now for a propper hello...

[beefy]

evening all,
i have already introduced my self here about 6 months ago but i didn't have a van.

so I'm back here to re-introduce myself,  now as of 15 mins ago an official rascal owner!!!!
just got back from picking her up, its a 1991 model in red with bull bar...
i must  admit the best way i can think of describing driving it is driving a shoebox on a skateboard..
but its GREAT!!!!! i had a grin from ear to ear on the 50 mile trip back to the shire.
picked her up with the fuel gauge half way on the E, got back with the needle at the bottom of E. great!!

 temp gauge was higher than i was expecting it to go (about 2/3rds towards H) is this normal?
not that i am worrying at all, no smoke or rattles. just great!!!!
cant wait to start tinkering!!!! rear wiper no worky, fog light no worky, starter sometimes sticks (no worries), but its just great!!!
will be spending alot more time here me thinks!!!!!
now to tart up the alloys that i bought way befor i had the van to put them on!
beef

[Dell Boy]

First job Beefy is take your starter motor out & clean the crud of the shaft the Bendix runs on to stop it sticking. Do NOT put oil on it. Rub a graphite pencil over it to provide some lubrication.
If you dont sort it you will be buying a new starter & flywheel.
Its running too hot. Lets hope it just needs a new radiator. About £180.00 if you can find one.
Rear wiper spindle will be seized with corrosion. You will probably have to saw through the large retaining nut to remove the motor & unseize the spindle.
The fog light has probably corroded & fallen apart internally as they fill up with water.
If you fit a standard Wipac one use the original two wires, feed & return. Do not earth to chassis. Fit a rubber grommet to fixing screw to isolate fog lamp from chassis.
Derek.

[beefy]

cheers dell,
i guessed the starter would be fixable, it does work, but tempemental.
going to take out the rad tomorrow and give it a damn good flush.
funny you mention wipac, im only about 3 miles from the factory

am i correct in saying that the these are wired differently? ie: no earth as such, instead it has a sort of "ring main" system instead of earthing through the chassis?
m

[Dell Boy]

No. the complete opposite. This is why the fog lamp, if it is not an original type, has to be electrically isolated from the chassis.
Feed [black/blue] comes from the switch & returns via [brown/yellow] to the switch to illuminate the tell tale light in the switch.
The switch is powered by white wire from fuse box which also feeds the lighting switch on the steering column.
Derek.

[Rascalvan10]

Hi All, we can supply a reconditioned radiator for £135+vat+ postage to you of £10+vat.
Need to check current availability.
These have a completely new main core.
Regards Rascalvan ( Tim)
www.bedfordrascal.com.

[Pirate]

If you are taking out the radiator, it would be a good idea to replace the cam belt & water pump at the same time, I paid around £50 for both & gives peace of mind.
Happy rascalling 

[beefy]

ive done a timing belt on my transit before, the transit kit was a belt and a tensioning pulley.
would i need a new pulley bearing too? or just a belt?
havent looked through the haynes manual yet.

i have made one good starter out of the 3 spare ones that came with the van today, seems to of done the trick. flywheel teeth are fine but the teeth on the starter bendix were more like rounded nobbles

a good rad flush seems to have brought the temp down to just below half, but i havent given her a "big" run yet....

[Dell Boy]

Very rarely need a pulley wheel but I have them & timing belts.
Temperature gauge should show a quarter going up to a third on a very hot day.
Halfway is not good. Could be radiator or water pump impeller.
Whatever it is it is not cooling sufficiently.
Does the heater put out good heat?
Always keep at least a 30% anti-freeze mix in all year round.
Derek.

[Dell Boy]

Misread your reply re: Fog Light wiring. Your right, it doesn`t earth through the chassis & is as I described the wiring which is a sort of ring.

Derek.

[>>CHOP<<]

Check thermostat Beefy....make sure its opening

[beefy]

well today is saturday!! going into work for a few hours then im gonna hit it hard!
the heater isnt putting alot of heat out. will try the stat.
dell, if you have these parts available, can i purchase some how? you'll know if they will fit or not.
as the only good starter that came with it didnt fit right on the nose end of it... made 1 good one out of 3...

[Dell Boy]

Timing belt £17.00
Tensioner  wheel £30.00
Thermostat with gasket £8.00
Water pump £46.00
 Postage £10.00
Paypal account   derekfoxrainham@aol.com    marked as a gift please.

Be very, very carefull when removing the two thermostat fixing bolts as they corrode heavily & snap off very easily. Get them very hot before you start & go carefully.

Derek.

[Rascalvan10]

Hi All, I agree with Dell that your vehicle is running to hot, and in my opinion would most likely be the radiator is full of limescale, which is near impossible to shift with rad flush, but always worth a go.
I can do a water pump for £29.95+vat, but other wise similar prices to Dell on the rest.
Take heed of Dell's warning on the thermostat bolts !!.
Make sure the cooling fan is fitted the right way round.
As to the tensioner pulley, I always change these if I think it is the original and the vehicle mileage is over 70,000, as I think it is not worth hoping the tensioner will last another 60,000 miles until the next belt change is due.
Hope this helps,
Regards Tim
Tim@bedfordrascal.com ( see shop on e-bay)

[Vandrederic]

Hey Beefy, glad to see you have a van at last!

Just catching up some older messages so if you have not done it already...get some pictures up