Hi not another leak, but all of last nights rain has got trapped in the tarpulin and is hanging through the sky light, still nothing that a good push won't cure, its so heavy I can't get it back up through the hole I can see me and the commer getting very wet. Its still raining here so I can't see anything getting done today but we will have to put a board across the sky light so we have no more water in. Lynne
Our new commer highwayman
- Thread starter OK U
- Start date
Hope the weather improves for you soon - leaks can reek havoc, amazing how much damage water can do sometimes. Have found that either plumbers' silicon grease or vaseline makes a good temporary water repellent sealant to keep rain out of leaky bits (good because it'll stick even if it's raining and comes off ok when you need it too)
Good luck
Bessie - four star commerdation
Good luck
Bessie - four star commerdation
Take photos for reference some close up some standing back a bit helped me loads while removing seating & electric's from one van to sybhil
"SYBHIL" & N0.1
"SYBHIL" & N0.1
I have taken loads of pictures just incase we forget, today we made the frame for the roof but still to damp to get the roof right off and when it does come off there may be some bits extra that need doing. We hope this will last another 40 years once its done so worth doing a proper job. We have cross plys on the wheels 6x70x15
at the moment but as we plan to make good use of it we think radials would make it drive better. Is this correct please. If so what size is the radial replacement. Thanks Gary & Lynne
at the moment but as we plan to make good use of it we think radials would make it drive better. Is this correct please. If so what size is the radial replacement. Thanks Gary & Lynne
Hi, the weather has been good today so we have been working on ok u, taken about 100 screws out of the roof one side now free and well on the way down the other side, if it stays fine over the weekend we might just get it done. we have treated the wood behind the panels that we have removed because its better to do it now than have a problem later. some of the screws will have to be drilled but will leave these awkward ones till last. Still looking for advice on the clutch please, would like to have it on the move as soon as the roof is finished as lots of events coming up. good to chat. Lynne & Gary
blimey you have been busy[:0], hate to say it but has been raining over here on the west coast today - hope it misses you. Good luck with roof and clutch - hope all goes well. As to radials and crossplys - not sure but think opinions seem to vary, am on 14" radials with Bessie and happy with them, have friends with crossplys who are also happy. There have been a couple of recent topics on tyres if you search for them it should help you figure out what best for you and give some radial sizes.
Bessie - four star commerdation
Bessie - four star commerdation
Don't talk to me about ruddy clutches...
First of all make sure the hydaulics are working. You'll need somebody looking underneath whilst you push the pedal. If the pushrod from the slave cylinder is moving the clutch operating lever back and forth then it's not that.
Stuck clutches are far more fun. Warm up the engine. Stop it. Put it in first and restart the engine so that your Commer starts to move. With your left foot, depress clutch pedal (it's vital the hydraulics are working, as above) and then with right foot stamp on the other two pedals alternately, going on and off the throttle and brakes. The shunting will either free it all up with a bang, or you run out of road. It's normally just a bit of corrosion on the flywheel sticking stuff together. This method does work, my Commer sits in a field all winter and it happens every year.
Radial or Xply? Radials every time for me, and apart from being a bit quieter and riding better, they are far easier to replace in an emergency if you suddenly find you need a new tyre in the middle of Doncaster bypass on a wet tuesday night. Few tyre places carry xplys in stock these days. Oh, and never mix radials and Xplys, you will skid and crash!
I use a "value" tyre brand called Fate, they were about £40 each fitted and balanced. When I first had them I wondered if they were a fate worse than death, or indeed a Fate worse than a fate worse than death. But they've proved to be excellent. Don't buy the absolutely cheapest Russian or Chinese brands, I've had them de-laminate and generally disintegrate on the move. It's not funny I can tell you.
First of all make sure the hydaulics are working. You'll need somebody looking underneath whilst you push the pedal. If the pushrod from the slave cylinder is moving the clutch operating lever back and forth then it's not that.
Stuck clutches are far more fun. Warm up the engine. Stop it. Put it in first and restart the engine so that your Commer starts to move. With your left foot, depress clutch pedal (it's vital the hydraulics are working, as above) and then with right foot stamp on the other two pedals alternately, going on and off the throttle and brakes. The shunting will either free it all up with a bang, or you run out of road. It's normally just a bit of corrosion on the flywheel sticking stuff together. This method does work, my Commer sits in a field all winter and it happens every year.
Radial or Xply? Radials every time for me, and apart from being a bit quieter and riding better, they are far easier to replace in an emergency if you suddenly find you need a new tyre in the middle of Doncaster bypass on a wet tuesday night. Few tyre places carry xplys in stock these days. Oh, and never mix radials and Xplys, you will skid and crash!
I use a "value" tyre brand called Fate, they were about £40 each fitted and balanced. When I first had them I wondered if they were a fate worse than death, or indeed a Fate worse than a fate worse than death. But they've proved to be excellent. Don't buy the absolutely cheapest Russian or Chinese brands, I've had them de-laminate and generally disintegrate on the move. It's not funny I can tell you.
PS If the brakes are still stuck, make sure the handdbrake is off then just drag your Commer down the road with a car. They'll probably free up eventually!
Hi thanks for to everybody for there help, we will try everything and hope for the best. Its raining what a shock! it rained all day friday shock!. So the roof is still not done and we can't move it until we have got that done as we won't have a van left, not really very much holding it on now but need the fine weather to complete the wood replacement otherwise the new stuff will be wet to start with. just can't wait to get it on the road. curse to the good old british weather.
OK its not raining at the moment we are going to attempt the roof but it might take some time as there are still screws that need drilling out, we have left the covers attached at the front so we can cover it up quick. watch this space,will let you know how far we get tonight,Lynne & Gary,
Hi its been a long day, the weather has been fine but just as you think you are getting on either somebody turns up and stops you or you find something else wrong.
All the roof is off metal and wood, all the panel between back and cab removed because of wood rot from the leaks. we have now got back to good wood and have made most of the bits to put it back together, at one time it got a bit depressing as we just kept finding more wood rot. Still we now know its all good and should last our lifetime.
It is easy to see why the wet got in as lots of the roof panels had no sealent or putty, just nailed to each other, so its quite amazing it made this age.
If its dry monday we will start rebuilding, first the panel between cab and back then the roof rests on this.let you know how we get on.
All the roof is off metal and wood, all the panel between back and cab removed because of wood rot from the leaks. we have now got back to good wood and have made most of the bits to put it back together, at one time it got a bit depressing as we just kept finding more wood rot. Still we now know its all good and should last our lifetime.
It is easy to see why the wet got in as lots of the roof panels had no sealent or putty, just nailed to each other, so its quite amazing it made this age.
If its dry monday we will start rebuilding, first the panel between cab and back then the roof rests on this.let you know how we get on.
Great stuff, I think you are the first on here to attempt a frame repair on a Highwayman so I don't think there is anyone to offer advice. You are the pioneers and all the other Highwayman owners (and every one else) must be enthralled. Keep on going, you're doing a fine job [^]
'Harvey the RV'
'Harvey the RV'
You are doing well [^] are you taking pic's for reference [?]I like to see whats going on
"SYBHIL" & N0.1
"SYBHIL" & N0.1
Yup, always happy to help. If I get the chance am hoping to catch up with friends with their highwayman as they found a lost badly damaged highwayman on a farm which they were allowed to raid for bits - the gales have stripped the aly outer skin and they have some great pics of its' inner timber framework which might be helpful to know what should go where.
Weather seems to be set fair for a few days now so best of luck with the build - if anyone comes round to visit, put them on the forum and we'll keep them talking
Bessie - four star commerdation
Weather seems to be set fair for a few days now so best of luck with the build - if anyone comes round to visit, put them on the forum and we'll keep them talking
Bessie - four star commerdation
Hi, another long day, only come in as its now dark. All the woodwork for the roof and the section between cab and back is now complete. This took much longer than we thought.We have found 200 stainless screws for roof so they will not rot again.
we now need to clean the alloy roof panels and stickerflex(lots & lots & lots ) and screw them back on. I expect this will take another day. But we have to go to our real job tuesday until about 3pm, so we expect to be out on the roof until this time tommorow. I have taken more photos but have not had time to get them on line.
The weather forecast for here is bad for wednesday so we must get it water tight by then. I am now going to look what everybody else has got up to on the site. We will give you an update tuesday pm.
Lynne & Gary
we now need to clean the alloy roof panels and stickerflex(lots & lots & lots ) and screw them back on. I expect this will take another day. But we have to go to our real job tuesday until about 3pm, so we expect to be out on the roof until this time tommorow. I have taken more photos but have not had time to get them on line.
The weather forecast for here is bad for wednesday so we must get it water tight by then. I am now going to look what everybody else has got up to on the site. We will give you an update tuesday pm.
Lynne & Gary