John Bonnett
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 07:07 PM |
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Do you expect to break down?
At the end of May, we are off to Laon with the Sylva Club and and I am preparing a list of things to take that will be useful in the event of a
breakdown. Tools tow rope hoses water etc etc.
In contrast, next week we are taking the tintop down to South-West France and apart from spare bulbs and a foot pump I'm taking nothing in the
way of tools and spares and I do not expect to have any mechanical problems at all.
It seems absurd that I do not have the same confidence in a car that I built myself, know like the back of my hand and has been put together with
great care with either new or reconditioned parts.
I just wondered if I am alone in this or whether others load their cars up with spares, expecting the worst.
John
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clairetoo
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 07:12 PM |
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I allways work on the theory that if you will allways need what you havnt got - and so far its worked 
My `long distance` fury toolkit includes duct tape and cable ties , araldite , plenty of spanners and some radseal ............
Its cuz I is blond , innit
Claire xx
Will weld for food......
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omega 24 v6
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 07:17 PM |
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I'm always paranoid on a long trip. What's that noise where's that knock coming from etc etc. I have rac relay but it seems to be
that I worry about everything
Basically Sh!t happens and all the worry in the world won't stop it. I suppose the only variable in the kit car is the amount of
vibration/suspension hardness etc that can cause failures at times. IMHO
If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 07:25 PM |
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If your traveling in a group it maybe make sense to each take something different ?
My tool kit comprises of a Swiss army knife, a aerosol spare wheel, a few cable ties, a few fuses and a "shifter".
On the two occasions I have had problems I have robbed Peter to pay Paul, choke cable for a throttle cable and knicked a bolt to replace a missing one
from the gear linkage, the fact you built the car can help loads when wondering where you can borrow something from.
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omega 24 v6
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 07:30 PM |
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quote:
On the two occasions I have had problems I have robbed Peter to pay Paul, choke cable for a throttle cable and knicked a bolt to replace a missing one
from the gear linkage, the fact you built the car can help loads when wondering where you can borrow something from.
Great advice I love stuff like this where you can solve a problem thinking out of the box as it were. Most folks roll over and cry.
If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.
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DIY Si
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 07:56 PM |
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I've only broken down twice, once the clutch slave bolts came undone, which I couldn't fix, as I'd left my tools at home that day.
The second time, the engine blew up. No amount of spanners and gaffer tape were going to fix that. So know I have a little tool kit that folds up into
a small carry case and a mobile to ring folk to tow me home. Never broken down since, but since it's about to go back on the road, I may invest
in RAC/AA cover.
PS, having a bike engine removes some of the main troubles such as belts.
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JoelP
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 08:11 PM |
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thing with the tin top is that if it breaks down, its not aways easy to diagnose a problem and its not going to be easy to fix, so there's no
point in having loads of tools! Whereas with the kit, you will always know roughly whats gone wrong and exactly how to fix or bodge it!
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BenB
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 09:13 PM |
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It's always the stuff you haven't got that you need.....
I carry around a small tool kit but I've broken down twice and neither times had what I needed 
My most frequently used items in my tool box are a mobile phone and my RAC card 
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alistairolsen
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| posted on 24/4/08 at 11:34 PM |
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Ive done both, the bottom line is I have now had aa relay in 3 reliable family cars that I have done no work on!
By contrast, I have only ever had on breakdown in any of the cars ive rebuilt myself,and that was an alternator failure!
So I decided it wasnt worth it, on a long journey I take spare fluids, and aa card and my phone
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 25/4/08 at 06:54 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by omega 24 v6
I'm always paranoid on a long trip. What's that noise where's that knock coming from etc etc. I have rac relay but it seems to be
that I worry about everything
Basically Sh!t happens and all the worry in the world won't stop it. I suppose the only variable in the kit car is the amount of
vibration/suspension hardness etc that can cause failures at times. IMHO
Im exactly the same. I went to scotland a couple of weeks ago and was sure the exhaust was blowing. Its not
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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02GF74
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| posted on 25/4/08 at 07:26 AM |
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I never worry, that is what I pay the AA for. 
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HAL 1
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| posted on 25/4/08 at 08:17 AM |
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Another thing worth taking is an A-Z of your local area and a map of UK, so you can tell RAC exactly where you are
get away from the rubber neckers quicker as well
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Guinness
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| posted on 25/4/08 at 08:43 AM |
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I've broken down 4 times now
1. Burnt out starter motor.
2. Split oil line.
3. Big end failure.
4. Snapped gear change cable.
Each time my tool kit has got more comprehensive, and each time it's been something different that I didn't have the ability to fix at the
roadside.
That's why I have both AA cover and breakdown through my insurer (Sureterm).
TBH I think I'm going to seriously rationalise the spares / toolkit I carry around with me. You never know, but the weight saving might make
the car more reliable!
Cheers
Mike
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