Commer meltdown

LaLaLand

LaLaLand

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I'm not proud to say that I had my first Commer-related meltdown today.Is this normal or shall I seek help now?
Lola has been laid-up since October, with what I believed to be an alternator problem. I couldn't find any garage in Northern Ireland willing (or able) to take her on and finally, whilst enquiring about breakdown recovery from home to another garage, I was told of a local classic/vintage specialist.
She's been with this 'specialist' since the beginning of April, however the garage has been avoiding my calls. I decided to call Mr Maltas today, who confirmed this garage have yet to order the parts(Sincere apologies Martin). So I wasn't one bit happy!

I finally got speaking to a garage salesman(the mechanics will not talk to customers) who has assured me the van will be ready by the end of May. Apparently it only needs a few things - auxiliary/alternator belt, clutch slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder, rocker box gasket, air hose. Fair play to him for calming me down!

I wonder has anyone else actually been driven insane by their Commer?

Her name was Lola . . .;)
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The garage rang as soon as I put the phone down to you, they had rung before, but never ordered anything. They have prices now, just waiting for them to order [B)]

www.commervanspares.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/commervanspares
 
Cheers Martin, they must have called me straight after speaking to you. I've now paid for the parts so I'm very hopeful that they'll be ordered soon. To be fair Greg, the fact there's anything wrong with my Lola is probably due to the fact that she hasn't been properly serviced since I've owned her. The guy I bought her off did everything himself, and I've really struggled with finding a garage to take her.
Needless to say, the Commer isn't to blame - it's the incompetent owner :(

Her name was Lola . . .;)
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It's not owner incompetence as not everybody is a competent mechanic. It's just the fact you can't find a decent garage. Any mechanic worth his salt should be able to work on a Commer. It's all pretty basic stuff. Infact the older the vehicles the less complex the design. You have my sympathies.
 
' wonder has anyone else actually been driven insane by their Commer?'

We don't call it the Madhouse for nothing........wibble:p;)

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I'm definitely getting into the mad-house vibe Panky, and thanks Hubbell! I did try to learn the engine myself, as you say it's basic, but I'm no mechanic. I'll figure it all out eventually, I'd like to keep Lola going for another 40 years. The funny thing is I haven't even started her restoration ... Plenty more episodes to look forward to. ;)

Her name was Lola . . .;)
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quote:
Originally posted by Panky

' wonder has anyone else actually been driven insane by their Commer?'

We don't call it the Madhouse for nothing........wibble:p;)

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Member of the Non-Facebook Club



I was very close last year...

I sorted my garage into 4 piles of stuff.
1. Stuff I`m keeping
2. Stuff I`m not getting rid of.
3. Stuff I might use..one day.
4. Stuff that might come in handy.
 
I think I've been on the edge for ages, some say I tipped into the abyss a long time ago - wibble:)

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Member of the Non-Facebook Club
 
I have been quite lucky with my commer, although I did have a fan belt snap on me that scared my daughter, there was also a miserable man that told me I couldn't park my commer by his house. I told him I had broken down, but if he wanted to push me he could. It's an on going project, any problems that I can't sort, I go to the forum, my classic garage or my two friends who are mechanics (I think they hide when they see me coming). But I am getting there, hopefully she will be finished thus year.
 
The two times I called the AA was one time I fitted the clutch slave cylinder incorrectly, which worked on the outgoing trip:) (long clutch travel though)
but not on the return:(
The other, I forgot the jack so I had a tyre puncture:I

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Well, I've only ever had one breakdown in Lola since owning her ... My partner has a vw T2, and he's now on first name terms with several breakdown recovery drivers in the area! ;)
Her name was Lola . . .;)
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This situation is very annoying.Original Commer mechanicals are of the most basic form and should be easy for even the most mildly competent mechanic.

We had an experience whilst touring Aust last year. The RAC garage had the attitude that parts would be unobtainable and they were just not interested. We ordered the parts from Martin direct then put the pressure on daily.
My advice is to order the parts yourself from Martin then take them in and give them to the garage personally. Then they have no choice but to fit them asap. No excuses.

If they still drag their feet, lodge a complaint with the AA/RAC direct that should get them moving.

Compared with modern cars, a Commer is easy to work on and i dont really understand why we have these problems.

Good luck with it and keep on them:)

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Rain, hail or shine a Commer adventure awaits,,
Mount up!.
www.commervanoztour.blogspot.com
 
Could the real problem be that a Commer doesn't have anywhere for the "mechanic" to plug in his modern computer analysis machine to download what the problem is??

My suggestion, when you see any other older classic cars around ask the owner where they get their work done, word of mouth is always the best source of this type of information. If the driver is not there leave a note with your phone number to call for a chat on the issue.

I am luck as I am very mechanically minded, however I do leave larger some larger jobs to the experts, for these I still use the specialist that looked after my rally car years ago.

Cheers Stephen
 
Only one had the misfortune to breakdown and need recovery truck. Snapped a half shalft in the middle of nowhere. Thank goodness i had some spares at home!

I just need a good rootes...
 
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