Russ's 2.1 SED Auto now in Mandarin

[CitroJim]

I prefer going to Halfrauds and being told by their demented computer system that the key bit I needed was in stock but only available to collect on Tuesday...

They like their parts to mature like a fine wine or cheese Russ. On Tuesday they'll be just perfectly ripe!!!

Looks like it's going to be another glorious day for spannering tomorrow. Sadly I have to go to work Not looking forward to it one bit after been off for a week...

Full retirement just cannot come soon enough....

[russ92xmsed]

I will admit I will be skiving tomorrow. running your own concern it is tempting to go play during week days ....so i make a rule not to play cars until the evenings. I have plenty to do and shouldn't be...but fortunately i have nothing pressing to sort out. So I will be spannering tomorrow....well attempting too!

[CitroJim]

Do have a great day of spannering today Russ Think of all us poor souls chained to our desks bashing keyboards in poorly ventilated sweat-shops

I do the same as you. I never play cars until all the other work is clear and out of the way. I can't enjoy it if there's am unfinished job hanging around some other part of the house...

[russ92xmsed]

What a lovely day. Sunshine and warmth. Amazing!! June has arrived.

Well oil and filter change all done. Nearly had a hiccup with the new tool key, but found a hex bolt thing from my Grandfathers toolbox of bits, which fit in snuggly and meant I could use it as an adapter for a ring spanner. The sump plug was done up just right. So no struggle with hammers ect.
So I have completed my first XM oil change. No nasty surprises and the filter is slightly easier to get off than a ford KA! That is hidden in the back and beyond.

So after a successful oil transplant, I decided I would keep going and treat myself to some cosmetic work. Not my a face!!!...I decided to tackle the horrid peeling, cracking, rough, laquer on the rear wing shoulder. I have hundreds of small scraps of fine sandpaper from previous jobs, so I carefully sanded the nasty stuff back. Worked a treat. Masked it all off and lacquered it. So it is back to shiny Anthriacite...Basalt...Titan .....grey. no pics yet. I'm not properly finished. I need to polish and cut it back a bit to blend it. But need to do the same side rear door next.
Then I'll pop some pics up. It won't be spray shop finish, but it is a darn sight better than what was on before.

A question...I seem to have a creaky strut on the RHS. What is best to lubricate it?

Next on the service list. LHM filters. Need petrol for these. Hence why it wasn't done today. W

[CitroJim]

Excellent Russ, all good work and delighted the oil change went lovely and smoothly

I'm interested that you got good results re-lacquering as my Activa is suffering small areas of peeling lacquer on the roof and many have sucked their teeth and said I'll need to get the whole roof resprayed to fix that..

So you've given me some hope what you've done there

[russ92xmsed]

I couldn't tell you to be honest Jim, if my method would help your roof. I think roofs get the brunt of full sunshine don't they hence why the go. Mine had a burn mark from a polishing wheel, and I popped some laquer on that too. That is for sealing it. It hasn't made any difference I'm afraid. Infact I might be in the same boat as you on that one. You can see the colour has faded quite badly..well it will after 21 years! ....but underneath you can see the Proper colour from the burn. So it almost needs cutting right back or simply repainting.

But the shoulder has worked a treat. If you look at your XM for reference to mine, there is a slim crease that runs from the very top of the doors, up the kink, and into the wing. That bit had ...nothing else.... gone. I need to let it cure before the next stage of polishing and blending. Then I'll post some piccies.

[CitroJim]

To be honest Russ, I'm a bit scared about making it worse than it is but then again it's pretty unsightly as it is so I may experiment on a small area and see how it goes..

Bodywork is not my forte at all so the likelihood is I'll make it worse and then have to get some one in who knows the score to make it better...

[citroenmad]

Who'd have thought to put an odd square hole instead of a bolt head on the sump plug? It might be odd but it works well, you'd struggle to damage that

It does take me a while to track down the tool in the garage though, must have a sort out!

[russ92xmsed]

Body work is a fiddle to get right. It can go wrong so easily. If yours is lifting with a white frilly edge like mine is, you might get away with a light sand to feather out the edges and then try some laquer.

I like to use Holts laquer, it seems to go on really evenly and doesn't tend to run. Halfords is a bugger in comparison. I either misplaced or lent my remaining can of Holts to someone else. So I had to use halfords.

To get a good finish with paintwork, you need patients. If you rush it, it will go wrong. If you don't prep it properly, it will go wrong. It is a potential nightmare. I enjoy it...when it goes right!

I need to completely repaint my rear bumper. But not sure where to go to get the paint mixed.

Does any one recommend a good supplier?

[russ92xmsed]

Who'd have thought to put an odd square hole instead of a bolt head on the sump plug? It might be odd but it works well, you'd struggle to damage that

It does take me a while to track down the tool in the garage though, must have a sort out!

You are quite right Chris. It flummoxed me at first...i was fully expecting a nut of some sort. But using it, it works well.
Now having the correct tool, it isn't an issue.