The things you can't buy during lockdown thread

[Watchman]

Someone to fix my air suspension. Kept sagging overnight, and then one collapsed yesterday.

Halfords Autocentre was too scared to look at it and all Mercedes service stations are either closed or open only to key workers.

Had to order two new air springs myself and do it on the drive. Not keen on working under my GL because it's so damn heavy and I worry about the rating on my 35yo axle stands... the stickers are long gone. Should be OK for one corner but 2.5 tons makes you focus on not sticking your legs underneath.

[Frank7]

Johnspex said:

To summarise, my wife's watch strap broke and I can't get another. I lent her one of mine but the battery went flat, I'll go to Tesco and buy a battery or a cheap watch to keep her going.
How's that Frank?

Excellent précis John, but you know how my fingers love to keep tapping a keyboard, once I start, I find it hard to stop, a bit like showing interest in women, until I realised that women were no longer that interested in me.
ETA I’ve now ordered a cheapo kettle for her, no not a tea kettle, a kettle and hob=fob, (watch).

Edited by Frank7 on Monday 4th May 17:12

[Mort7]

Berghaus walking boots. Noticed that my current ones have a few cracks forming on the edge of the soles (over 10 years old, so no complaints) so looked around for replacements. Very low availability in average sizes on the Berghaus website, Cotswold, Blacks, etc. Eventually found the last pair in my size on Amazon.

I'm guessing that many more people are walking now due to lockdown, so there's been a run on them (or should that be a walk?) - a bit like rowing machines and other exercise equipment. S-I-L's husband works for a delivery company. Last week they delivered 5 tons of weights......

[XJSJohn]

Watchman said:

Had to order two new air springs myself and do it on the drive. Not keen on working under my GL because it's so damn heavy and I worry about the rating on my 35yo axle stands... the stickers are long gone. Should be OK for one corner but 2.5 tons makes you focus on not sticking your legs underneath.

I can relate to that .... was under our range rover last week, my Axel Stands are passed down to me from my father so must be 1960's vintage ...... There was definitely a few creeks and groans as 2 and whatever tons of L322 settled down on the stands ...

[Watchman]

XJSJohn said:

Watchman said:

Had to order two new air springs myself and do it on the drive. Not keen on working under my GL because it's so damn heavy and I worry about the rating on my 35yo axle stands... the stickers are long gone. Should be OK for one corner but 2.5 tons makes you focus on not sticking your legs underneath.

I can relate to that .... was under our range rover last week, my Axel Stands are passed down to me from my father so must be 1960's vintage ...... There was definitely a few creeks and groans as 2 and whatever tons of L322 settled down on the stands ...

Well, in contrast to not being able to buy services, I did manage to buy new axle stands. They turned up today. And so did the air springs, so I'm going to book Thursday off and fit them. Should take about an hour or less. Believe it or not, there are no fixings holding them in place. Even the airline is a push-fit on the new ones (Arnott).

[Frank7]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Ordering watch straps and/or watch batteries online, then fitting them? No I’m not.
You’re right, years of going into key cutting shops, or jewellers, getting straps or batteries supplied and fitted, that was more my style.
Just as when I needed new tyres on my Black Cab.
I went to Jet Tyres in Bethnal Green or Waterloo, I couldn’t be a$$ed with jacking the black money box up and getting the tyres off and putting new ones on, that’s what tyre fitters were paid for.