MartinClan's Pembleton build

[MartinClan]

Last year, having completed my Marlin Sportster a few years previously, I started to get itchy fingers again. This time I have chosen to build a Pembleton which is a very vintage looking 3 wheeler using Citreon 2CV mechanics.

I chose the Pembleton because:
a. I like its looks
b. Being a 3 wheeler it is classed as a heavy trike and only has to pass the MSVA test which is both less onerous and cheaper than the IVA.
c. Should be (relatively) cheap to build and run.

So I have started with this:


Dscf1369 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

And should hopefully end up with something like this:


silverfish by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

The plan is to post updates regularly (or whenever I remember) so watch this space....

Robin

[JG]

Nice choice, another quality kit, will look forward to the updates.

John

[peterux]

That is a beautiful example!!

I especially like the brass headlamp bowls and wing mirror. Superb!

(For a moment there, I thought you had already finished )

[MartinClan]

Originally Posted by peterux

That is a beautiful example!!

It's generally considered to be one of the best examples. Most Pembleton owners name their cars - this one is called Silverfish.

It's a standard to aim for. Not sure if my skills are quite up to it however - we shall see! There are more pictures of this and other completed cars on the Pembleton website http://www.pembleton.co.uk/Home.html

Robin

[Mike]

Originally Posted by MartinClan

It's generally considered to be one of the best examples. Most Pembleton owners name their cars - this one is called Silverfish.

It's a standard to aim for. Not sure if my skills are quite up to it however - we shall see! There are more pictures of this and other completed cars on the Pembleton website http://www.pembleton.co.uk/Home.html

Robin

Robin

How do the open engines get through MSVA is it much less stringent than IVA?
Mike

[MartinClan]

Originally Posted by Mike

How do the open engines get through MSVA is it much less stringent than IVA?
Mike

There seems to be two schools of thought.

Apparently there is an exemption for the cooling fins of air cooled engines so with some carefull positioning/covering of all the ancilliaries so they are not contactable you can get away with this.

But recently most builders seem to have fabricated a simple mesh guard that covers the whole kit and caboudle. Bit of a sledgehammer approach. Rust seems to attack them fairly quickly after the test and they tend to fall off....

I wonder what they do for the new Morgan 3 wheeler?

Robin

[Patrick]

Awesome stuff, looks nice

[MartinClan]

And a jump forward 4 months and we have......

DSCF1647 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1648 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1656 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


Dscf1666 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

I did resisit the temptation to make engine noises.....

[Patrick]

vrooomm, burble, burble, vrooooom

[peterux]

Hmmmm... an exoskeleton three wheeler!

[MartinClan]

Gearslide (gearstick?) arrangement. I replaced the 'orrible standard rubber connection between the lever in the box and the gearslide with a rose joint.

DSCF1679 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Front of gearslide will evenetually be supported by bulkhead but for now it's a block of wood! Interestingly the 2CV gearbox is a dogleg. First opposite reverse, 2nd opposite 3rd and 4th opposite nothing!

DSCF1672 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Umbrella style handbrake. I had to make the link as the standard 2CV link is too short.

DSCF1680 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Various pictures of the brake line instalation. There isn't a single flexi in the whole system thanks to Citreon's ingenuity.

DSCF1678 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1682 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1683 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1684 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1686 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1685 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

More pictures here www.flickr.com/photos/robinmartin

[peterux]

I love those 'coil sprung' brake lines, they are such an elegant design.
Less connections and nothing to perish. (But no ethanol for you!!)
Did you re-make the new ones yourself?

[MartinClan]

Originally Posted by peterux

Did you re-make the new ones yourself?

Unfortunately not. Citreon use a different method of terminating the brake pipes (now there's a surprise). They have a bulge about 1cm from the end of the pipe (instead of a flare on the end) and a little rubber tube that slips over the end of the pipe that actually makes the seal. You can buy a special Citreon brake flaring kit but is is £££££. Forunately a company called Bonapart (really!) make a brake pipe kit specially for the Pembleton with the correct length pipes. Well - almost correct, I had to be a bit inventive in one case.

Robin

[Patrick]

cool, I like that engine Looks like it belongs in the front of a WW1 fighter

[denniswpearce]

Oh so beautiful

[MartinClan]

Last weekend I went to a workshop weekend hosted by Duncan Grimmond. Duncan is a professional sheet metal artisan (http://www.zinccounters.co.uk/) and also a fellow Pembleton enthusiast. Once or twice a year he is kind enough to open up his workshop so that Pembleton builders can access his huge range of metal forming tools - folders, shrinkers, stretchers..... The main job I wanted to do was to form the flange on the floor which is curved and so potentially tricky. Duncan made it look easy....


DSCF1713 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1717 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

While we were there I managed to get a few shots of Duncan's second Pembleton which is currently under construction.


DSCF1718 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1720 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

A standard to aim for! A few more pictures on my Flikr pages.

Robin

[MartinClan]

Engine fitted at last. Everything went according to plan (well more or less). So I know have an Italian engine mated to a French gearbox using a British adapter. Cool.

A few pictures...

Completed engine from the front. The original ignition was fired from a pickup on the Guzzi flywheel. But of course I am now using the 2CV flywheel. Proiblem solved by using an old school analog electronic igntion from Lucas. The pickup goes on the end of the camshaft.

DSCF1727 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

And from the other end.

DSCF1729 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

It fits!

DSCF1731 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr


DSCF1732 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Lower mounting nut just fits between three cooling fins (middle one removed)

DSCF1736 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Next step - to get it started - but still a way to go yet....

Robin

[MartinClan]

I have been working towards getting the engine running. Lots of little jobs to do first.

New bracket for clutch cable. The original one that was welded to the chassis meant the clutch cable was poorly aligned and right at the end of the adjustment.

DSCF1741 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Carbs trial fitted with air filter from Ebay. Not the best of solutions but it will do to start. Neck for air filter clears chassis by at least 1mm!

DSCF1738 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Old school electronic ignition (Lucas Rita) with coils underneath. The Guzzi employs a lost spark system which means two coils.

DSCF1739 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Robin

[Patrick]

I really like the engine

[MartinClan]

I spent the last few weeks making a metal folder. It had to be done without welding (as I can't) and cheaply. Here is the result


DSCF1787 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

And in action


DSCF1793 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

I only need to make half a dozen folds or so but didn't fancy the suggested blocks of timber approach. Tried to find a straight piece of timber recently?

The first part to be folded was the rear floor. Seems to fit OK....


DSCF1794 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

I had to also do my first but of "skilled?" metalwork to make a small dip so the bulkhead could fit snugly without fouling the seat-belt mount.


DSCF1795 by Robin J Martin, on Flickr

Cheers, Robin