Getting the bin in yesterday I noticed a damp patch under the back of Harvey. Bad boy I thought and checked why he was suddenly incontinent - crikey it was petrol
Further investigation reveals a drip from the hose connection on the lekky fuel pump, so I prodded it and yes the hose fell apart. I dashed to the garage to get a length of fuel hose (ethanol resistant), cable ties, screw drivers, a bucket and anything else that might be of use. Luckily the bad hose was on the outlet of the pump so the flow had reduced to a dribble when I got back, hose changed and all was good. The old stuff was obviously affected by the ethanol in the fuel and had pretty much disintegrated so everything else was checked and appeared fine but I did visit the local motor factors this morning and stocked up on various sizes of hose - four metres of hose and a few clips was over £40 Cheaper than a new van though so check your hoses folks.
That was yesterday and todays little problem came to light when I dragged the Mini out and went to get the fuel hose. Something caught my eye where Harvey had been parked on the drive - it was the long thin screw and part of the trunnion that connects the gear change lever to the gearbox shaft. The square block and the cross spindle was still in place but one of the small pieces that make up the cruciform was missing, so I made one out of a 6mm riv-nut. After faffing about looking for a couple of suitable nuts that fit the screw I went to fit it all back together when I noticed the missing piece stuck to the muck and grime on the side of the gearbox - hurrah. So the screw is back in with two nuts with a spring washer in between to lock it so it (hopefully) won't come loose again.
Further investigation reveals a drip from the hose connection on the lekky fuel pump, so I prodded it and yes the hose fell apart. I dashed to the garage to get a length of fuel hose (ethanol resistant), cable ties, screw drivers, a bucket and anything else that might be of use. Luckily the bad hose was on the outlet of the pump so the flow had reduced to a dribble when I got back, hose changed and all was good. The old stuff was obviously affected by the ethanol in the fuel and had pretty much disintegrated so everything else was checked and appeared fine but I did visit the local motor factors this morning and stocked up on various sizes of hose - four metres of hose and a few clips was over £40 Cheaper than a new van though so check your hoses folks.That was yesterday and todays little problem came to light when I dragged the Mini out and went to get the fuel hose. Something caught my eye where Harvey had been parked on the drive - it was the long thin screw and part of the trunnion that connects the gear change lever to the gearbox shaft. The square block and the cross spindle was still in place but one of the small pieces that make up the cruciform was missing, so I made one out of a 6mm riv-nut. After faffing about looking for a couple of suitable nuts that fit the screw I went to fit it all back together when I noticed the missing piece stuck to the muck and grime on the side of the gearbox - hurrah. So the screw is back in with two nuts with a spring washer in between to lock it so it (hopefully) won't come loose again.
