Aidan's tip of the week

Aidan_M_M · 07-05-2011 11:03PM

another thing on 2007 on vans , I had a real pain-in-the-h0le withone the other week... there's a screw on the plastic shield on the underside of the bonnet . Oh , such an innocent looking little thing......

guess what happens when this screw loosens... and falls out? It falls straight into the bonnet catch! and wedges it , so the bonnet pull doesn't work....:eek:

I had to remove the headlight , with the bonnet closed , which is almost impossible , and had to make a special bar to reach across the front and bully the bonnet catch open . What a mother-trucking horrible job....

WildWater · 07-05-2011 11:18PM

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

I had to remove the headlight , with the bonnet closed , which is almost impossible

Did you use a hammer?

Aidan_M_M · 07-05-2011 11:23PM

at one stage I was tempted...:D

Malta1 · 08-05-2011 08:57PM

ya see if ya were a decent mechanic, ya wouldnt loose the screw

Bet the Fiat boys wouldnt loose it

OK now going to hide

Aidan_M_M · 08-05-2011 09:26PM

Funny man! lol .. accusing me of being a good mechanic? How dare you! haha

Oh I didn't take it out! A customer just reported that the bonnet pull wasn't working , simple sez I , probably just the cable off of the pull handle... huh. As if I'd be so lucky.

Buford T Justice · 08-05-2011 09:59PM

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

simple sez I , probably just the cable off of the pull handle...

Lol, famous last words right there.

Aidan_M_M · 15-05-2011 11:11AM

simple one today , any time you take a screw out of the body of the camper , to replace something or to fit an extra , always use Stainless steel screws . Ordinary ones , even galvanised ones , will rust , rot , and let in water .

sunchaser · 16-05-2011 03:22PM

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

simple one today , any time you take a screw out of the body of the camper , to replace something or to fit an extra , always use Stainless steel screws . Ordinary ones , even galvanised ones , will rust , rot , and let in water .

Always put in some mastic into the hole before you put in the stainless screw. Do not use silacone !!!!!!!!!!!

Aidan_M_M · 18-05-2011 12:03AM

I use Wurth Bond 'n Seal , it's never failed me . Or if I'm out of it , Sikalex 221 or 710 , dependant on application .

Buford T Justice · 01-06-2011 07:23PM

Just to let everyone know that i was chatting to Aidan_M_M earlier and be asked me to pass on that he's a bit over worked and under the weather at the moment. To top it all his broadband is giving him gip , so he's not getting online at the moment. he said if anyone needs anything just to ring the garage. ttfn.

stapeler · 01-06-2011 11:24PM

How about a Finger's tip of the week so

Buford T Justice · 02-06-2011 12:43AM

Ummm *blush* let me think.... ok.

When it comes to wiring, please never ever use regular insulating tape to tape up joints. It will perish and fail over time, and the adhesive tends to leave from the back of the tape.

If at all, you should solder the joint and use heat shrink sleeving over them

or at the very least use scotchlocks.

Howzat!

stapeler · 02-06-2011 09:48AM

Aidan is out of a job:D

Buford T Justice · 02-06-2011 01:35PM

Hardly.....

Any info I have is from a build perspective and maybe a little mechanical maintenance.

General maintenance isn't my bag as of yet. Not had a working camper for long enough to have to maintain it yet.....

yet......

Aidan_M_M · 04-06-2011 12:10AM

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Ummm *blush* let me think.... ok.

When it comes to wiring, please never ever use regular insulating tape to tape up joints. It will perish and fail over time, and the adhesive tends to leave from the back of the tape.

If at all, you should solder the joint and use heat shrink sleeving over them

or at the very least use scotchlocks.

Howzat!

Only use Scotch loks as a Last Resort , auto electricians and mechanics detest them! They are a low amperage unit . And NEVER use them where they are exposed to the elements..

Re the insulating tape , good point that , I try use Self Amalgamating tape where possible . Or crimp connectors with heat shrink on them .

stapeler wrote: »

Aidan is out of a job:D

Sound!! I'm overdue a Holiday!

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Hardly.....

Any info I have is from a build perspective and maybe a little mechanical maintenance.

General maintenance isn't my bag as of yet. Not had a working camper for long enough to have to maintain it yet.....

yet......

Hey , no need for modesty , you've done yourself proud so far!

Aidan_M_M · 04-06-2011 12:14AM

Fiat have released a re-call on some of the new and nearly Ducatos , the Bell Housing bolts apparently aren't all torqued up correctly . Now I don't mean to be a scare-mongerer , but if you have a Ducato from late 2009 on , might be no harm to have a check of them . They're all 19mm , regular head bolts , top ones a bit awkward tbh , lower ones quite easy . I checked one the other day , and it was wound out to the point of falling out!

Aidan_M_M · 04-06-2011 12:19AM

Most of you have Awnings on your 'vans? I usually seal them to the side of the camper body , with ordinary cheapo Silicone Mastic . NOTE : This is only along the top edge, you MUST use proper sealer e.g. Sikaflex/Wurth etc on the actual Awning brackets!!

There are proprietary awning seals, which are a strip of rubber , I prefer to use the mastic as it gives a little extra strength to the Awning mount to the body , which helps prevent the awning getting bent in windy conditions.

The main reason for sealing however , is that the water off the roof won't flow down between the awning and the 'van sidewall , making it easier to keep the area under the Awning clean.

Aidan_M_M · 08-06-2011 11:14PM

Everyone serious about camping , and who likes to do a bit of maintenance ,needs one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/SkyTronic-Compact-Digital-Multitester-Display/dp/B000L0OHIK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307571121&sr=8-2

helps you check if your battery is charging or has a drain , power points are working , and if fuses or bulbs are blown . I use mine every single working day .

noel farrell · 10-06-2011 09:40AM

aiden whats your take on hooking up extra leisure batteries my moviletta driver had 3 the were fitted when i got it the worked well. my latest camper is a aderia coral it has one with an inverter with the weather i cant test it to full . i have a 15 in flat tv and free to air box . most places i stay have hook up this year due to down turn in my work i have lots of time to use camper and hope to stop in some safe nights stopover and wild camping that wont have hook up . i hope to get a small solar panel to help top up when we have sun .not looking extra long drain time as i move every two days or so. thanks noel

Aidan_M_M · 11-06-2011 12:26AM

You don't need 2 leisure batteries if you're moving that often . Unless you're powering stuff off of a high power inverter .Re Solar panels , anything less than 60 watt is a waste of time .

batteries are one thing , but people forget that the charging system is put under a lot of pressure . Take when the batteries are down low , that's a whole lot of amps going through a single fuse holder , and moderate sized cable.

noel farrell · 11-06-2011 08:23AM

thanks for the tip i have a small jenny not suitable some places it can be noisy and needs fuel fairly often . thanks aidan for the advise will stick my with my leisure battery should get by keep the tips coming

cipro 55 · 14-06-2011 11:35AM

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

Everyone serious about camping , and who likes to do a bit of maintenance ,needs one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/SkyTronic-Compact-Digital-Multitester-Display/dp/B000L0OHIK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307571121&sr=8-2

helps you check if your battery is charging or has a drain , power points are working , and if fuses or bulbs are blown . I use mine every single working day .

Hi Aidan, I tried to order this and was told they don't deliver to Ireland.

Anyone else manage to get one or am i doing something wrong,

Buford T Justice · 14-06-2011 12:29PM

There's some stuff there that they won't deliver to Ireland for some reason.

Use ebay and it'll dispense with that nonsense.

http://shop.ebay.ie/?_from=R40&_trksid=m570&_nkw=multi+meter

My one is an ex-eircom one, made by RS. Class job. Never let me down yet and it can also measure amps. Would have been good if it had capacitance on it though.... Still.....

Aidan_M_M · 14-06-2011 12:34PM

sorry lads , I only posted that as a reference , You'd get them from any good motorfactors or Maplins etc .

cipro 55 · 14-06-2011 05:00PM

Thanks Lads, Got the small one Aidan recommeded on Ebay same price.

Delivery no prob.:):):)

Buford T Justice · 14-06-2011 05:02PM

cipro 55 wrote: »

Thanks Lads, Got the small one Aidan recommeded on Ebay same price.

Delivery on prob.:):):)

All you need now is to learn how to use it.....;)

cipro 55 · 14-06-2011 05:18PM

Never to old to learn Fingers :rolleyes::rolleyes:.

Aidan_M_M · 14-06-2011 11:21PM

All you ever need 99% of the time is the 20v DC setting , the 500v AC setting , and the Continuity check , and the very odd time , the 10amp dc setting.

Aidan_M_M · 16-06-2011 12:05AM

The water pipes around your camper , they normally all run into a manifold or a bunch of tee pieces near the Boiler . After a few years of use , the pipes sometimes have softened a bit , especially the Hot pipes . You'd have a small leak the odd time that you wouldn't barely notice. It's good practise to give the Hose clips a squeeze if you can get into them. If they're turned so that you can't get a screwdriver to them , 99.% of the time you can tighten them with either a 6mm or 7mm spanner.

Aidan_M_M · 03-07-2011 03:38AM

most of ye have Truma heaters in your motorhomes , right? They generally have one of these

remote room temperature sensors fitted , often in the furniture over the door or beside the switch panel . The centre of it pops off , and you should wipe it out with a fine cloth or a wee blast of air . Keeps the thermostat more "honest" .

Aidan's tip of the week

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