Aprilia Cabrio - here we go again

[lancialulu]

I used some robush blocks for my Gamma rear suspension  but I had the cut so that both inner steel tubes protrude like the original so that when tight the rubber bit is free to twist. Even if you only get one bush out of the robush its good?!

[simonandjuliet]

Tim, you are correct, and if you have a look at the originals in situ, they protrude by a good 5 to 6 mm so with a spacer (old bush centre cut down ??) they would be perfect ....

Fiddly job today, cleaning the dampers.

The huile de ricin (castor oil) arrived so I searched for a solvent for the old castor oil and found that alcohol is a solvent (better than chloroform , which will also work .....) so I rinsed the casings out and worked the arms to help clear any old castor oil

Repeated a couple of times and then set up a "Heath Robinson" test bench so I could test them side by side. If I'm being honest the adjusters didn't make a massive difference !

Stripped and painted ready for a refill with new Olio de Ricino, C57 H104 09, venelex , 8001-79-4,  take your pick !!

[Dikappa]

Nice work Simon!  And now Juliet has to give up her carboard boxes too!  But she gets some free publicity in return....so that should be covered.

[simonandjuliet]

Koen, the tablecloth can go in the wash with my overalls, so hopefully it will come out clean (ish)

Not sure it's actually worth a "technical info" post , but summary of flywheels, following a request for info

All have 121 teeth (9 on starter pinion) diameter 302mm (approx +/- 1mm)
S1 = 8.03 kg
S2 = 9.22 kg

lightened S1 = 7.43 kg

[tzf60]

Hi Simon,
Did you lighten the flywheel? Also, do you know if the S1 and S2 f/wheels are interchangeable?
 
Best regards,
Tim

[simonandjuliet]

Tim, I think so but will need to check - the holes line up !

When I have 5 mins I will fit them to the back of a spare engine and then try various S1 and S2 clutches and gearboxes
Where the difference (and extra weight) is , is that the area between the friction plate surface and the ring gear is 5 or 6 mm thicker, so there is a risk that it may touch something in the bell-housing/clutch assembly

The lightened one I stumbled across when looking for an S1 , so it wasn't me , I'm afraid

Briefly back to dampers - filled and fitted along with new silentblocs in the link arm. The lower one shouldn't really be a silentbloc, but I've never come across the correct spring/bush assembly

Can anyone help with a photo ?

Bags of brake parts off to be refurbished ......

[simonandjuliet]

Whilst I have been working on the rear suspension and putting it back together, Dog has been taking some of the larger parts and painting them for me - he gets a more durable finish for the high abrasion bits - unfortunately I still have to prepare them !

Wheels are also being done - they will be 2 tone , old English white centres and burgundy rims. Not surprisingly perhaps, my car has Ardennes wheels made by Michelin in France - nice stamps have shown up during the prep stages

Petrol tank and prop shaft will soon be ready as well

[lancialulu]

Interesting they say MADE IN FRANCE back in the day.....

[JohnMillham]

Interesting they say MADE IN FRANCE back in the day.....

That's because they are Bibendum wheels and presumably only made by Michelin. I had a puncture a few years ago when in France, quite near the Michelin factory. The local tyre repair firm hadn't got a clue about getting tyres on or off of Michelin wheels and claimed never to have seen them before!

[simonandjuliet]

I wonder if it is still possible to do tours of the Michelin factory in Clermont-Ferrand ? I am sure that I saw pictures of a wacky ,huge roller-coaster type of test pad

Different question today - do we have any bearing specialists out there ??

The centre propshaft bearing has an open cage and the rollers are attached to the inner part of the bearing. What is the reason for this ? To give lateral movement ?

Is there a reason why the rollers are attached to the inner bush - sometimes they are attached to the outer bush ?

I have been investigating replacement bearings and seals for the propshaft bearing and there are a variety of bearings. Seals are a different question

Lst photo shows some effective , but un-pretty welding on the propshaft - the Cabrio rear shaft is a couple of inches longer than std berlina , so it looks as if they just welded an extra bit in !

The original seals are felt pads, but I wonder about the pros and cons of lip seals instead. The original felt pad is 13-14 mm wide - can you fit 2 lip seals (a 6mm and 7mm) to replace it ?

Lots of questions, so a couple of photos instead

[lancialulu]

Interesting they say MADE IN FRANCE back in the day.....

That's because they are Bibendum wheels and presumably only made by Michelin. I had a puncture a few years ago when in France, quite near the Michelin factory. The local tyre repair firm hadn't got a clue about getting tyres on or off of Michelin wheels and claimed never to have seen them before!

John I was perplexed as to why in ENGLISH Fabrique en France normalment?

[simonandjuliet]

The wheels have presented me with a problem because they are 165x400 and not standard Ardennes wheels and I had been given a set of new tyres for standard Ardennes rims .....

So a call to "Longstone" has sorted that out

The propshaft ,bearing and couplings have been fitted - I will take some photos tomorrow because I forgot to do it today and I know that I will upset some purists

However this afternoon was spent on the rear brakes.

Fitting/removing backplates can be a right pain in the bum because of the handbrake mechanism and you see a lot of damage and "modification" to backplates. So I spent some time trying to work out the best way to fit or remove them without damage - there has to be a "Lancia Way"

I found that the easiest thing to do was fit the lever and return spring, hold the lever forward against the spring so the cam was at about 7 o'clock , then the backplate could be wiggled on - I suspect this only means something to people with Aprilias !!

Also, I was recently asked about a tool for removing drums so gave this some thought too. I have never seen a tool for this so looked at options and as usual it wasn't straight-forward - there are 2 types of drum, each requiring a different approach.

Looking at a spare diff, I found a solution to one but am still looking for a solution for the other

The "early" drum has 2 flats behind the boss whereas the "later" drum has a large thread (M35 x 1.75 ??) - I adapted a ball joint tool for the early type but have yet to find a suitable thread for the later type - if any one can help ??

Hopefully get a bit more time tomorrow - plus a bit of "bootlid bling"

[trallen41]

YRV 700 has the thread mentioned.
I took a Milliput cast of the thread then measured it: 2mm.
So looks like M35 x 2.

[simonandjuliet]

Good idea - I hadn't thought about doing it that way ! Thanks

[simonandjuliet]

Today's scintillating insight into Aprilia driveshaft bearings ..... or not !

I have started work on my driveshafts - stripping , cleaning painting etc, so whilst at it I had a look at the various bearing options

Each of the UJ's( 4 in total) has 4 bearings and I have come across several different types that fit the "Italian" driveshafts

First (early ??) is not "grease-able" and has various shims to fit or adjust for wear. The cup carriers are lighter than the later castings and these may have been an Ardennes option because I found these in a stock of French spares and the Ardennes axle that I have was fitted with these - anyone have more info ?

I have a box full of new ones !

Second are a "metalastic" type, I had them on YRV for many years and are great until they break up and then they make a racket

Third have bronze centres and use the later outer. I wonder if these were a modification, made on a lathe when originals were not available ?? I have a mix of these and later ones on my S2 at the moment. They can be greased and like the later ones have the brass or metal backplates

Lastly, the more recognisable, late bearings. They are v expensive, costing 100 euros (or more) each and you need 16 for a full axle.

I am still looking for felt/string seal manufacturers, so if anyone can help, Thanks