ten years stood still

C

cloke.paul

0
heres a question for you all[}:)], as a lot of you know im trying to rescue a camper that has sat for ten years. main problem being i think the handbrake was left on[|)]. my main worry is how to free it all up enough to push it off his drive and get it on a flat bed. any tips on freeing it off without stripping it down on his drive welcome.[8)]

also what should i check before i try to start it up. figure its a good idea to get the fuel tank and lines out and clean them, pop plugs out and check/replace as well as check spark. was also thinking of getting something to put down the bores to make sure they are not locked up.

any other ideas?[8D]

paulcloke
 
I've found the only way to get it moving in these circumstances is to remove the wheels and back off the adjusters as much as poss. Then tap the drums with a copper/hide hammer all the way round to try to break the bond with the shoes. If you can try spraying some WD40 inside the drum to help it all along. If they won't turn the only option is to start with the hammer and try to knock the drums off. If you get them off then remove the shoes etc before replacing the drums and wheels. You can then roll it but remember there's no handbrake!

BazRockscropped.jpg

Peggy drinks too much!
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
 
thats what i thought. my uncle was saying today i should attach a rope to the front and try to gently joly it forward to brake seals, but not sure on that idea. wouldnt want to pull it apart lol

paulcloke
 
Try it first, maybe with spray of lube first. Just don't use any part of the steering or suspension to tow it from!

BazRockscropped.jpg

Peggy drinks too much!
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
 
was thinking about running a fuel line to a fuel can and try to coax it to life, maybe i could get it off road under its own power, you never know

paulcloke
 
I could be mistaken, but think that these rear drums are incredibly difficult to get hold of if you break them. [V] (or it could be the fronts..)

So all the best of luck, but be careful with the drums. :I
 
cheers mate, problem is its under the house and its so tight to the roof i dont think ill be getting wheels off. but you never know, maybe ill get lucky

paulcloke
 
If the hand brake is stuck on it may be the cable, mine pretty much seized up after 10+ years of inactivity:I Release the one from the hand brake at the relay lever above the back of the gear box and see if it lets the brake off enough to move it. If it doesn't give the drums some love - remember the hand brake operates on the front wheels.
If you have limited head room to jack the van up it may be better to use a big trolley or bottle jack under the front suspension - that way you will only have to lift a couple of inches for the wheel to clear the ground and hopefully there will be enough room to remove the wheel from inside the arch - make sure you use a good axle stand or timber blocks under the cross member for safety though.

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And relax
 
good advice mate. still waiting to see what he wants for it but hopefully he gets back off holiday this week, and when he calls i wanna be able to go straight round, pay him and get it ready to bring home, already sorted a transporter. will try that, other option is to try to jack it up on a pair of big trolly jacks so the wheels just off floor at front and ease it out that way. then free them up once its out from under the house

paulcloke
 
my advice from many years experience of rescueing long stood projects is definately dont try to start it, poor diesel down the bores and allow to soak for a good week,change the engine oil then pop the plugs out and if the engine is free then turn it over on the starter to clear the diesel and let the oil light go out, as well as acting as a release agent the diesel then doubles as a lube for the first couple of turns until the oil gets up. then replace plugs, do usual fuel and points check then try and start-good luck! the brakes have a slot in the back plate to adjust and de-adjust with a screw driver you shouldnt need to remove wheels or even raise the vehicle, so back them right off, then with a good size rod or drift give the wheels a good smack with a hammer by each wheel nut, then try and move vehicle backwards first(the shoes are designed to drag on tighter going forwards) this has NEVER failed for me.:p

The early bird catches the worm... but the early worm gets eaten first!
 
blinding, well done mate, that is EXACTLY what my dad said.only thing is, when you say a bit of diesel, how much should i put down each one? im desperate to call the fella to see if he is back yet, but dont want to look to interested lol

paulcloke
 
you need enough to soak around the piston and down onto the rings so i would say half an ordinary mug in each bore should do the trick, you cant over soak but remember to change the oil and filter before turning engine over because all the crud the diesel releases will be in the old oil. sounds like a lot of work but get it right and you will have a good engine and the joy when it fires up and sounds a beaut is better than sex[:0];):D

The early bird catches the worm... but the early worm gets eaten first!
 
it is a fair bit of work, but thats fine with me, thats the fun part. i know when it was parked up it was a good runner. so its worth a try. was already intending to renew oil and filter as after 10 years. its gotta be knackered.

paulcloke
 
I'd get 2 or 3 oil filters and only use cheap supermarket oil for the first change. Get it running and up to temperature for a few minutes then change the oil/filter again using cheap oil again. Once you've got that MOT drain all the oil out and fit a new filter then re-fill with quality 20w50 oil.

This will hopefully flush out all the old crap in the oil etc.

BazRockscropped.jpg

Peggy drinks too much!
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
 
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