Journey 22nd April 2015 - Work

We've had some lovely dry weather for quite a while. Nigh on 2 weeks in fact. Amy's been driven a fair bit and in between times just sat on the driveway happily uncovered, getting some sun and air! That's all all looking to change soon, so today was just a simple to and from work Amy day whilst it's still nice. Medium term weather indicates clouds rolling in and showers on and off pretty much all the way to the first week of May, so she'll be back undercover for a while!

Today : Sunny
Conditions : Bright but damp
Temp : 7° (morning) - 14° (afternoon)
Journey : Just to work, lunch and then back
Distance : 9 miles

And Flying "A" replaced

Another one of those simple jobs that just hadn't got around to, finally done thanks to light evenings.

Thankfully, apart from nearly losing the lock washer that holds the narrow end in place, this job WAS simple too. Have had a replacement bonnet trim and Flying "A" for a good 6-9 months, to replace the one I stupidly broke the end of.

Old "stubby", with my rather unfortunate modification.

Overdue. Replaced. Nice.

Journey 20th April 2015 - Just Walkin' the Dog

Lunchtime, lovely day to walk Reggie, seeing as it's my responsibility on a Monday. Another definite Amy day too.

Conditions: Sunny, warm, clear blue skies
Temp : 17°
Journey : Englemere Pond and Lily Hill Park
Distance: 13 miles

Always looking out for new places to walk the dog, which means that if I've gone in Amy, then also new places to picture her. Admittedly those pictures are often going to be dull snaps at indeterminate woodland car parks. But shows the weather for what it was!




First shot above is at Englemere Pond. Yep, nice place, but just a photo in boring woodland car park! Amy looks a bit strange and elongated in this shot. Angles can do funny things with pictures of her sometimes. This earlier picture of her in winter also made her look different and larger/longer somehow.

The next picture felt like it was good for the Black and White treatment. I don't really know why. I like it anyway.

Plus another "standard" front end shot. At Lily Hill Park:

Journey 17th April 2015 - Three Frogs

Lunchtime, lovely day, not very far, hardly worth warming the engine up, but definitely an Amy day.

Conditions: Sunny, patchy cloud, warmish with fresh breezes
Temp : 13°
Journey : The Three Frogs plus a bit!
Distance: 3.5 miles

The "plus a bit" was just Petrol Station / Roundabout / Coppid Beech. Filled to the brim. Should be able to check if fuel line is finally properly fixed under the pressure of a really full tank. Should hopefully be done, at worst maybe jubilee clips maybe need tightening, but hoping not even that.

Also side lights fixed. Just a loose connection in the engine bay. Just fiddled a bit and done.

Journey 14th April 2015 - ACCC Meeting. Hereford brake cylinders for sure

April ACCC night. Last one at the Swan already. The months go by fast, back to Brooklands next month!

Today : Warm, Bright and Clear
Conditions: Nighttime, becoming fresh
Temp : 15° dropping to 10°
Journey : The Swan, Ash Vale
Distance: 28 miles

Was able to drive Amy after all, longest journey after fixing the brakes, conscientious checks on arrival just to be sure,  but all is fine.

The debate about the cylinders was completely closed off, some example components had been brought along by a couple of the others. A Hereford cylinder sat next to a Somerset cylinder look EXACTLY the same from the outside. Same design, same outer dimensions. Same component basically, only difference is the wider bore on the inside. You can clearly see that the cylinder wall is thicker on the Somerset vs. the Hereford.

Was not something even the long time enthusiasts were aware of, so was not only an interesting thing for me to learn, but also a surprise to the other chaps too!

Only outstanding question is whether I have matching cylinders at the rear, or whether the offside one is a pure Somerset cylinder! It may be a while until I find out, because I am not THAT interested in finding out that I'm going to rush out and dismantle things just to check.

One likely final note about the fuel line, I only topped up a little petrol, until I have finally rechecked the fuel line is a-OK, but expect all is fine and will fill to the brim next time around!

Minor niggle, I now have a side light out, and it;s not the bulb. So I need to work out where the disconnect is there and fix that, but no great shakes.

Journey 11th April 2015 - Around town. Brakes finished

Worked out the brakes were probably a bit iffy due to the springs being the wrong way around. One was shorter than the other so it could make the difference. Swapped them over so the shorter spring (and hence stronger pull) is now on the cylinder / handbrake side. MAYBE I'd fitted the adjusters incorrectly the first time too,although not totally convinced on that one. I refitted a spare set of shoes that I had that were in better condition than originals, readjusted and then some test drives again.

Today : Sunny
Conditions : Fresh, bright and dry
Temp : 12°
Journey : Around a bit and Tescos
Distance: 15 miles

After some driving about all is fine again. The Handbrake had seemed a bit funny too, but with the replacement shoes refitted, greased up and done 100% correctly for sure, then all is good. So back to full working order, and I know I need Hereford seals.

At the same time, today was a lovely sunny day, just right for driving Amy about. Did the gymnastics run and off to get some shopping and realised hadnt taken a photo at Tescos yet. So today's dreary location picture is there!

And Kebab.....!

A few extra miles this evening to do the Kebab run! Added those miles to the journey post previous. Probably the LEAST evocative location she'll be pictured at, but all part of the experience!