Page 1 of 2
The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 20:47
by barneyrubble
Hi everyone thought I would mail out an update on my £1250 westy that you all encouraged me to buy. So far I have sourced the missing connector for the turbo, fitted a new battery, diesel filter, inline one way valve and primer into the fuel line. This was all that was needed to start it. Now it starts on the button and this is without the glowplug circtut working!
There has been a whole heap of polishing and cleaning in an effort to make it more presentable and its paying off.
I've found a leisure battery in the back and after topping up the fluid it is now starting to take a charge, I've found the lpg tank is full of gas and the hob all works, the fridge lights but doesnt get to cold, I guess this is because it has sat for so long not sure what to do about that yet. The pump for the water also works. Proper exciting!
since I've failed to get Dan from buswerx along to quote for the welding I took a punt, and stuck it in for an mot today to get a to - do list. Of course it failed but the list seems small, one rear tyre, one front brake (a new caliper needed) and one rear registration light bulb - thats it! A few advisories the most annoying being a split cv gaitor at the rear which will need addressing (I'm guessing its a nasty job)
..and today i kicked back and had my first cuppa on board.
So far everyones advice is looking good! Now to source a new caliper and new tyre. then hopefully I will be all legal.
thanks for everyones advice so far.
Best Regards
Matthew
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 20:53
by harris121163
looks a great wee bus. money well spent

is that an aldi sterio I have one of those and they are great with the remote control.
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 20:55
by toolsntat
Well I did not see it before Matthew, but it sure looks good from here
Well done
Ah! the classic position to relax in, cup in hand door open and feet up
You can't beat it....
Andy
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 21:00
by gtavalanche
I'm not even slightly jealous that I did t see this before you!
It's looking nice and shiny. I've heard you can turn the fridge upside down for twenty four hours if it's not getting cold. It's worth a punt.
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 21:01
by evilnoodle
I am only the teeniest bit jealous

Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 21:01
by Louey
Nice one

Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 21:03
by jason k
That was a steal, pure and simple!!

Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 21:04
by barneyrubble
All the old photos (and others) are in the library on Photobucket.
<div style="width:480px;text-align:right;"><embed width="480" height="360" src="
http://pic2.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed593.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ftt13%2Fmattcullum%2Fcamper%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" /><a href="javascript:void(0);" target="_blank"><img src="
http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/ ... geturs.gif" style="border:none;" /></a><a href="
http://s593.photobucket.com/user/mattcu ... ary/camper" target="_blank"><img src="
http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/ ... iewall.gif" style="border:none;" alt="mattcullum's camper album on Photobucket" /></a></div>
..and yes thats an aldi special radio, it was in my mini (which goes on thursday to pay for the camper), unbeatable value bluetooth, usb etc and finally the remote will be usefull!
Only a teeny bit jealous - damn much try harder.
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 21:05
by AdrianC
barneyrubble wrote:the fridge lights but doesnt get to cold, I guess this is because it has sat for so long not sure what to do about that yet.
Have you tried the fridge on mains? It won't work on 12v without the engine running, but you could bodge it onto a battery charger, try that out too.
If it's lacklustre on all three, then it could be the refrigerant, so turning it upside down may help.
If it works fine on one, then the refrigerant's good, and it's the other heat source(s) that're iffy.
Definitely looks like an absolute bargain!
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 21:13
by barneyrubble
We jury rigged an uber battery charger to the leisure terminals (it was how will played with the tap etc).
The result was the same, there was some hot air coming out of the vent but the fridge never got very cold, i think your correct the refrigerant needs a good shake up. Something to be looked at more carefully once it has a ticket.
Best Regards
Matt
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 21:44
by martinj
Now thats a real bargain, well done.
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 22:25
by thebobster
Just one word really,
WOW !!!

Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 07 May 2013, 22:48
by thebobster
Try this for the pics you invited us to see:-
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BARGAIN OF THE YEAR
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 08 May 2013, 07:44
by AdrianC
barneyrubble wrote:We jury rigged an uber battery charger to the leisure terminals (it was how will played with the tap etc).
The result was the same
If you're talking about the fridge on 12v, that won't work - the 12v element is only fired up when the split-charge relay "sees" alternator charge voltage. The way to fool it would be to disconnect the plug under the sink, and wire the battery (or beefy dumb charger) directly to the element. Mains element's the easiest to test.
Re: The £1250 Westy an update
Posted: 08 May 2013, 08:07
by barneyrubble
Excellent - thanks for that clarification. I'll borrow my dads mains lead and give it a whirl.
Brakes/tyre first though!
Best Regards
Matthew