Hasn't your tractor got ABS?.......... Just a small add-on to my previous "away from football" post - if you're not too bored.......... There are two catches (L&R) that keeps the C Class bonnet closed tight. When he was giving me a lift back, I mentioned in passing that the right hand bonnet catch wasn't gripping but wasn't too worried because the left was fine. He said he'd have a look when he'd finished sorting the braking system. When I picked up the car he said he hadn't started it because these bonnet lever/cable/latch mechanisms can be time consuming to remove and renew. Anyway, he'd have to order a new set from Mercedes and that wouldn't be cheap as there's probably no after market substitutes. I thought I'd have a look myself - was it the release lever, was it the single cable, twin cable section or was it the latch? The single cable from the bonnet release lever inside the car travelled through the bulkhead and converted through a sliding joint box into a double cable - one for the left catch and one for the right. The lever action was fine, the cable to the joint box was fine, and both twin cables were drawing each catch. The left catch was opening and closing but the right catch wasn't moving and wouldn't clamp on the bonnet when you closed it. The latch return spring was just stuck in the open position with some old congealed grease - WD40 to the rescue!!!! Soaked it, open and closed it manually a couple of dozen times and jobs a good 'un. Compared to Monday, that job cost me a couple of hours of my time @ £0 per hour and about 10p's worth of WD40..........
ABS. It does have split braking. There are two brake pedals that you can lock together. I leave them locked. By driving and, simultaneously braking one side, you can almost spin the tractor on the spot. I love it when you find an easy fix. Quite often, irritating issues are simple. It's diagnosing it is the problem. Well done on sorting it.
After Parkrun at Upton House this morning, we planned to go with our daughter and kiddiwinks to Monkey World. Stopped for Lottery ticket (we live in hope) and paper and noticed a screw in my rear tyre. I wouldn't risk a 40 mile round trip with that so have spent the last 2 1/2 hours driving around Poole (tyre fitting places seem to have an aversion to answering phones) to find someone who can deal with the tyre today. This included 3 Kwikfits, 2 Protyres, a National Tyres, Halfords and others. The first Kwikfit booked me in at 2.00 and that is where I am now, having got back there as nowhere else could get me in. Travelling home tomorrow so have to get done today. Monkey World cancelled for me and hope the tyre can be fixed rather than a new one fitted. At least I don't have to sneak out of Monkey World to avoid being detained as an escaping primate!!! I'm sure Mrs BfB, daughter and grand children will enjoy their day without me. I will just sit here watching score updates on my phone, waiting to see what Tinkerman Riza does with the team after last week.
To be fair, both are great places to visit.... (Or at least were the last time we went which was probably about 10 years ago). Mrs Brizzle and mother in-law not quite as impressed with the Tank Museum as myself and the father in-law were though....
Monkey World is lovely especially if you can time it when the chimps are running wild. Bit like going to away games in the 70's. My favourites are the orangutans. So peaceful and serene and apart from a couple born there, all rescues. They have 2 new ones only a few months old, both orphans. So sad but they will have the best life they can in a safe environment. I've not been to the tank museum for many years. Mrs BfB is not a fan but I will try to get there when in Poole in July. P.S. The Swan Sanctuary at Abbotsbury, just west of Weymouth is lovely as well. I have to point out that it is the home of dozens, if not hundreds, of large white feathered birds not disgruntled Jacks!!!
There were half a dozen tanks being transported, heading east, under escort, on the M4 at Swansea today. Thank goodness I was heading west. I wonder if they were new exhibits for the tank museum, or maybe to encircle our goal area tomorrow?
Tank museum in Dorset. Coming from testing range, Castle Martin I think. Lots of Ukranian tanks been there in last 2 years or so.
Cardiff City FC / Vincent Tan / Mehmet Dalman / Ken Choo........................ ........well you can't get much further "Away from football...."
My club trout water is only 10 mins from home, so I take rods made up ready. One spec for any car I buy is that a 10 foot rod must fit in made up. The Audi A4 ticks the box. So, I have a number of rods made up in the garage and I just grab the 2 I want based on conditions. Decided I needed a better way storing them, so bought a rod rack which I put up yesterday. Just need to sort the other 20+ rods that aren't 'in use'.
