Mick O'Malley's Moss Monaco

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Mick - Hopefully, your first drive in the Monaco will make all the grief it has given you seem worth it.

Good luck, Paul.

Thanks Paul, I certainly hope so. I'm thinking of calling her 'Quarantine Special' after the car owner virus...

Regards, Mick

[Dpaz]

I see an engine and gearboxless Monaco on eBay, just sayin!

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by Dpaz

I see an engine and gearboxless Monaco on eBay, just sayin!

Hi Dpaz

I couldn't find it. Do you have either a link or the item number please?

Regards, Mick

[Bellicose]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Moss-mona...QAAOSw7t9eTWXb

[Mick O'Malley]

Hi Bellicose

Thanks for that. I think the hyphen bamboozled their search engine...

Regards, Mick

[redratbike]

No paperwork v5c

[Dpaz]

I did reply but it doesn't show, Belicose is the one.
A bit pricey?
Dave

[Mick O'Malley]

Nice!

Regards, Mick

[Mick O'Malley]

My new SS front brake hoses arrived in the week and, given the hoops I've had to jump through, it was with some trepidation that I set about fitting them. This turned out to be a doddle as I'd only gently nipped up their predecessor's attachments.. The moment of truth arrived and turning the steering from lock to lock revealed that they are plenty long enough. My delight was rather tempered by the back of the nearside wheel hitting the body on full left lock. I'd already (years ago!) fitted lock limiting hose clips to both ends of the rack, it seems another is required - more evidence of the body's asymmetry. Here are the shiny new bits in situ. Excuse crap photo', an orb web spider had spun between the cover and the cave roof necessitating delicate uncovering and gymnastic contortion.



I spent a couple of hours on You Tube yesterday learning the techniques of machine sewing vinyl which resulted in a burst of Ebay activity. Teflon foot, special needle, strong thread and correct machine lubricant are on their way.

Regards, Mick

[Mick O'Malley]

I wandered down to the cave this morning before it got too hot, and consulted my 'To Do' list. Adjust handbrake and bleed brakes were two of the four remaining so, as pedal pushing assistance had been negotiated for later, I decided to pitch in with the former. In order to get my Machine Mart aluminium racing jack (great buy!) under the diff. a few feet of forward movement is required. The garden is slightly downhill so removing the chock achieves this. Why won't it move? Ah, it's in gear. Why don't I sit in and see if the clutch has freed itself as the engine's been run a few times. To my amazement it had. Miracle no.1.

Jack up, axle stands, remove wheels and set to tightening the threaded adjustment ends of the transverse cable until there was no slack either side. I checked the shoe adjuster - still spot on - and applied the cockpit lever. Drums locked. Miracle no.2.

As I type my assistant is unavailable. I spent half an hour earlier bleeding the rear brakes single handed using a length of architrave to depress the pedal whilst my other orangutan like limb worked the nipple. Can't say if this was successful as the front pipes of course contain some air so no 'pedal' yet.

Regards, Mick

[Mick O'Malley]

I was down the cave early yesterday, wondering if there was anything I could get on with before my bleeding assistant surfaced. Looking at the butchered coaming above the scuttle I decided that fashioning a full width ally cover (which would have to follow multiple compound curves) was an impractical pipe dream. Next best, small individual plates over the two worst and most visible areas. A trial run with small card templates decided me that, although it was ugly, it was nevertheless a lot better than nothing. I transferred the shapes to thin ally, cut them out, drilled fixing holes, bent them to the correctish profile over a breaker bar clamped in the vice and riveted them on. Not pretty, but undoubtedly an improvement.



Postie had by this time delivered three of the four sewing machine related items I'd ordered, the outstanding one being vital to progress on seat cover fabrication so nothing doing there. Much later help was available so brake bleeding commenced. Only a very soft pedal could be achieved without vigorous pumping so I dismissed my assistant and set to checking all the joints. I quickly identified and tightened the culprit, which was one of those into the four way union. The cave was by now a furnace so I called it a day

Regards, Mickl

[Dpaz]

Worrisit?

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by Dpaz

Worrisit?

A fox cub. It sat there for five or so minutes having a good scratch. Broad daylight in the middle of the city. I love it .

Regards, Mick

[Mister Towed]

Very cute. Where I live the wildlife takes pictures of us...

[Mick O'Malley]

I think I may invest in a wad of lottery tickets this week....

Divine.

Regards, Mick

[Mick O'Malley]

Three weeks ago today I was cutting my daughter's grass, which includes shifting the trampoline (in which she'd put my granddaughter's paddling pool) to get to the bit underneath. Failing to take into account the weight of storm water dumped in the paddling pool I did myself a serious mischief lifting it. Hamstrings - ouch! Both hernia repairs - ouch! Slipped disc - ouch! This put progress on hold and was followed by last week's house/dog/cat sitting for a holidaying friend.

In the interim I'd bought an Eezibleed due to the fag of recruiting help, plus the lack of success. Anyway, yesterday, at last feeling up to it, I pitched in and the job was done in what seemed like no time. The only tiny hiccup was the master cylinder cap not sealing at first, even after a gentle tweak with water pump pliers. A few twists of PTFE tape sorted that and success - a hard pedal .

Seat covers here I come.

Regards, Mick

[oxford1360]

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley

Hamstrings - ouch! Both hernia repairs - ouch! Slipped disc - ouch!

"Ouch" doesn't come into it. I'm glad you are on the mend. Eazibleeds will always make you feel better once you get the seal.

[Mick O'Malley]

I passed five of these over three or four days a few years back: the last one took 15 hours:. 'Regular' pain hasn't seemed so bad since .

Thanks for commiserations.

Regards, Mick

[Dpaz]

I know you shouldn't have to but anotice saying 'Entrance in constant use Please do not obstruct' might work. BMW owners are often a bit thick but will respond to a warning. If you knew where it was rig the Police and tell them about the party he is attending. Get the council to put a white line by your drive. I love the S4 Lotus, not widely appreciated but nice.

[Jaguartvr]

Ask the council to paint a solid white line on the road to try and stop idiots from blocking your access,