Things one should or should not do.
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Big AL
Niagara Ontario Canada
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1. For starters, I agree to tighten all lugs before journeys. I just dropped the Lotus on the ground when a wheel came completely off, like sans lugs after a mere 2 miles. Luckily the fenders are so close the car rested the rotor on the inner rim and the tire went inside the fender. ZERO damage. Also lucky it's rear engined. I lifted the car onto the jack and bolted the wheel for a shameful ride home.
1a. Keep extra lugs when you are inevitably stupid. I walked 4 miles looking for the lugs. No luck.
2. Points. If you have points, spend the extra couple bucks and get a spare set. Then, if you're smart, you'll put them where you can find them. Likely it will be a year before you actually need them 40 miles from home.
3. Suspension. I still run Hydro, so keeping at least a bottle of water and a grease gun in the car for long trips is my norm. Then again, a nice chunk of wood to prop between the rubber bump stop and the car can get you to the next stop.
4. Head gear. It's been eluded to, but watch your head when working in the engine bay. I have permanent skin and brain damage from the safety latch.
5. Let people enjoy it. I let everyone enjoy the car. I let friends drive it, I let car show people sit in it. There is no better way to ensure great value in the future by young followers now. I recently saw a picture of the first mini I ever drove (at 12 years old). I caused a life quest and sheer pleasure at 32 when I finally got my own. After all, it's just a car. Every ding scratch and tear has a story.
6. Do with it what YOU want to. My car is a genuine MK1 Cooper S. I'm hesitant to do anything because I keep hearing "sell it to a real collector and play with a normal mini". I'd never sell it, but it's my car, and there are 100's of museum cars out there to carry on the history. The collector I got my car from stored it for future use from 1983 to 2003. 20 years that car sat waiting to be enjoyed. Then he passed away. I drive the snot out of it and enjoy it every day that Michigan lets me; about 3 months a year.
7. Don't think you're Paddy Hopkirk. I grew up in racing, I can drive a car pretty well. I took a corner pretty tight one day and found a truck coming to the corner as I cut it. I was forced to widen my line to miss him. That line was in the gravel. I nearly took the car into a curb, then certainly into a ravine. Stupid. You don't have to go THAT far.
Cool thread. FINALLY something fun to read and contribute to.
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Needed to replace an electronic fuel pump in Winona, Mn during MMEMW 2009...should have had a spare but noooo. Sent wifey & friend out looking for a NAPA. They were successful...pump has functioned perfectly ever since!
Your advice is good!
Rick
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My original post is now corrected
Norm
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RC car body R-clips are the right size, but once you've worked out the secret to doing the split pins in the clevis pins, there is no advantage either way.
The secret isn't a secret either, just take the driver seat out and push the pedal upwards to lock the clevis pin in position - this allows easy access and the the ability to work the split pin as required.
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Why i got into using R clips is i had a master cylinder on a Moke with brake problems (that i ended up removing and installing that master quite a few times) and the pin was rusted solid and the cotter pin just fell apart so i tried an R clip on someones advice and it worked for me.
Why Mini clutch and brake master cylinders come with the rod attached is beyond me they would be a lot easier to R&R if the rod was attached to the pedal assembly, but i guess no one would change the worn out pins then .
If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.
Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.
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When installing the master cylinders use small R clips to hold the pins in place they are a lot easier to remove.
I've had them get pushed out when the brake pedal is released and the clevis pin eventually falling out (Dennis and Julie Racine experienced this back in 2010 on track at Sonoma in a car I put together using an R clip on the Brake clevis. They drove most of the day with almost no brakes...
And I've also had it where the R clip prevented the brake pedal from returning fully-- this happened to me while I was driving cross country in my mini. It would be intermittent as the clevis rotated around.
I friggin hate using cotter pins, but my experience with the size R clips I've used has taught me to use cotter pins anyway.
Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch
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When installing the master cylinders use small R clips to hold the pins in place they are a lot easier to remove.
I've had them get pushed out when the brake pedal is released and the clevis pin eventually falling out (Dennis and Julie Racine experienced this back in 2010 on track at Sonoma in a car I put together using an R clip on the Brake clevis. They drove most of the day with almost no brakes...
And I've also had it where the R clip prevented the brake pedal from returning fully-- this happened to me while I was driving cross country in my mini. It would be intermittent as the clevis rotated around.
I friggin hate using cotter pins, but my experience with the size R clips I've used has taught me to use cotter pins anyway.
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Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch
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Quite cheap, easy to install and will save. Your A$$ someday
Big AL
Niagara Ontario Canada
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If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.
Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.
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Putting the wheel back on and driving yourself to the ER is tough when you eyes are swelled shut and you have blood everywhere.
Trust me on that.
And the most important thing to never do is believe anything "the specialist" says, you could really do yourself or others damage listening to his advice/drivel.............................
Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch
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Putting the wheel back on and driving yourself to the ER is tough when you eyes are swelled shut and you have blood everywhere.
Trust me on that.
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This usually becomes a problem when you go to a tire shop and of course the "nut" is lost or back home
As a special precaution,carry a hard steel socket just slightly under sized for the lug nuts and with a hammer, drive the socket on over the lug nut
You will probably ruin the lug nuts but what choice do you have at this point
Big AL
Niagara Ontario Canada
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When installing the master cylinders use small R clips to hold the pins in place they are a lot easier to remove.
Don't over tighten the speedo cable at the gearbox end, a lot easier to remove when just nipped tight.
Use safety wire on the rod change coupler roll pins, loose one on the road and you will have no gears.
If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.
Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.
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After the One Lap of Australia, I wanted to take a look around my suspension & brake bits, so I jacked up the Mini, rounded up wood blocks from the garden (looking carefully first for Eastern Brown snakes...deadly bu..ers). Only to discover the Mini was floating...flitting with disaster. Steadied it with one hand while getting the jack underneath with the other.
The problem arose because I ignored the unsuitability of using an irregularly sloped, dual concrete strip drive.
Mini did not fall. Inspection was completed, wheels on & Mini down with relief.
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I simply ignore every post from you know who and focus on the rest.
hunter2
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"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."
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