll look for a price in a bit

munter said:

A tow rope. A friendly Landrover owner?.... Worst case AA break in.

Ironically I have two landrovers. One is 50 yards away on the road with a broken clutch, the other is in plymouth (with the spare mercedes key). Also andy has a land rover, but that is stuck behind the mercedes too.

Edited by wombat172a on Friday 20th February 11:00

[wombat172a]

Andy, do you still have your hi-lift jack around?

If we get the mercedes onto a trolley jack, and your roll under car thing. We could move the land rover up (with the broken clutch) tie onto that, and matt could then winch the mercedes backwards?

Could plan b) be:

Inflate tyre of land rover
Drive land rover close to mercedes
Jack up mercedes & place it onto the roll under thing, then jack under the other wheel
Use rope & hi-lift jack to pull the mercedes out of the way

Alterations?

[wombat172a]

Buzz word said:

sceptic said:

Bin bags + WD40

Now this idea I like alot. Come on chaps give this guys idea a chance it's a much better plan than grinding the baking trays to dust and a really elegant solution if it reduces the friction enough. Maybe a few bits of board under the wheels and on the ground to keep the surface flat and make the pressure more even. easily the best idea so far.

Attempted with LM grease & WD40. Failed, timber dug in through the bin bags onto the ground below. Didn't tear the bags but it didn't move either way.

MechEng now covered in LM grease.

Fair plan but I think more muscle is required.

[wombat172a]

Omertron said:

Aren't you forgetting a vital piece of information? It's POETS day today... Get confused MechEng to call you at work...
MechEng: Oi! Idiot!
You: Mum? Is that you?
MechEng: Get back here now!
You: (Concerned) Are you alright?
MechEng: I'm going to rip you a new one if you make me miss the flight
You: (Alarmed) Taken to hospital? Which one?
You (to boss): I have to go! See you Monday.

Very good!!

BTW my justification for parking so badly was that I was hungry & pizza was required. Parking there gave me the shortest & quickets walking route to the house.

[wombat172a]

Jayfish I like the plan, definately adding that one to the list.

PhantomHumper said:

What time is the flight?

About 5:45 I think

stifle said:

OP, How much do you like the Mercedes?

It's a useful machine, and is required for hauling skis to the alps next week.

Fastra said:

Am I wrong in thinking that a civil engineer and a mechanical engineering should be eating these sort of problems for breakfast..?

Quite definately, but some beers were had last night! (and we're not that good anyway)

[quote]I am amazed you have not yet tried transmitting the keyfob radio signal down the phone !!

No fancy stuff here, just old fashined central locking


ETA: I think I'm going to owe some beers tonight

Edited by wombat172a on Friday 20th February 12:46

[wombat172a]

If the two-jack plan fails, may I suggest skip diving in the industrial estate to find some materials for the purpose replicating the McDonalds tray idea??

[wombat172a]

Hat's off to you good sir! I am impressed!

I also think we might be able to get the MechEng to do this even if you do manage to move the merc using "conventional" (and I use that in the loosest sense) means.

[wombat172a]

Fox- said:

Surely the easiest solution is for somebody to hop a train into London, get the keys and pop back? Can't take too long from Staines?

Eeeh gads!! The bloody MechEng could have done that for about £5!! Aside from failed attempts at moving the mercedes he's had nothing else to do all day! I'll find out if there's time but I think two-jack plan is about to go into operation.

[wombat172a]

I'm now out of contact with all parties. I think something bad may have happened, something like diagram 4 multiplied 3 times.

[wombat172a]

Hooray!!

And a humbling lesson has been learnt. Lube before parking.