owelly
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 10:14 AM |
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Pesky speed bumps!!!
On my way to work on Friday morning, I stopped at the main gate barrier (high security MoD site), showed my pass to the MoD Plod on the gate, the
barrier went up and I slowly drove over the speed bump. The bottom of the Bongo bus often touches down but I looked the first time it did it and it
looked like the belly pan was touching down so no worries.
I drove slowly up the approach road at walking pace following all the other cars and thought the Bongo was making a different noise. I put it down to
not having the radio on and having the windows open.
When I came to drive home, the Bongo was making a dreadfull noise and vibrating badly through the transmission. I pulled over and suck my head
underneath to see if there was anything obvious. I was hoping for a plaggy bag around the prop or someting simple. But no.......
One smashed auto box.......
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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locostv8
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 10:31 AM |
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This is why I'm thinking seriously about including the air suspension off the Lincoln Mk VII that I'm using for a donor for the Locost.
http://wrangler.rutgers.edu/gallery2/v/7slotgrille/hssss/
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ned
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 10:31 AM |
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you'd wanna claim for that 
what car is it? doens't look like a locost and you mention bongo bus - some sort of people carrier?
[Edited on 10/7/06 by ned]
beware, I've got yellow skin
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paulbeyer
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 11:51 AM |
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I think a Bongo is a Jap Import bus/MPV but could be wrong (can't be bothered to google it).
7 out of 10 people suffer with hemorrhoids. Does that mean the other 3 enjoy them?
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Peteff
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 12:03 PM |
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Mazda Bongo Friendee also made under the Ford name as a Freida. Have a look on here they might be able to help.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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owelly
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 12:05 PM |
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Yes. Yes. Yes!
The Bongo is a Jap imported MPV/camper thingy although mine is actually a Ford Freda.........not sure which is the daftest name?
It's been carted off on the back of a transporter for the insurance folks to have a look at.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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owelly
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 12:13 PM |
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Um Bongo. Er Freda....
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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nitram38
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 02:16 PM |
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It can be Tig welded back on.
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ned
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 03:03 PM |
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possibly, but some of the alloys they use for gearbox housings can be a right beach to weld.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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Hellfire
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 03:21 PM |
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I feel a claim coming on....
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nitram38
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 04:02 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ned
possibly, but some of the alloys they use for gearbox housings can be a right beach to weld.
Most gearboxes are good enough to weld. I did 5 years of welding these 
Mazac is an aluminium/zinc alloy which will not weld as it becomes molten before you can join it. You may have come across this, but it is rare in
car gearboxes.
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MkIndy7
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 04:12 PM |
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Think Pinto injection manifolds are made of that Cr*p when you try and weld it just blows holes in it.
Although with enough patience they can be welded
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owelly
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| posted on 10/7/06 at 10:23 PM |
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I have several options.
At the moment it has been carted off on a wagon to be insurance inspected and they have left me a Punto.
If the garage can fix it and return it within three weeks when I need the Freda to go on holiday, then thats the job sorted. It will cost me £200 in
insurance excess.
If they are unable to fix it in time, they have agreed to fit a second hand 'box if I can find one. I have found a couple for under £400.
If they cannot fit the 'box I supply in time, I'll have to get the vehicle back and try to weld up the box. If, upon closer inspection,
the box is full of cr4p, then I'll be looking at getting the aforementioned 2nd hand box and fitting it myself.
Finally, the last conversation I had with the assessor guy tonight involved phrases such as 'beyond economical repair', 'settlement
figure' and 'show me the money'. Then I'll buy the Freda back off the insurance folks and fix the thing myself.
It's all hassle I could do without. I need to sell my trailer but I can't tow it home from work to fit a new deck. I can't collect
my steel for my new trailer and I have to drive a fekin Punto!!
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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iank
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| posted on 11/7/06 at 08:04 AM |
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Why are you claiming off your insurance? A speed bump that can scrape the gearbox of a van isn't (in the current govt term de'jour) fit
for purpose.
I'd at least try to claim off the MoD.
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ned
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| posted on 11/7/06 at 08:24 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iank
Why are you claiming off your insurance? A speed bump that can scrape the gearbox of a van isn't (in the current govt term de'jour) fit
for purpose.
I'd at least try to claim off the MoD.
when I said you'd wanna claim for that this is what I meant!!
beware, I've got yellow skin
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MkIndy7
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| posted on 11/7/06 at 11:29 AM |
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Isin't there a regulation maximum height for speed bumps?
I went to work in the 7 once and the customers speed bumps (at a posh health club) were too high to get the 7 over no-matter what the speed.
Ahem so I drove over the lawn
The Estate manager was giving me all this over the fact that they were the regulation height etc to which I pointed out the car had just passed its
SVA test and was thus roadworthy!
So somebodys regulations or measurments were wrong 
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owelly
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| posted on 11/7/06 at 01:59 PM |
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Apparently, despite several vans/minibuses getting damaged, the MoD insist that the speed bump IS correct. it has something to do with the length of
the bump as well as the height. Most cars get all four wheels on it so they sort of drive up on to it and then drive off it! My Bongos front wheels
drove up on to it and then drove off it and bellied the 'box out before the rear wheels got to it!
I have explained all this to the insurance company and it's up to them if they persue the MoD.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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iank
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| posted on 11/7/06 at 02:20 PM |
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Sounds like they are just trying to fob you off. Losing your no-claims and excess over a badly designed speedbump doesn't sound very fair.
Is the ground clearance of your van is less than 100mm BTW?
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/19991025.htm
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owelly
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| posted on 11/7/06 at 07:15 PM |
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quote:
(c) the highest point on it is not less than 25 millimetres nor more than 100 millimetres higher than an imaginary line parallel to the centre line of
that carriageway connecting the surface of that carriageway on one side of the road hump to the surface of that carriageway on the other side of the
road hump and passing vertically below that point; and,
Hmmm. The bump is definately more than 100mm!!
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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