Dipstick!

[tvrgit]

Yes, me!

Went to check the oil yesterday, and the dip stick handle snapped off - fortunately I could (just) get a grip of the bit left in the tube before it fell down into the engine.

I've made up a temporary replacement (out of a bit of wire coathanger!) and am trying to repair the original - I have drilled a hole up the centre of the handle and down into the centre of the yellow "neck", and have made a piece of metal dowel (which looks suspiciously like another bit of coathanger) to go in there to strengthen the joint - all I need is some decent glue!



Alternatively, I might have a trawl around the local previously-enjoyed spare parts emporia (scrappys) to see if I can pick one up.

Has anybody got a spare one?

[GadgeS3C]

Try your friendly local Ford dealer and ask for F6167046 and handover £11.32 for a shiny new one.

I was surprised how easy it was and that it was still available when I got one a few weeks ago!
Gary

[tvrgit]

told you I was a dipstick!

I didn't even think of my friendly local Ford dealer - I haven't been in there for 16 years, after a salesman pissed me off severely while I was waiting in the (long) queue at the parts counter for a part for my old Granada.

I was on first name terms with the parts storemen then...

I think I might venture back.

[Barkychoc]

Hey Andrew you just hit 7000 posts, time for a drive to celebrate!

[Oldred_V8S]

Personally I quite like the look of your homemade one, it looks a lot less likely to break than anything Ford ever manufactured.

[thegamekeeper]

True story! A few years ago one of my customers phoned me, and he was not generally unintelligent, asking if I had a longer dipstick because the one he had wasn,t long enough, it didn,t reach the oil anymore. DIPSTICK!!

[GadgeS3C]

Glad to be of help.

Spookily have been sorting the dipstick tube on our 3000M this morning. Not sure which is more enjoyable, being able to walk into the Ford dealer and buy a new one (not for the 3000M!) or have to apply some brain power.

[phillpot]

On the subject of dipsticks the yellow handled one was in my original engine and as it "looks nicer" I thought I'd use it in the new engine but while the sump was off (wanted to make sure there was plenty of oil around the crank before turning it over)thought I'd check the clearance after a recent thread about broken dipsticks.
Because of the twist on the end the crank actually hit it every time it went round so for now I'm using the other one pictured, that came with the engine, although I guess I could hammer the end flat ?

[GreenV8S]

phillpot said:

I guess I could hammer the end flat ?

I guess it would probably hammer itself flat within a few minutes.

(Or maybe just break off ... )

[tvrgit]

Oldred_V8S said:

Personally I quite like the look of your homemade one, it looks a lot less likely to break than anything Ford ever manufactured.

Know what? I was thinking the same myself - I'm going to work on making my home-made stick more permanent, just to see how it turns out.

[DJ8226]

Great thread made me smile. I like the home made one plus as you say it keeps your brain alive.

[tvrgit]

Barkychoc said:

Hey Andrew you just hit 7000 posts, time for a drive to celebrate!

I haven't got time to drive, I'm too busy on here, or breaking my car, fixing it and updating web sites!

I've had a day off to have a great day at the local TVRCC meeting today though - these are great cars these... great people, great chat and today, even a glamorous admirer!

And the home-made dipstick worked perfectly.

[tvrgit]

home made dipstick Mk 2.



Improvements to specification since Mk 1:

longer handle to reduce heat transfer;

washer welded to stick to provide "fixed point" for level readings;

other end hammered flat and saw cuts added at max and min marks.