Cozy Powell
Well, after my many hours of toil trying to remove the nearside brake drum, I think a little Cozy would be worth listening to. It's off! We persevered with the process of using Rost Off and jiggling the drum about plus a generous amount of filing around the axle and eventually, pop! it came off.
Just visible on the right is the red handle of Alan's diamond file that did a sterling job of removing enough material from the end of the axle to allow the drum to come off. I'll be giving both the drum and the axle a light sanding to clean the surfaces to ease re-fitment.
The shoes look good, just a clean and gentle rub with steel wool will see them back to life. As this wheel cylinder was weeping a little I ordered a new pair of Borg & Beck cylinders from Ebay. They'll arrive Wednesday so I can get this side fitted and work on t'other.
The drum doesn't have a lip on it but a light going over with some production paper will clean it. The axle wants cleaning a little as there's paint residue on it which could have contributed to the sticking drum.
I popped up to my nearest Halfords for some Dot 4 brake fluid. Having grabbed the bottle a helpful sales assistant asked if I was OK.
'Are you OK?' Told you he asked.
'Yes, thank you. Have you any brake grease?' I asked wanting to get some of that red stuff that came in little lip balm sized pots.
'What? Do you mean this?'. He pointed to some copper grease.
'No, I'm rebuilding a brake master cylinder and it definitely has red grease on it.' I could see where this was going.
'What car is it?'. He foolishly asked.
'A Westfield....' You don't know what that is do you. His puzzled look answered that one. Move on.
So, the parts arrive Wednesday, they'll be fitted Wednesday night meaning I could conceivably book an MOT for next week! Oh, but I discovered tonight that the repeaters on the clamshell wings aren't wired in...best I do that then.
The new horn needs fitting too. Indeed, this gave forth much mirth in the office upon its arrival. Our lovely Leona who handles the post at work gave me the package and enquired in her glorious Erith tongue (pierced) 'Wos at en?' to which I could honestly reply 'Leona, you've just given me the horn'. Her answer to that was not suitable for a nice forum like this...
Now, we can only hope that the offside gives less trouble. Wednesday will see what happens.
As an aside, this has been a testing week. Work has been furiously difficult, making display panels and a gorgeous little dustcart model for an exhibition at the NEC. Then to top it all, whilst at a quarry in Uxbridge in London, a plasterer that had been working for me at home called to say our cat had leapt out of his van at a builder's merchant some 9 miles from our house. The upshot being I've spent nearly every daylight hour I could searching for her. Luck must truly be on my side as we found her just three days later, right where she's left the van. Phew...Sadly my luck was not with me on the Lottery though. Keep working.
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