Due to work and spending my time off on my motorbike little else got done until winter came around and the bike went away. As the weather set in the van continued to rust faster than it was being fixed so I made the decision that it needed to spend the winter indoors. Finally I found a quiet corner of Somerset to settle the van into but now needed to move it once again. I decided to free the brakes, remove the engine and get it moved.
The brakes were the first issue, I was unable to get the hub nut off of one wheel and a wheel nut was being stubborn on the other wheel. After breaking two socket wrenches I realised that the thread on the hub nut was the other way and got that off. A grinder helped with the wheel nut and I was ready to free the brakes.
The brakes were the first issue, I was unable to get the hub nut off of one wheel and a wheel nut was being stubborn on the other wheel. After breaking two socket wrenches I realised that the thread on the hub nut was the other way and got that off. A grinder helped with the wheel nut and I was ready to free the brakes.
A large hammer and a lack of worrying if I broke anything (I'm adding disc brakes to the van) got the hubs off and moved the pistons so that the brakes were free!
Next job, remove the engine. Again another rather simple exercise, just set up a medieval looking contraption, undo four bolts and lift the engine out...... whats the worst that can happen?
Next job, remove the engine. Again another rather simple exercise, just set up a medieval looking contraption, undo four bolts and lift the engine out...... whats the worst that can happen?
With the chassis back in, the van was incredibly light and easy to move, not having the handbrake on helped too! Rusty was pushed onto a trailer and hauled off to its winter home. I was concerned about the suicide doors flying open and as the bonnet had been removed I did wonder if the back doors might come flying off too! Luckily it was a quiet police free drive and the van is now settled and drying.