Service question

[RayTVR]

Had the car out for a good run yesterday and all is running very well.

Plan to do full service checks etc. this week, then a good shake down next week end ahead of S Club and euro tours.

The one service item I never seem to be able to do is greasing the prop UJ's. They are the type with the grease nipple, but nothing ever seems to squeeze in. Terry suggested a bit of hairdryer on them first to loosen up anything that's hardened. Here's the question - as its not broke should I leave alone or contemplate changing joints as a preventative measure? Or is the hairdryer treatment what they need?

[phillpot]

I find greasing UJ's is always a bit "hit and miss" invariably if you can get any grease in it comes out just one or, if you're lucky, two of the four bearings that offer least resistance.

An awful lot of propshafts have sealed for life UJ's, it's mainly things like Land Rovers that spend their life up to their axles in mud and cack, wading rivers and so on that have them in my experience, tell you something?

But if you have nipples it's always nice to be able to grease them


I find one of these old pump type grease guns better, the tip is smaller than your standard gun, giving easier access onto the nipple.......

[RayTVR]

On the theme of "if its not broken, don't fix it"

Draining cooling system and inspection revealed some weeping coolant in the area of the thermostat. This led me to think maybe I should take a look as despite mountains of service items in the folder, I don't think there's any record of the thermostat being replaced.

Don't think its supposed to look like this..



SO now need, a new thermostat, a way of getting the mangled mess which used to be a thermostat out, a method to remove the snapped bolt and a new bolt for thermostat housing..

[phillpot]

RayTVR said:

Don't think its supposed to look like this..

Is that a gooey mass of gasket sealant? Should be an O ring to seal it, no gasket and defiantly not half a tube of sealant.

Thermostat behind is probably ok?


Good luck with the snapped off bolt!

[RayTVR]

It does look like sealant but is set like concrete and not at all gooey.

Anybody know a source/part no for a replacement thermostat? Might as well replace it as I have got this far.

Any ideas on the bolt would also be useful - think they may be the same as the water pump ones.

[phillpot]

RayTVR said:

Anybody know a source/part no for a replacement thermostat?

Ebay or any good Motor Factors should be able to source one.

RayTVR said:

Any ideas on the bolt would also be useful

M6, same length as other two?

[RayTVR]

Thanks Mike - think thermostat may be straightforward but finding the correct tricornered gasket and O ring may be the hard bit.

Bolts are a bit of on odd profile with integral washers but as you say I have the other two, so a visit to a ford dealer may work.

[phillpot]

New stat should come with the seal ring, no gasket. The new old stock one certainly looks to have the seal in place.

As for bolts,bin the remaining old ones, get three new grade 8.8 bolts and use spring and flat washers... sorted



oh, and shed loads of "Coppaslip" on the threads!

[william weir]

hi as for the bolt/stud i would try heating it up then spray with oil let it cool down repete several times if there is nothing to grip hold of you will have to center pop the stud then drill a hole in it then use an easyout only do this after repeted heated and cooling can be done but take your time with it good luck

[Griffinr]

william weir said:

hi as for the bolt/stud i would try heating it up then spray with oil let it cool down repete several times if there is nothing to grip hold of you will have to center pop the stud then drill a hole in it then use an easyout only do this after repeted heated and cooling can be done but take your time with it good luck

When I sheared one off on mine there was about 3-4mm left sticking out. I gave it a light tap with a hammer and it screwed out with my fingers, but maybe I was just lucky.

[glenrobbo]

Griffinr said:

When I sheared one off on mine there was about 3-4mm left sticking out. I gave it a light tap with a hammer and it screwed out with my fingers, but maybe I was just lucky.

Just a light tap though! Be careful because you don't want the housing to break into pieces.
Plenty of PlusGas will do no harm either.

[Blue 30]

Hi.. I have had some success with heat, using a kitchen/chiefs mini blowlamp & a bit of 13mm copper pipe over the broken bolt to keep the heat local. Plus a few days worth of release fluid before that !
TerryB.

[RayTVR]

phillpot said:

Is that a gooey mass of gasket sealant? Should be an O ring to seal it, no gasket and defiantly not half a tube of sealant.

Turns out its not sealant - just the fossilised remains of what once was an O ring and a lot of chalky build up which comes off easily.

So, feels like some progress, bonnet off, radiator and fan out of the way and now have good access to see



I'd really like someone to tell me it was a good idea to start with this now, rather than leaving it alone like my brain is telling me.

Now need to tackle the snapped bolt.. Sunday's cobweb run is looking a bit unlikley.

Should I also bite the bullet and go for some new silicon hoses, given that most of them are off now anyway?

[phillpot]

RayTVR said:

Now need to tackle the snapped bolt..

Always a bit tricky drilling a steel bolt out of aluminium, file the top flat and centre pop as near bang on centre as possible. Start small drill (2mm?) and build up until there is virtually just the thread left in there, fingers crossed that will then come out with a 6mm tap.

I wouldn't go anywhere near it with an "Easy out".. snap that off (and that small they snap real easy) and you will have a problem!!!

RayTVR said:

Should I also bite the bullet and go for some new silicon hoses, given that most of them are off now anyway?

Do you need to ask

[RayTVR]

Following Philpot's excellent advice pleased to report that after many hours I managed to drill the centre of the bolt and then with several hours of gentle needle filing open it to pretty much size. 6MM tap and all is good again.

Cost so far,

Thermostat £7
6mm bolts £2
New cordless drill £££
Tap and die set £££
Silicone hoses £££££££££

Off for a lie down.

[Alan461]

Time to start on the manifold bolts then

[glenrobbo]

RayTVR said:

Following Philpot's excellent advice pleased to report that after many hours I managed to drill the centre of the bolt and then with several hours of gentle needle filing open it to pretty much size. 6MM tap and all is good again.

Cost so far,

Thermostat £7
6mm bolts £2
New cordless drill £££
Tap and die set £££
Silicone hoses £££££££££

Off for a lie down....priceless

Well done Ray, glad it all turned out OK in the end.

[phillpot]

RayTVR said:

Thermostat £7
6mm bolts £2
New cordless drill £££
Tap and die set £££
Silicone hoses £££££££££

You woz robbed on the bolts

Good to hear you're sorted.