REBUILDING BENTLEY PARTS AND ASSEMBLIES
I HAD BEEN MEANING TO START A SERIES OF COMPONENT REBUILD ARTICLES FOR SOME TIME NOW BUT SO FAR HAVEN`T HAD ENOUGH TIME TO DO THIS.
NOW THAT I`VE STARTED TO MOVE ALL THE VINTAGE BENTLEY BITS AND PIECES THAT I`M KEEPING OVER TO MY NORWEGIAN WORKSHOP, I`LL HAVE MORE TIME TO PUT TOGETHER A GEARBOX, A STEERING COLUMN, 4 AND 4.5 LITRE ENGINES AND AT THE SAME TIME WRITE UP HOW IT`S DONE TOGETHER WITH EXPLANATORY PHOTOS TO HELP ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING. THE SECOND HAND PARTS THAT I WILL USE ON THESE ASSEMBLIES WILL BE IN A CONDITION THAT IS USABLE, THUS SAVING A FORTUNE OVER THE NEW PARTS THAT YOUR RESTORER WILL RECOMMEND USING!
IT WILL TAKE TIME TO CARRY OUT THESE INTERESTING PROJECTS AND I WILL START EACH PROJECT BY GIVING DETAILS OF WHAT I`VE DONE SO FAR AND HOPE THAT THE READER WILL BE PATIENT IF PROGRESS IS SLOW.
NOW THAT I`VE STARTED TO MOVE ALL THE VINTAGE BENTLEY BITS AND PIECES THAT I`M KEEPING OVER TO MY NORWEGIAN WORKSHOP, I`LL HAVE MORE TIME TO PUT TOGETHER A GEARBOX, A STEERING COLUMN, 4 AND 4.5 LITRE ENGINES AND AT THE SAME TIME WRITE UP HOW IT`S DONE TOGETHER WITH EXPLANATORY PHOTOS TO HELP ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING. THE SECOND HAND PARTS THAT I WILL USE ON THESE ASSEMBLIES WILL BE IN A CONDITION THAT IS USABLE, THUS SAVING A FORTUNE OVER THE NEW PARTS THAT YOUR RESTORER WILL RECOMMEND USING!
IT WILL TAKE TIME TO CARRY OUT THESE INTERESTING PROJECTS AND I WILL START EACH PROJECT BY GIVING DETAILS OF WHAT I`VE DONE SO FAR AND HOPE THAT THE READER WILL BE PATIENT IF PROGRESS IS SLOW.
HAVING YOUR BENTLEY SORTED OUT BY A PROFESSIONAL RESTORER
JUST SOME NOTES ABOUT DELIVERING YOUR BENTLEY PARTS TO A SPECIALIST. SOMETIMES DUE TO LACK OF TIME TO FINISH OFF YOUR BITSA YOU WILL HAVE TO EMPLOY A SPECIALIST TO WORK ON THE CAR AND IT`S ASSEMBLIES. THIS WILL BE EITHER A HAPPY OR VERY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE BUT IN BOTH CASES VERY EXPENSIVE! HAVE A LOOK AT MY BLOG "ARE BENTLEY MECHANICS GETTING OLDER"
NOWADAYS SPECIALISTS WILL NOT NORMALLY EMPLOY MECHANICS AS PERMANENT STAFF DUE TO FLUCTUATING DEMANDS FOR WORK FROM BENTLEY OWNERS. THEY WILL BE EMPLOYED AS FREELANCERS EITHER ON A FULL OR PART TIME BASIS.
FOR THE SPECIALIST THIS IS A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION AS HE WILL NOT BE RESPOSIBLE FOR WAGES, TAX, HOLIDAY MONEY ETC. ALTHOUGH HE WILL HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR THE MECHANICS THAT ARE SOURCED FROM AGENCIES WHICH ADD A PERCENTAGE TO THE HOURLY RATE THAT IS CHARGED, WHICH WILL OBVIOUSLY BE PASSED ON TO THE CAR OWNER!
THERE IS A DOWNSIDE TO THIS, AS WHEN THERE IS A DEMAND FOR MORE MECHANICS, PERSONNEL WITH BENTLEY EXPERIENCE MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE, SO THAT MECHANICS, ALTHOUGH HAVING EXPERIENCE ON OTHER VINTAGE OR MODERN CARS, WILL BE WORKING ON YOUR CAR. ALSO THE MECHANIC MAY BE FOUND UNSUITABLE AND AFTER A BRIEF STAY BE DISMISSED!
THIS SITUATION IS NOT GOOD FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE WORK BEING CARRIED OUT ON YOUR CAR AND WILL LEAD TO MORE HOURS BEING BOOKED TO YOUR PROJECT DUE TO THE LACK OF BENTLEY EXPERIENCE BY THE MECHANIC WHO WILL HAVE TO ASK THE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE FOREMAN HOW TO DO THINGS.
NOT ONLY THIS, REMEMBER THAT ONCE THE ASSEMBLY IS BOLTED TOGETHER, ANY MISTAKES MADE ARE HIDDEN AND MAY NOT BE DISCOVERED UNTIL LATER WHEN THE CAR BREAKS DOWN. THIS MEANS THAT THE CAR WILL HAVE TO BE TRAILERED BACK TO THE SPECIALIST TO BE REPAIRED.
FOR THE SPECIALIST THIS IS A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION AS HE WILL NOT BE RESPOSIBLE FOR WAGES, TAX, HOLIDAY MONEY ETC. ALTHOUGH HE WILL HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR THE MECHANICS THAT ARE SOURCED FROM AGENCIES WHICH ADD A PERCENTAGE TO THE HOURLY RATE THAT IS CHARGED, WHICH WILL OBVIOUSLY BE PASSED ON TO THE CAR OWNER!
THERE IS A DOWNSIDE TO THIS, AS WHEN THERE IS A DEMAND FOR MORE MECHANICS, PERSONNEL WITH BENTLEY EXPERIENCE MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE, SO THAT MECHANICS, ALTHOUGH HAVING EXPERIENCE ON OTHER VINTAGE OR MODERN CARS, WILL BE WORKING ON YOUR CAR. ALSO THE MECHANIC MAY BE FOUND UNSUITABLE AND AFTER A BRIEF STAY BE DISMISSED!
THIS SITUATION IS NOT GOOD FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE WORK BEING CARRIED OUT ON YOUR CAR AND WILL LEAD TO MORE HOURS BEING BOOKED TO YOUR PROJECT DUE TO THE LACK OF BENTLEY EXPERIENCE BY THE MECHANIC WHO WILL HAVE TO ASK THE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE FOREMAN HOW TO DO THINGS.
NOT ONLY THIS, REMEMBER THAT ONCE THE ASSEMBLY IS BOLTED TOGETHER, ANY MISTAKES MADE ARE HIDDEN AND MAY NOT BE DISCOVERED UNTIL LATER WHEN THE CAR BREAKS DOWN. THIS MEANS THAT THE CAR WILL HAVE TO BE TRAILERED BACK TO THE SPECIALIST TO BE REPAIRED.
NOW HERE`S THE RUB, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG AGO THAT THE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT ON YOUR CAR OR ITEM, THE RESTORER MAY DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND AS HE HAS ALREADY DISMANTLED THE OFFENDING ASSEMBLY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, YOU WILL END UP PAYING HIM TO REPAIR THE FAULT, SO IN EFFECT, YOU END UP PAYING FOR THE RESTORATION AND THE REPAIR AS WELL!
IT`S NOT FAIR AND IT`S NOT GOOD NEWS BUT IT`S THE WAY THE GAME IS PLAYED. MANY OF THE LUCKY VINTAGE BENTLEY OWNERS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR FIELD OF ENGAGEMENT BUT ARE NOT HANDS ON ENGINEERS, SO CAN BE EASILY PERSUADED BY THE CHARISMATIC RESTORATION COMPANY CHIEFS THAT THE EXTRA WORK CARRIED OUT IS JUSTIFIED.
IT`S NOT FAIR AND IT`S NOT GOOD NEWS BUT IT`S THE WAY THE GAME IS PLAYED. MANY OF THE LUCKY VINTAGE BENTLEY OWNERS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR FIELD OF ENGAGEMENT BUT ARE NOT HANDS ON ENGINEERS, SO CAN BE EASILY PERSUADED BY THE CHARISMATIC RESTORATION COMPANY CHIEFS THAT THE EXTRA WORK CARRIED OUT IS JUSTIFIED.
I`M SURE THAT SOME OF YOU READING THIS BLOG WILL DOUBT WHAT I`M TELLING YOU BUT JUST THINK ABOUT HOW GARAGES TREAT YOUR DAILY TRANSPORT? THEY CHARGE AS MUCH AS A HUNDRED POUNDS AN HOUR TO WORK ON IT AND IN MY EXPERIENCE CAN BE VERY CREATIVE IN AUGMENTING THE BILL TOTAL BY CHARGING FOR WORK THAT`S NOT BEEN CARRIED OUT AND PARTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN NEEDED. WHAT DO YOU DO? IT`S DIFFICULT TO PROVE THE CASE, SO THAT YOU JUST SMILE AND PAY THE BILL.
A TYPICAL EXAMPLE IS MIS DIAGNOSIS OF SYMPTOMS. I HAD MY FRONT BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CHANGED THREE TIMES IN QUICK SUCCESSION BY THREE DIFFERENT GARAGES AND THIS VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING WAS ONLY CURED WHEN THE LAST GARAGE CHANGED THE SUSPENSION WISHBONE IN WHICH ONE OF THE RUBBER BUSHES HAD FAILED. THERE YOU HAVE IT, I`D SPENT A FORTUNE ON WORK THAT WASN`T NEEDED JUST BECAUSE THE MECHANICS HAD NOT BEEN EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO GIVE A PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM!
THE VINTAGE BENTLEY RESTORERS ARE NO DIFFERENT!
A TYPICAL EXAMPLE IS MIS DIAGNOSIS OF SYMPTOMS. I HAD MY FRONT BRAKE DISCS AND PADS CHANGED THREE TIMES IN QUICK SUCCESSION BY THREE DIFFERENT GARAGES AND THIS VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING WAS ONLY CURED WHEN THE LAST GARAGE CHANGED THE SUSPENSION WISHBONE IN WHICH ONE OF THE RUBBER BUSHES HAD FAILED. THERE YOU HAVE IT, I`D SPENT A FORTUNE ON WORK THAT WASN`T NEEDED JUST BECAUSE THE MECHANICS HAD NOT BEEN EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO GIVE A PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM!
THE VINTAGE BENTLEY RESTORERS ARE NO DIFFERENT!
THE IDEAL MECHANICS FOR VINTAGE BENTLEYS ARE SURELY TIME SERVED TOOLMAKERS THAT HAVE A BACKGROUND OF WORKING ON VINTAGE CARS INCLUDING BENTLEYS. THESE RATHER THIN ON THE GROUND PEOPLE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO WORK THE MACHINERY THAT THE RESTORER HAS IN HIS WORKSHOP.
THERE ARE PENSIONERS WITH THEIR OWN WORKSHOPS THAT HAVE BENTLEY EXPERIENCE WHO CAN TAKE ON SMALL JOBS AND DO A PROPER JOB THAT DOESN`T COST A FORTUNE AND THERE`S NO VAT. FINDING THEM IS A PROBLEM AND IF FOUND THEY MAY ALREADY HAVE A FULL ORDER BOOK.
THERE ARE PENSIONERS WITH THEIR OWN WORKSHOPS THAT HAVE BENTLEY EXPERIENCE WHO CAN TAKE ON SMALL JOBS AND DO A PROPER JOB THAT DOESN`T COST A FORTUNE AND THERE`S NO VAT. FINDING THEM IS A PROBLEM AND IF FOUND THEY MAY ALREADY HAVE A FULL ORDER BOOK.
MY OWN EXPERIENCES OF WORK DONE BY A "SPECIALIST"
SOME OF YOU READING THIS BLOG WILL PROBABLY DOUBT WHAT I`VE BEEN TELLING YOU ABOUT SPECIALISTS, SO I`M ADDING A FEW WORDS ABOUT MY OWN ACTUAL EXPERIENCES.
MY 60TH BIRTHDAY WAS FAST LOOMING UP ON ME AND THE BITSA WAS STILL NOT FINISHED! I WAS WORKING IN NORWAY AND HAD NO TIME TO ASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AND AS I WAS EARNING A FEW BOB, DECIDED TO ENTRUST A SPECIALIST TO ASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AND MOUNT IT INTO THE CHASSIS OF MY EXP2 BITSA.
I KNEW THIS SPECIALIST AND STARTED A DIALOGUE WITH HIM ABOUT THE WORK THAT I WANTED TO BE DONE. NATURALY DURING THE NEGOTIATION PHASE, ALL WAS SWEETNESS AND LIGHT. THE PROBLEMS ONLY OCCUR AFTER YOU`VE COMITTED YOURSELF AND DELIVERED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE PARTS TO THE SPECIALIST AND THE WORK BEGINS. LET`S CALL THIS SPECIALIST "SCROOGE" AS IT`S QUICKER TO TYPE THAN SPECIALIST.
MY 60TH BIRTHDAY WAS FAST LOOMING UP ON ME AND THE BITSA WAS STILL NOT FINISHED! I WAS WORKING IN NORWAY AND HAD NO TIME TO ASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AND AS I WAS EARNING A FEW BOB, DECIDED TO ENTRUST A SPECIALIST TO ASSEMBLE THE ENGINE AND MOUNT IT INTO THE CHASSIS OF MY EXP2 BITSA.
I KNEW THIS SPECIALIST AND STARTED A DIALOGUE WITH HIM ABOUT THE WORK THAT I WANTED TO BE DONE. NATURALY DURING THE NEGOTIATION PHASE, ALL WAS SWEETNESS AND LIGHT. THE PROBLEMS ONLY OCCUR AFTER YOU`VE COMITTED YOURSELF AND DELIVERED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE PARTS TO THE SPECIALIST AND THE WORK BEGINS. LET`S CALL THIS SPECIALIST "SCROOGE" AS IT`S QUICKER TO TYPE THAN SPECIALIST.
ABOVE, PHOTOS OF THE ENGINE PARTS AS DELIVERED TO SCROOGE.
THIS ENGINE COMPRISED A PERFECT 3 LITRE SUPER SPORTS CRANKCASE EX HILLSTEAD, WHICH TOGETHER WITH THE SUMP, HAD BEEN MACHINED BY "PHOENIX CRANKSHAFTS" TO TAKE THEIR 4.5 LITRE CRANKSHAFT. PLUS ALL THE PARTS TO BUILD UP A 4.5 LITRE "BULLET PROOF" ENGINE. THE BLOCK WAS AN ORIGINAL 4.5 LITRE ONE AND FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THE LATE JOHN HUNT, THIS HAD BEEN IMPREGNATED WITH MINUTE PLASTIC FRAGMENTS UNDER A PROCESS DEVELPED BY A COMPANY CALLED "INDUSTRIAL IMPREGNATION" IN BIRMINGHAM. THE IMPREGNATION WOULD CURE ANY POROUSITY THAT WAS PRESENT IN THE CASTING, THIS WAS DONE AS A PRECAUTION AND DIDN`T COST A LOT OF MONEY! THE ONLY NEGATIVE ASPECT OF HAVING THIS IMPREGNATION DONE IS THAT THE CASTING CANNOT BE WELDED IN THE FUTURE.
SCROOGE WOULD NOT GIVE A PROPER ESTIMATE FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE AND HAD PERSUADED ME TO PAY HIM FOR HOURS WORKED, ALTHOUGH I KNEW THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS TO MY WALLET BUT I JUST WANTED THE WORK DONE.AND THREW CAUTION TO THE WIND!
SCROOGE WOULD NOT GIVE A PROPER ESTIMATE FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE AND HAD PERSUADED ME TO PAY HIM FOR HOURS WORKED, ALTHOUGH I KNEW THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS TO MY WALLET BUT I JUST WANTED THE WORK DONE.AND THREW CAUTION TO THE WIND!
THE BILLS CAME IN REGULARLY AND I MADE MONTHLY VISITS TO CHECK ON PROGRESS. ONE MISTAKE THAT I MADE WAS TO ALLOW SCROOGE TO SEND THE MLCG4 MAGNETOS TO A SPECIALIST TO HAVE THEM RECONDITIONED. HE WOULD NOT REVEAL WHO THIS SPECIALIST WAS AND DID NOT PRODUCE ANY BILLS, SO THAT WHEN ONE OF THE MAGS CEASED FUNCTIONING AFTER THE CAR WAS FINISHED, I HAD NO CLUE AS WHO TO COMPLAIN TO! THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE CARBURETTORS, I HAD MANAGED OVER THE YEARS TO FIND THREE INCOMPLETE VINTAGE SU HV5 CARBURETTORS AT THE BEAULIEU AUTOJUMBLES AND PASSED THESE ON TO SCROOGE WHO SENT THEM AWAY TO A SPECIALIST, WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE TWO GOOD ONES FROM THE THREE. THE TWO CARBS WERE DULY RETURNED BUT THE REMAINING THIRD CARB PARTS DID NOT! I ASKED SCROOGE FOR MONTHS TO HAVE THESE VALUABLE PARTS RETURNED AND AT LAST THEY DID BUT MADE UP INTO A COMPLETE CARBURETTOR! OBVIOUSLY THIS SPECIALIST HAD CONSIDERED THAT THESE PARTS WERE HIS AND WAS GOING TO MAKE MONEY FROM THEM. OF COURSE I ENDED UP PAYING FOR THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE ON THE THIRD CARB ALTHOUGH IT NEVER APPEARED ON THE MONTHLY BILLS THE NUMBER OF HOURS CHARGED WAS OBVIOUSLY AUGMENTED TO COVER THE COSTS OF THIS WORK.
ABOVE, VIEWS OF THE ENGINE INSTALLED IN THE CHASSIS. ON THE RHS PHOTO YOU CAN SEE THE MODIFIED BATTERY BOX MENTIONED IN THE TEXT BELOW.
IT CAN BE SURPRISING TO SEE THE CHANGE IN SOMEONE`S PERSONALITY THAT MONEY CAN MAKE! ALTHOUGH SCROOGE WAS VERY FRIENDLY ON THE SURFACE HE WAS VERY SHARP WHEN THINGS CAME DOWN TO HARD CASH! HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE ANY CRITISCISM OF THE WORK PRODUCED BY HIS TEAM. ONE INCIDENT THAT COMES TO MIND WAS THE MOUNTING OF THE BATTERY IN THE BATTERY BOX WHICH IS FIXED TO THE RUNNING BOARD. I HAD FOUND A REALLY NICE ORIGINAL WOODEN BATTERY BOX AT THE BEAULIEU AUTOJUMBLE, IT WAS A LITTLE SHALLOW SO HAD H & H COACHBUILDERS EXTEND IT VERTICALLY TO ACCEPT A HEAVY DUTY BATTERY.
I EXPLAINED TO SCROOGE THAT THE BATTERY HOLDING DOWN BOLTS BE MOUNTED THROUGH THE RUNNING BOARD SO THAT THE DYNAMIC FORCES IMPOSED BY THE SUSPENSION WOULD NOT AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE BOX. THE NEXT TIME THAT I VISITED SCROOGE`S PREMISES I HAD A LOOK AT THE BATTERY BOX AND FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS RESTRAINED BY BOLTS ATTACHED TO THE BOX AND NOT AS I HAD INSTRUCTED, THROUGH THE RUNNING BOARD. THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT POINT AS THIS MEANT THAT THE DYNAMIC FORCES IMPOSED ON THE HEAVY BATTERY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED DIRECTLY INTO THE STRUCTURE OF THE WOODEN BOX SO THAT THIS WOULD SOON BREAK UP.! I POINTED THIS OUT TO SCROOGE AND HE TRIED EVERY SILLY ARGUMENT HE COULD THINK OF TO COUNTER MY FINDINGS AND WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT HE HAD DONE ANYTHING WRONG. THIS WAS THE MOMENT THAT I LOST RESPECT FOR HIM AS IT`S ALWAYS BEST TO ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES. AT MY NEXT VISIT I CHECKED AND SAW THAT THE BATTERY HAD BEEN CORRECTLY MOUNTED, NO NEED TO GUESS WHO HAD TO PAY FOR THIS EXTRA WORK!.
I EXPLAINED TO SCROOGE THAT THE BATTERY HOLDING DOWN BOLTS BE MOUNTED THROUGH THE RUNNING BOARD SO THAT THE DYNAMIC FORCES IMPOSED BY THE SUSPENSION WOULD NOT AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE BOX. THE NEXT TIME THAT I VISITED SCROOGE`S PREMISES I HAD A LOOK AT THE BATTERY BOX AND FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS RESTRAINED BY BOLTS ATTACHED TO THE BOX AND NOT AS I HAD INSTRUCTED, THROUGH THE RUNNING BOARD. THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT POINT AS THIS MEANT THAT THE DYNAMIC FORCES IMPOSED ON THE HEAVY BATTERY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED DIRECTLY INTO THE STRUCTURE OF THE WOODEN BOX SO THAT THIS WOULD SOON BREAK UP.! I POINTED THIS OUT TO SCROOGE AND HE TRIED EVERY SILLY ARGUMENT HE COULD THINK OF TO COUNTER MY FINDINGS AND WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT HE HAD DONE ANYTHING WRONG. THIS WAS THE MOMENT THAT I LOST RESPECT FOR HIM AS IT`S ALWAYS BEST TO ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES. AT MY NEXT VISIT I CHECKED AND SAW THAT THE BATTERY HAD BEEN CORRECTLY MOUNTED, NO NEED TO GUESS WHO HAD TO PAY FOR THIS EXTRA WORK!.
ABOVE LEFT, THE CAR IN SCROOGE`S WORKSHOP, THE GEARBOX HAS NOT YET BEEN INSTALLED AND DESPITE GIVING SCROOGE A COPY OF A SKETCH SENT TO ME BY WALLY HASSAN OF THE LAYOUT OF THE OUTSIDE GEAR LEVER, HE MADE AN ABSOLUTE COCK-UP OF THE INTERLOCK REQUIRED FOR REVERSE GEAR SELECTION! IT WORKS BUT CAN`T BE GIVEN A DESIGN ACCOLADE, IN FACT IT`S AN EYESORE!
ANOTHER IRRITATING OCCURENCE WAS THAT SCROOGE PHONED ME AND ASKED IF HE COULD REMOVE THE NEW REAR HUBS FROM MY CAR AS HE NEEDED THEM URGENTLY FOR ANOTHER CLIENT WHO WAS GOING ON A RALLY. I REFUSED AS I`D PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO ASSEMBLING THE AXLE AND HAD FITTED MECHANICAL OIL SEALS TO THE HALF SHAFT BEARING CAPS AS RECOMMENDED BY JIMMY MEDCALF DURING ONE OF HIS LECTURES AND DID NOT WANT THESE SEALS TO BE DISTURBED. SCROOGE REMOVED THESE HUBS ANYWAY AGAINST MY STRICT INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY! LATER, HE REPLACED THESE HUBS WITH NEW ONES THAT HE`D ORDERED. I PROBABLY PAID FOR THIS WORK AS WELL! I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT SCROOGE HAD ADJUSTED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING CLEARANCES WHICH I HAD DONE CORRECTLY ALREADY!
WHEN SCROOGE RECEIVED THE MAGNETOS BACK FROM THE SPECIALIST HE DISCOVERED THAT THIS SPECIALIST HAD NOT SET THEM UP TO BE OPPOSITE PAIRS AS THERE ARE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES FOR THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND ROTATION SET UPS. HE ASKED ME RATHER SHEEPISHLY HOW TO DO THIS SO THAT I HAD TO TELL HIM HOW TO DO HIS JOB AGAIN! LATER, I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE REASON THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT START FULLY RETARDED AS IT SHOULD, WAS BECAUSE THE ROTOR IN THE DISTRIBUTION CAP WAS NOT IN THE CORRECT POSITION OPPOSITE THE IGNITION LEAD CONNECTORS!
PROBABLY THE MOST IRRITATING FAULT THAT OCCURED WAS AFTER A WHILE THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE STARTER WAS A PREWAR BS5 WHICH HAD THE BOSCH LOGO ON IT. AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING AND THE STARTER HAVING AN EXPENSIVE OVERHAUL I FINALLY DISCOVERED, ON THE MORNING OF THE ANGOULEME RALLY, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE POSITIVE TERMINAL CLAMP ON THE BATTERY WAS ONE OF THOSE CHEAPO ONES THAT HAD TWO SCREWS THAT ENGAGED WITH THE STARTER CABLE, SCROOGE`S ELECTRICIAN HAD NOT TINNED THE END OF THE LEAD SO THAT THE SCREWS JUST FORCED THE INDIVIDUAL SMALL DIAMETER WIRES APART AND CORROSION HAD SET IN SO THAT CONDUCTIVITY BETWEEN CABLE AND TERMINAL CLAMP WAS IMPAIRED, THUS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE STARTER MOTOR. THIS SILLY MISTAKE HAD WASTED MORE OF MY PRECIOUS CASH.
THIS RATHER SNOOTY "ELECTRICIAN" CAUSED ME SOME MORE GRIEFF! I HAD LEFT STRICT INSTRUCTIONS THAT ALL WIRING WAS TO BE RUN ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE CHASSIS SIDEMEMBERS AND NOT ON THE BODYWORK. I WAS MORTIFIED TO FIND THAT THE WIRING HAD BEEN ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODYWORK JUST TO MAKE A QUICK JOB OF IT!
I SUSPECT WHAT HAD HAPPENNED WAS THAT THE SELF EMPLOYED ELECTRICIAN HAD AGREED A NUMBER OF HOURS WITH SCROOGE TO CARRY OUT THE WIRING OF THE CAR AND WHEN HE STARTED TO RUN OUT OF HOURS, PROBABLY SCROOGE WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY MORE SO THAT THE FINISHING WAS RUSHED. ALSO, INSTEAD OF RECEIVING A PROPER WIRING DIAGRAM AS I HAD REQUESTED, A SKETCH WAS PROFFERED AND TO CAP IT ALL SCROOGE KEPT THE ORIGINAL AND GAVE ME A COPY!
WHEN SCROOGE RECEIVED THE MAGNETOS BACK FROM THE SPECIALIST HE DISCOVERED THAT THIS SPECIALIST HAD NOT SET THEM UP TO BE OPPOSITE PAIRS AS THERE ARE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES FOR THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND ROTATION SET UPS. HE ASKED ME RATHER SHEEPISHLY HOW TO DO THIS SO THAT I HAD TO TELL HIM HOW TO DO HIS JOB AGAIN! LATER, I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE REASON THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT START FULLY RETARDED AS IT SHOULD, WAS BECAUSE THE ROTOR IN THE DISTRIBUTION CAP WAS NOT IN THE CORRECT POSITION OPPOSITE THE IGNITION LEAD CONNECTORS!
PROBABLY THE MOST IRRITATING FAULT THAT OCCURED WAS AFTER A WHILE THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE STARTER WAS A PREWAR BS5 WHICH HAD THE BOSCH LOGO ON IT. AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING AND THE STARTER HAVING AN EXPENSIVE OVERHAUL I FINALLY DISCOVERED, ON THE MORNING OF THE ANGOULEME RALLY, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE POSITIVE TERMINAL CLAMP ON THE BATTERY WAS ONE OF THOSE CHEAPO ONES THAT HAD TWO SCREWS THAT ENGAGED WITH THE STARTER CABLE, SCROOGE`S ELECTRICIAN HAD NOT TINNED THE END OF THE LEAD SO THAT THE SCREWS JUST FORCED THE INDIVIDUAL SMALL DIAMETER WIRES APART AND CORROSION HAD SET IN SO THAT CONDUCTIVITY BETWEEN CABLE AND TERMINAL CLAMP WAS IMPAIRED, THUS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE STARTER MOTOR. THIS SILLY MISTAKE HAD WASTED MORE OF MY PRECIOUS CASH.
THIS RATHER SNOOTY "ELECTRICIAN" CAUSED ME SOME MORE GRIEFF! I HAD LEFT STRICT INSTRUCTIONS THAT ALL WIRING WAS TO BE RUN ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE CHASSIS SIDEMEMBERS AND NOT ON THE BODYWORK. I WAS MORTIFIED TO FIND THAT THE WIRING HAD BEEN ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODYWORK JUST TO MAKE A QUICK JOB OF IT!
I SUSPECT WHAT HAD HAPPENNED WAS THAT THE SELF EMPLOYED ELECTRICIAN HAD AGREED A NUMBER OF HOURS WITH SCROOGE TO CARRY OUT THE WIRING OF THE CAR AND WHEN HE STARTED TO RUN OUT OF HOURS, PROBABLY SCROOGE WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY MORE SO THAT THE FINISHING WAS RUSHED. ALSO, INSTEAD OF RECEIVING A PROPER WIRING DIAGRAM AS I HAD REQUESTED, A SKETCH WAS PROFFERED AND TO CAP IT ALL SCROOGE KEPT THE ORIGINAL AND GAVE ME A COPY!
ONCE THE CAR WAS RUNNING I ASKED SCROOGE TO LET ME HAVE A TEST DRIVE OF THE CAR AND HE SUGGESTED THAT WE TAKE IT TO BRUNTINGTHORPE AERODROME TO GIVE IT A SHAKEDOWN. THE ABOVE PHOTOS SHOW THE CAR BEING TRAILERED BY MY TRUSTY SAAB 900 AND THE CAR ON THE RUNWAY. IT WAS A GREAT DAY OUT AND THE CAR DROVE VERY WELL.
THE ABOVE PHOTOS SHOW THE CAR ATTENDING BDC SILVERSTONE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT ON THE TRACK WITH ALL THE OTHER BENTLEYS IN THE PARADE. THERE WAS A NASTY MOMENT WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT BRAKED SUDDENLY AND JAMMING ON THE BRAKES I FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE HARDLY WORKING! WHILST DRIVING AROUND THE TRACK, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO HEAR, OTHER DRIVERS YELLING CONGRATULATIONS ABOUT THE CAR. SCROOGE AND HIS SO CALLED MECHANICS NEVER DID GET THE BRAKES SET UP PROPERLY SO THAT I HAD TO DO THIS MYSELF
SCROOGE TOOK THE FINISHED CAR TO BE M.O.T`D AND THEN I ORGANISED THE INSURANCE AND HAD THE CAR TRAILERED TO BIRMINGHAM DVLC FOR THEM TO INSPECT IT. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE INSPECTION SO I PAID THE ROAD TAX AND RECEIVED THE V5 LOGBOOK.
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT WAS WHEN SOON AFTER THE CAR WAS ROAD LEGAL I PARTICIPATED IN AN ASTON MARTIN TRACK DAY AT THE MALLORY PARK CIRCUIT. THIS WAS BEING HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER CAR CLUBS AND THE BDC HAD BEEN INVITED. I CAN ONLY REMEMBER FROM THE BDC, ANDREW DAY BEING THERE IN HIS VERY FAST 3/8 AND EWAN GETLEY IN HIS 3/4.5.
AFTER THE BRIEFING WE WERE ALLOWED ON THE TRACK, SCROOGE WAS THERE TO OVERSEE THE CAR AND STAYED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. I WAS SHARING THE CAR WITH MY FRIEND BILL BROWNING AND WE DID QUITE A FEW LAPS OF THE CIRCUIT, THE WEATHER WAS VERY COLD AND THE TRACK WAS WET, WE KEPT THE SPEED DOWN AS THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUN IN YET. THE CAR HANDLED VERY NICELY BUT ON THE TRICKY ESS BEND THE BACK WOULD MOVE OUT IN AN EASILY CONTROLLED SLIDE WHICH WAS DUE TO THE SECOND HAND FIRESTONE TYRES NOT BEING VERY GOOD IN THE WET.
I HAD BEEN TO THE LOCAL TIP AND HAD ASKED THE OPERATOR OF THE WEIGHBRIDGE TO CHECK THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR AND THEN TO FIND THE WEIGHTS ON THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A TOTAL WEIGHT OF 1.3 TONS WITH AN EQUAL WEIGHT ON BOTH FRONT AND REAR AXLES. THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD RESULT PRODUCING EXCELLENT ROAD MANNERS.
AT THE TRACK, THE DOWNSIDE WAS THAT THE CLUTCH HAD STARTED TO SLIP AND INSPECTION HAD REVEALED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE REAR OF THE CRANKSHAFT THAT HAD CONTAMINATED THE CLUTCH LINING!
SCROOGE HAD ALREADY LEFT FOR HOME, SO WE PHONED HIM AND HE SUGGESSTED THAT WE BURN THE LINING BY REVVING THE ENGINE AND LETTING IN THE CLUTCH. THIS GAVE US ENOUGH GRIP TO DRIVE GENTLY HOME. I HAD REPLACED THE BRONZE BEARING IN THE CLUTCH WITHRAWAL HUB WITH A SINTERED BRONZE OILITE BUSH THAT WAS ALREADY OIL IMPREGNATED AND SCROOGE HAD EITHER FORGOTTEN OR IGNORED MY INSTRUCTION TO PLUG THE OIL HOLE IN THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT AND HAD INCORRECTLY INSTALLED THE ORIGINAL TYPE THREAD BOUND SPOOL THAT RESTRICTS THE OIL FLOW TO THE CLUTCH WITHDRAWAL BEARING AND HAD GOT IT WRONG! HE PICKED UP MY CAR AND TOOK IT BACK TO HIS WORKSHOP AND THAT WAS ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED QUID UP THE SWANEE!
AFTER THE BRIEFING WE WERE ALLOWED ON THE TRACK, SCROOGE WAS THERE TO OVERSEE THE CAR AND STAYED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. I WAS SHARING THE CAR WITH MY FRIEND BILL BROWNING AND WE DID QUITE A FEW LAPS OF THE CIRCUIT, THE WEATHER WAS VERY COLD AND THE TRACK WAS WET, WE KEPT THE SPEED DOWN AS THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUN IN YET. THE CAR HANDLED VERY NICELY BUT ON THE TRICKY ESS BEND THE BACK WOULD MOVE OUT IN AN EASILY CONTROLLED SLIDE WHICH WAS DUE TO THE SECOND HAND FIRESTONE TYRES NOT BEING VERY GOOD IN THE WET.
I HAD BEEN TO THE LOCAL TIP AND HAD ASKED THE OPERATOR OF THE WEIGHBRIDGE TO CHECK THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR AND THEN TO FIND THE WEIGHTS ON THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A TOTAL WEIGHT OF 1.3 TONS WITH AN EQUAL WEIGHT ON BOTH FRONT AND REAR AXLES. THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD RESULT PRODUCING EXCELLENT ROAD MANNERS.
AT THE TRACK, THE DOWNSIDE WAS THAT THE CLUTCH HAD STARTED TO SLIP AND INSPECTION HAD REVEALED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE REAR OF THE CRANKSHAFT THAT HAD CONTAMINATED THE CLUTCH LINING!
SCROOGE HAD ALREADY LEFT FOR HOME, SO WE PHONED HIM AND HE SUGGESSTED THAT WE BURN THE LINING BY REVVING THE ENGINE AND LETTING IN THE CLUTCH. THIS GAVE US ENOUGH GRIP TO DRIVE GENTLY HOME. I HAD REPLACED THE BRONZE BEARING IN THE CLUTCH WITHRAWAL HUB WITH A SINTERED BRONZE OILITE BUSH THAT WAS ALREADY OIL IMPREGNATED AND SCROOGE HAD EITHER FORGOTTEN OR IGNORED MY INSTRUCTION TO PLUG THE OIL HOLE IN THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT AND HAD INCORRECTLY INSTALLED THE ORIGINAL TYPE THREAD BOUND SPOOL THAT RESTRICTS THE OIL FLOW TO THE CLUTCH WITHDRAWAL BEARING AND HAD GOT IT WRONG! HE PICKED UP MY CAR AND TOOK IT BACK TO HIS WORKSHOP AND THAT WAS ANOTHER FEW HUNDRED QUID UP THE SWANEE!
JUST TO ILLUSTRATE HOW GREEN SCROOGE WAS, I DISCOVERED LATER WHEN I SOLD THE ENGINE AND WAS REMOVING THE 3 LITRE STARTING HANDLE WHICH WAS NOT REQUIRED BY THE NEW OWNER, HE, OR ONE OF HIS SCABBY HEADED GREASE MONKEYS, HAD FILED AND POLISHED THE TAPER PIN AFTER ASSEMBLING THE DOG ONTO THE SHAFT SO THAT THE ENDS COULD NOT BE FOUND!
THE PROPER WAY TO INSTALL A TAPER PIN IS TO LEAVE A SMALL PORTION PROTRUDING AT EITHER END SO THAT THE SMALL END CAN BE IDENTIFIED WHEN DRIVING IT OUT! I TRIED ALL SORTS OF TRICKS TO EXPOSE THE ENDS OF THE PIN BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE JOB HAD TO BE DONE IN A HURRY, SO THAT I HAD TO RESORT TO SAWING OFF THE END OF THE SHAFT SO THAT THE NOSE CASTING COULD BE REMOVED!
ON THE FIRST M.O.T. INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR DREW MY ATTENTION THE THE REAR AXLE DRIVE FLANGE. WE WERE HORRIFIED TO SEE THAT ONE OF THE FOUR BOLTS THAT HELD THE FLANGE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD ALMOST UNSCREWED DUE TO NOT HAVING A LOCKWASHER INSTALLED! THE OTHER THREE BOLTS DID NOT HAVE A LOCKWASHER INSTALLED EITHER! THIS WAS CRIMINAL INCOMPETENCE BY WHOEVER HAD INSTALLED THE NEW DRIVE SHAFT AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT!
THE PROPER WAY TO INSTALL A TAPER PIN IS TO LEAVE A SMALL PORTION PROTRUDING AT EITHER END SO THAT THE SMALL END CAN BE IDENTIFIED WHEN DRIVING IT OUT! I TRIED ALL SORTS OF TRICKS TO EXPOSE THE ENDS OF THE PIN BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE JOB HAD TO BE DONE IN A HURRY, SO THAT I HAD TO RESORT TO SAWING OFF THE END OF THE SHAFT SO THAT THE NOSE CASTING COULD BE REMOVED!
ON THE FIRST M.O.T. INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR DREW MY ATTENTION THE THE REAR AXLE DRIVE FLANGE. WE WERE HORRIFIED TO SEE THAT ONE OF THE FOUR BOLTS THAT HELD THE FLANGE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD ALMOST UNSCREWED DUE TO NOT HAVING A LOCKWASHER INSTALLED! THE OTHER THREE BOLTS DID NOT HAVE A LOCKWASHER INSTALLED EITHER! THIS WAS CRIMINAL INCOMPETENCE BY WHOEVER HAD INSTALLED THE NEW DRIVE SHAFT AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT!
A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER I MADE A SILLY MISTAKE IN SELLING OFF THE ENGINE TO FUND THE REBUILD OF THE FRENCH HOUSE. WHEN THE PURCHASER CAME TO FRANCE TO TRY OUT THE ENGINE HE QUERIED THE NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP BEVELS AND WHEN I REMOVED THE ROCKER COVER AND LOOKED AT THE BEVELS, SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS FOUND THAT THEY HAD BECOME OUT OF MESH DUE TO THE BRONZE BEARING NOT BEING LOCKED INTO PLACE PROPERLY BY SCROOGE. AND HIS SHAKY TEAM!
I`M NOT SAYING THAT SCROOGE HAD PERSONALLY CREATED ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT AS THE CEO OF THE COMPANY HE WAS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM.
I DID NOT COMPLAIN TO HIM ABOUT ALL OF THE MISTAKES THAT HE HAD MADE AS I KNEW HE WOULD ONLY MAKE A SILLY REMARK SUCH AS "WELL IT WAS YOUR OWN FAULT FOR DRIVING IT".
I`M NOT SAYING THAT SCROOGE HAD PERSONALLY CREATED ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT AS THE CEO OF THE COMPANY HE WAS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM.
I DID NOT COMPLAIN TO HIM ABOUT ALL OF THE MISTAKES THAT HE HAD MADE AS I KNEW HE WOULD ONLY MAKE A SILLY REMARK SUCH AS "WELL IT WAS YOUR OWN FAULT FOR DRIVING IT".
THAT IS ALL I CAN REMEMBER THAT HAD GONE WRONG WITH THE WORK THAT SCROOGE HAD CARRIED OUT, EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES THAT`S A FACT OF LIFE BUT SOME OF THESE MISTAKES WERE BECAUSE THE MECHANICS THAT HAD CARRIED OUT THE WORK DIDN`T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
SO WHEN YOU GO INTO THAT PLUSH OFFICE THAT HAS ALL THOSE FAMOUSE LITHOGRAPHS HANGING ON THE WALL EXUDING BENTLEY CHARISMA, ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE CEO THAT GREETS YOU LIKE A LONG LOST BROTHER IS JUST A FIGUREHEAD AND THE SUCCESS OF THE WORK THAT HE WILL CARRY OUT ON YOUR BEHALF WILL DEPEND ON THE QUALITY OF THE TEAM OF MECHANICS AND THE SUPERVISION OF THEIR WORK.
SO WHEN YOU GO INTO THAT PLUSH OFFICE THAT HAS ALL THOSE FAMOUSE LITHOGRAPHS HANGING ON THE WALL EXUDING BENTLEY CHARISMA, ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE CEO THAT GREETS YOU LIKE A LONG LOST BROTHER IS JUST A FIGUREHEAD AND THE SUCCESS OF THE WORK THAT HE WILL CARRY OUT ON YOUR BEHALF WILL DEPEND ON THE QUALITY OF THE TEAM OF MECHANICS AND THE SUPERVISION OF THEIR WORK.
SCROOGE IS STILL IN BUSINESS AND I ALWAYS HAVE A LAUGH AT HIS MONTHLY ADVERTS WITH THE EMPTY CLAIMS IN THE BDC MAGAZINES BUT HE DOESN`T INCLUDE THAT LATIN PHRASE "CAVEAT EMPTOR". HE SHOULD!