Thaaaar she blows!!!

Post by **maxstu** » 27 Aug 2008, 02:35

Recently we got back from a 1000 miler UK coastal trip. All the way round from Westward Ho! Passing the Lizard. A quick cuppa with Lloyd & Nicky ( many thanks

) then finally to Totnes back in Devon.

Good ol Poppit ran a dream and returned a healthy 23MPG, despite some very intense second & third gear hills.

Two days after returning home she does this on my driveway.....

[img]http:500:374]http://www.muchos.co.uk/members/maxstu/ ... %20two.JPG[/img]

edited by mocki to show pic, click E D I T to see what i did, basically you cannot have spaces in a picture address, so add% to the gaps.

Okay I'm gonna stop right here.... cos I've tried every way to post photo's for the last 60 minutes, including using advice from Wiki, and all I get is what's shown above? I don't get it. All I should have to do is cut n paste the above for a nice piccy.

F**k it. I've got work to do!

Post by **kevtherev** » 27 Aug 2008, 06:22

photobucket is so much easier in my view

I'm guessing she had an incontinent moment on the drive

Post by **cumbriankeith** » 27 Aug 2008, 07:02

[img:500:374]http://www.muchos.co.uk/members/maxstu/ ... %20two.JPG[/img]

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 27 Aug 2008, 07:05

How did you fix the photo-posting Keith?

Tony

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 27 Aug 2008, 09:48

Keith if that's oil coming through the flywheel inspection hole as it appears the crankshaft oil seal's gone

Driveshafts down, clutch slave cylinder off, gearbox out, clutch off, flywheel off .... all for a stooopid £3 seal

Sorry.

Ian.

Post by **cumbriankeith** » 27 Aug 2008, 12:13

Ian - Luckily it's not my van; I just did the photo post.
Tony - I copied and pasted the URL into a new IE window, right clicked to get properties from which I copied the "new" URL into a post using the "Img" and "close tags" facilities - and it worked. Looking more closely at the differences between the URLs the original has spaces and these don't seem to work in this forum system; the new one has %s etc to make it work.

Maxine/Stu - right click on your pic in Muchos for properties and copy the picture URL into the post using the Img box then close tags. And glad you had such a great trip and sorry the van is giving you grief.

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 27 Aug 2008, 12:22

sorry Keith !

Looks like Maxine & Stuart have a blown crankshaft oil seal then

Ian.

Post by **cumbriankeith** » 27 Aug 2008, 12:43

No probs Ian - as it happens my crankseal is also seeping but not as badly as this sounds.

Post by **maxstu** » 28 Aug 2008, 22:38

My kind thanks to Mocki and Keith for piccy advice. Also to Ian for his diagnosis. The same opinion as my engineering friend & next door neighbour.

Blown crankshaft seal and oil is thrown up by flywheel and out of timing hole.

BUT not the same as the guys who have Poppit in their workshop as you read my post. They reckon it's a main oil gallery core plug?

Being an office wallah I've got no reason to disbelieve them. However, I can't find a single bit of information in my manual or on the internet to substantiate their findings.

For the second time our fairly expensive recon VEGE engine is back with the suppliers and fitters in under 8K. Previously it was returned due to lack of power caused by engine not bedding in properly. New liners and rings etc fitted.

Luckily it's still (one month remaining) under warranty. But I have voiced my feelings about this matter and am left with little confidence for the coming months. Especially once the warranty expires. They have reassured me they would honour any faults for a few months beyond expiry date.

Due to this latest misadventure we missed the bank holiday weekend. Now the garage has informed me all was fixed last wednesday. Whereupon testing the engine they found it was losing oil pressure. So no van for another weekend.

What gives? Should I take matters further? Should I insist on a replacement? Should the clutch be replaced again too? Does this affect the clutch? Another weekend without our van? NOOOOO!!!!

Post by **Aidan** » 29 Aug 2008, 08:44

you can only tell if its the core plug with the flywheel off, could be either, core plug is a fiver, you would have hoped that it was renewed by the reconners but I guess they don't bother on the if it ain't broke don't fix and then paint over it all it will be fine attitude.
Who's the guilty party ?

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 29 Aug 2008, 09:36

The method's the same whichever is the problem .... gearbox, clutch and flywheel off

Ian.

Post by **Laurie** » 29 Aug 2008, 10:59

THERE IS NO 'GUILTY PARTY' FFS!
A gallery plug is for life, not just for Christmas. It isn't like a water jacket core plug that can corrode. It goes in and is there for the next 50 years, just like the ones in a 1953 30HP motor I am working on today.

It is probable that the case has developed a crack, in which case the supplier will need to change it.

If it turns out to be the cam plug, then the case will need to be split and the plug replaced.

Its this 'blame culture attitude' that has taken this forum from helpful and constructive to mean and bloody minded. Are VEGE dealing with your problem? YES! Are they bearing the sole responsibility for an old part failing? YES! Now you've got this old fart paling!

As these vehicles get older, there will be more problems arising from old castings. They crack, they wear, they die. Components get less and less reliable.

Loads of people have had problems with flywheel seals (not just me) We've tried every kind available including genuine (which just turns out to be the one Elring supply in their kits) Add whatever it is for a new flywheel to the price of an engine and it may go away.

Genuine rocker covers dried up for a while so people had to use what was available. Main bearings went out of production for the early engines for 2 years so people had to buy and supply late cases. One of the premier gasket suppliers sent out a load of faulty head rubber seals meaning that the robbing "bar-steward" enginbe suppliers had to change a load under warranty with no compensation.

Hows about... Thank you VEGE for being honourable.

Have a nice Vanfest... I'm staying at home in case you decide to get pissed and lynch someone.

Post by **lloyd** » 29 Aug 2008, 15:21

Sorry to see you are still having trouble. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Post by **maxstu** » 29 Aug 2008, 15:36

Hold on guys!

Please don't use my posting for airing your personal grievances....

I really, really do appreciated the advise from all. Particularly you guys in the trade. But I am getting a little concerned by the little digs and comments that keep coming up in this club. Peace and harmony please. There's enough problems in this crazy world, we are ruining, that are far worse than my engine blowing.

Someone made a mistake and they are trying to make amends. We've all been there

In the end we all have engine problems. It goes hand in hand with owning an old vehicle with plenty of..err character. And I have written many times before, generally I am happy with their service.

All I want is our van to give use many years of pleasure with an average amount of problems.

Now, should I need new clutch?

Keep the peace

Thanks

Post by **T'Onion** » 29 Aug 2008, 15:45

Now, should I need new clutch?

i would replace it , it may look ok , but if oil (either gearbox or engine cos you wont know until you've parted the two) has contaminated the plate then it will be furbarred

as for the Adain/Laurie thing why not get together and sort it out in person rather than on here ? and sort it once and for all