Vehicle & Technical > Defender
Running LPG mostly and petrol only occassionally
davidjmiller:
...I had heard that pertrol goes off so I asked them at the local garage when I dropped it off. They said as it was only 4-6 months old it would be ok. tbh - the petrol is so old because the car started playing up - not vica versa.
So yesterday, they changed the spark plugs (which were new in the summer) and wanted to buy and fit a carb overhaul kit (but at £130 + fitting + vat) from LR dealer I told them not to bother. Thought I might fnd it cheaper somewhere else. So they cleaned out and re-oiled carbs, sorted out my sticky clutch, did compression test to prove cyclinder head gasket is ok (recently started using a lot more water) and happily relieved me of £140 !!!!! Car now running on petrol but a bit rough.
Finally, when we switched it over to gas (on which it was purring) it's now running rough on that too! I see it's raining this morning so I won't be biking it to work - we'll see how she goes.
How I wish I could find somewhere to teach me how to service my own motor.
David
jamesledingham:
Let me know if you find anywhere!!
drmike:
I'd be curious to know what 'cleaned out carbs' meant. Oiling is just simply filling up a bit of oil and takes 3 minutes if they are Strombergs which it sounds like they are.
Come on now. Getting to grips with servicing is just getting the Haynes manual and taking it easy. I bought an old series 5 years ago and hadn't touched an engine for 25 years. I just followed the instructions, asked questions on places like this and bought good tools as I needed them.
Cripes changing plugs is nothing!
How did they sort out the sticky clutch - I bet they didn't do much at 140 quid which at their prices won't go far. I'd bet they pumped it a few times and possible oiled something.
A compression tester is 20 quid from those rogues at Machine Mart and you could have done the test while changing the plugs.
And after their little work it's running rough on LPG - great. Could you have done any worse? Well yes you could but I still say get stuck in and do the simple bits like plugs and build up to bigger and better stuff.
The carbs are easy to work on really and the only bit you really need to worry about is the diaphragm in a Stromberg at £3.50 each I think. But I guess you don't need them as when they go it gets really rough.
Come on guys get stuck in - I guarantee it's fun.
I swore I'd never touch the head on the series but when the time came I changed it. Then the V8 I got needed endless work including the camshaft which I managed OK. Just took it easy no rush and you get there. Once again a place like this is a comort as you'll get good advice.
Mike
PS Coo look my post is bigger than my sig :)
davidjmiller:
They said there was a "carbon residue coating the inside of the carbs" which they cleaned out - they changed the oil as well. The carbs are Solex, I think, very similar to Strombergs??
I've tried hard to get hold of a Haynes manual for a late 110 with a V8 engine but they don't seem to exist.
Changing plugs - ok -so you've got soft aluminium block and if you get those things cross threaded then what??? i'll bet the guys at the garage just chucked em in without making sure the gap was right for a 20 yr old V8.
Sticky clutch should have read sticky choke drrrh - this was the most useful bit of the service!!
I'd love to get stuck and it's maybe a confidence thing - I'm sure I could brake things that are expensive. On the other hand I would soooooooo love to be able to keep her purring on both petrol and gas without running to the garage every couple of months.
David
bezzabsa:
so why not get a 2nd pair of carbs - overhaul these off the vehicle and then refit.. also find a good LPG accredited garage!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version