Discussion
Superb thread.
This takes me back to 1984, when my mum got her 126 Brown edition, amusingly nicknamed 'Dollop' by my brother an I, as we (being 8 and 10) thought it looked like a cow pat, the name Brown didn't help mater's.
Was the two tone paint work an option?
My mum's car was a solid shade of cow pat brown.
We had some fun times in that little car, I'll be following this thread with rose tinted glasses firmly on.
This takes me back to 1984, when my mum got her 126 Brown edition, amusingly nicknamed 'Dollop' by my brother an I, as we (being 8 and 10) thought it looked like a cow pat, the name Brown didn't help mater's.
Was the two tone paint work an option?
My mum's car was a solid shade of cow pat brown.
We had some fun times in that little car, I'll be following this thread with rose tinted glasses firmly on.
Drew986 said:
Superb thread.
This takes me back to 1984, when my mum got her 126 Brown edition, amusingly nicknamed 'Dollop' by my brother an I, as we (being 8 and 10) thought it looked like a cow pat, the name Brown didn't help mater's.
Was the two tone paint work an option?
My mum's car was a solid shade of cow pat brown.
We had some fun times in that little car, I'll be following this thread with rose tinted glasses firmly on.
Dollop is a good solid name! I call my 126 different terms of fecal matter quite often! This takes me back to 1984, when my mum got her 126 Brown edition, amusingly nicknamed 'Dollop' by my brother an I, as we (being 8 and 10) thought it looked like a cow pat, the name Brown didn't help mater's.
Was the two tone paint work an option?
My mum's car was a solid shade of cow pat brown.
We had some fun times in that little car, I'll be following this thread with rose tinted glasses firmly on.
It should be a solid dark brown (it's not even a nice brown!) But someone many moons ago decided to take a few cans of spray paint and went with the two tone on it, it looks good from a far, but it's far from good!
It's ford dove grey and rover russet brown.
Drive Blind said:
this takes me back
My uncle had one of these in about 1982. He usually commuted to work by motorbike, he bought the 126 as a cheap winter commute option.
Maybe I'm getting confused but did they have some sort of hand operated throttle control?
I know the fiat 500 had a hand throttle control/ cruise control, I think the very early 126's may of had it but I'm not sure. Are you thinking about the levers between the seats for starter and choke? My uncle had one of these in about 1982. He usually commuted to work by motorbike, he bought the 126 as a cheap winter commute option.
Maybe I'm getting confused but did they have some sort of hand operated throttle control?
I really like this car, what a fantastic setup - must be so much fun at low speeds!
My dad was obsessed with Fiat when I was young - 124, X1/9, at least three Unos and a Punto (that become the car I learnt to drive in). Will have to send him this thread, and continue my search for a ULEZ exempt Panda!
My dad was obsessed with Fiat when I was young - 124, X1/9, at least three Unos and a Punto (that become the car I learnt to drive in). Will have to send him this thread, and continue my search for a ULEZ exempt Panda!
Vinny126 said:
I know the fiat 500 had a hand throttle control/ cruise control, I think the very early 126's may of had it but I'm not sure. Are you thinking about the levers between the seats for starter and choke?
My Mum's 1967 Fiat 600 definitely had a hand throttle - I think it was on the driver's side of the car below the dash. My Dad's 1970 Fiat 125 also had one next to the choke just below the dash on the driver's side. Although it later became my car I never tried driving it at full throttle all the time - just most of the time!
My '74 126 had a hand throttle which was mounted below the dash.
It worked through a solid wire running in an outer sheath so that when you applied it the throttle pedal moved in synch. Pull to apply with about 4-6cm of movement, I think. Pushing the hand throttle back into its off position also allowed the throttle pedal to return to its "off" position.
Potentially lethal addition to a car, really, with no automatic "off" when you brake.
.....
I've just remembered I have the original manual upstairs and having checked it, it shows the hand throttle below the dash and to the right of the steering wheel on the LHD version illustrated.
It worked through a solid wire running in an outer sheath so that when you applied it the throttle pedal moved in synch. Pull to apply with about 4-6cm of movement, I think. Pushing the hand throttle back into its off position also allowed the throttle pedal to return to its "off" position.
Potentially lethal addition to a car, really, with no automatic "off" when you brake.
.....
I've just remembered I have the original manual upstairs and having checked it, it shows the hand throttle below the dash and to the right of the steering wheel on the LHD version illustrated.
1970s Alfas usually have the choke and hand throttle next to one another in the centre console. 1970s Fiats tend to have the hand throttle and the choke on either side of the steering wheel. Some Landies also have hand throttles that can be used when running power take-off equipment.
Using a hand throttle as a cruise control would indeed be a daft thing to do, but the hand throttle is useful for warming the car up, if you don't want to run the car rich on choke.
Using a hand throttle as a cruise control would indeed be a daft thing to do, but the hand throttle is useful for warming the car up, if you don't want to run the car rich on choke.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 30th September 08:20
I've had a couple of small issues with the 126 lately, it's taken ages to start and also when releasing the clutch in 1st gear it shudders like crazy then jumps out of first gear. Also the brass hose connection on the carb return has come loose and likes to wriggle itself free.
I took the starter motor out and replaced the brushes, very pleased with how easy that was, half hour job to get the starter out and then back in with fresh brushes. They definitely needed changing! When the car managed to fire up I got the timing gun out and adjusted that, turns out the timing was well out! Now it starts great and runs nice and smooth!
I also took the carb apart and got some jb weld onto the brass fitting, that will be going back on hopefully tomorrow, and hopefully fixed!
I havent managed to look at the clutch judder issue yet, from reading on a few forums it sounds to me like it could be something as simple as moving the engine back a touch or even making sure the gearbox mounts are properly straight. Once the rain decides to stop I'll pop under the car and have a butchers at it.
Didnt take a picture today, here's an old one from 2 years ago with the roof rack still on.
I took the starter motor out and replaced the brushes, very pleased with how easy that was, half hour job to get the starter out and then back in with fresh brushes. They definitely needed changing! When the car managed to fire up I got the timing gun out and adjusted that, turns out the timing was well out! Now it starts great and runs nice and smooth!
I also took the carb apart and got some jb weld onto the brass fitting, that will be going back on hopefully tomorrow, and hopefully fixed!
I havent managed to look at the clutch judder issue yet, from reading on a few forums it sounds to me like it could be something as simple as moving the engine back a touch or even making sure the gearbox mounts are properly straight. Once the rain decides to stop I'll pop under the car and have a butchers at it.
Didnt take a picture today, here's an old one from 2 years ago with the roof rack still on.
Ive had a lot of issues with cold starting the 126 so I decided to check the valve clearances, they were well out so I'm pretty sure that will now solve my cold start issue. Unfortunately though, when I went to put the spark plug in, it just spun and wasnt tightening up... I had stupidly stripped all the threads for one of my spark plugs. It took me an hour in the pouring rain to strip it back to take the head off.
Really glad I did this as all the threads from the head were sitting on the piston!
I've got a fantastic engine specialist shop down the road from me so a day with them and the cylinder head had a new aluminium insert and was all ready to go back in!
It's 90% back together, just a few minor things to do then fingers crossed it will start again!
Really glad I did this as all the threads from the head were sitting on the piston!
I've got a fantastic engine specialist shop down the road from me so a day with them and the cylinder head had a new aluminium insert and was all ready to go back in!
It's 90% back together, just a few minor things to do then fingers crossed it will start again!
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