Aprilia Diary

[davidwheeler]

It's all right for some.  Paint would freeze before contact up here!!

[simonandjuliet]

Looking more like a car again - and started first time. the joys of electric fuel pumps.

If I haven't used the Aprilia for a while I try and turn the engine over for a few seconds before turning on the ignition, just to circulate a bit of oil. You can actually register oil pressure quite quickly without starting the engine.

The only problem is that the generator warning light is not going out so I need to check the wiring, brushes etc.
The old wires are quite brittle so I may end up rewiring the generating circuit - we'll see

Wings fit very nicely and now they are on we can do the final flatting and polishing

ps the coloured tape on the wheels is to stop the hubcaps chattering !

[lancialulu]

Looking nice Simon!

I will hope that the Generator is just brushes (it was on mine - slightly too thick for the slides so one always "stuck") although knowing how you have proceeded with this project, you will have rewired by now!!

Tim

[simonandjuliet]

Yes it was the brushes. As you know, it is an easy job on the Aprilia - comfy chair in front of the rad, cup of tea at the side and 10 mins later all working. It appears they were a bit sticky in the sliders so a smear of coppaslip on the sides , et Voila !

[lancialulu]

warning on copperslip that it can cake up and cause further problems. If the brushes are free to move then the natural carbon dust should "lubricate".

[simonandjuliet]

Thanks Tim - it was the lightest of smears, barely a diaphanous hint, micronically thin ..... but point taken !!!

Wings polished up and very shiny - now starting on the back. I have removed the rear wings so Dog can attack them whilst I'm away on hols

Nasty repair to the rear of the sill which I will have to tidy up or replace when I get back, otherwise all seems OK

[simonandjuliet]

Not much done whilst we were away - Dog has children as well and they are as demanding as our little delight !

Back on it this weekend and wings stripped and small repairs done, including replacing an old repair which had flattened the channel and been crudely welded up. Small section made up and welded flush ......

Nice little job to finish off the filler cap cover. In order to renew the hinge pin I knocked off the hinge block attached to the floorpan - interesting how the block has an angled cut , drilled out half the hinge pin, tapped the hole and made a short threaded bolt to hold the cap in place. Looks nice along with the new diff cover plate which I bought recently as well

Wings now have a skim of filler and hopefully I can get them back on next week

Seats safely delivered to trimmer in UK along with hides, so hopefully they will also be started this week.

[simonandjuliet]

Grotty jobs at the moment, stripping and repainting the floorpan and sills. Very dirty and oily, but at least it has helped protect most of the floors. I know that the front floors need to be replaced and have bought the panels, but by way of investigation I am cleaning up the rest to see if I need any other bits. I am doing the old "Time-Team" trick of recording what I find then protecting and covering it up for a later date !

Generally the floors and sills are very good, a couple of the old 'coverall' plates need to be removed and replaced by smaller fitted ones and the sills are a bit dented, but not rusty .  I could skim them with filler to neaten them up but I think I prefer a few wrinkles and original weld lines !

When I was a 14 year old I used to do jobs like this to earn 50p an hour, but try finding a "youth" nowadays who is interested ......

Now moved over to the other sill and cut out the nasty repair at the back. The jack mounting was a bit tatty. I found a large washer and drilled it out to take the jacking plug before welding it in place.Bit more tidying and rustproofing before making up the outer sill. The diagonal sill membrane is still there as well !

The jack mounting plug is threaded (same size as a Fulvia wheel bolt !) - but why ? For jigging repairs ?

[DavidLaver]

Household white gloss?

David

[simonandjuliet]

Don't be rude - I'm saving that for the doors !
S

[simonandjuliet]

Repair finished, ready for household white gloss (it is actually a light grey primer that contains anti-rusting agents ) !!

A fiddly little patch that took an age to make and fit, Chugga would have replaced the whole sill in the same time it took me !

Even jacked it up on the new mount and all OK ...... once painted I can fill it all with waxoil. Wheel arch rubbed down and ready so just leaves the floor to be cleaned and painted. Will need to remove the exhaust and heat shield first otherwise skinned knuckles

[simonandjuliet]

I know that you are all suffering in the UK, so just a reminder of what half decent weather looks like - only joking, sorry !!

Wings primed today and topcoat expected Tuesday, then I can put it all back together. Rest of the undertray stripped and painted. Both front floorpans will need to be changed, but that is planned for next winter. Some time ago they have had repair panels set in above the tatty bits , so I will need to remove it all and start again. But no problem for our MOT here. Plan to seal it up so it doesn't get any worse ....

Finally a welcome to the latest addition to the family - a Renault 60 tractor dating from 1973. I had a slightly hairy trip back yesterday because it hasn't been used for 20 years, the brakes don't work and it was all down (a steep) hill from the old owner's vineyard to here. So put it in a low gear and don't touch the clutch !

[Parisien]

Great to see....lovely that you've got the time, talent and space to get things done.........not sure about one of Louis's lesser offerings.....


P

[DavidLaver]

What I want is Simon's book of excuses the number of projects he hauls home.

[rogerelias]

Looking good, sitting here in 23 degrees is that overspray on the dog                      









Er 23 degrees actually in the lounge