Bench Seats

   Since I got Degsy I used it for moving stuff about. Initially for my allotment tools and allotment related activities. Then for my mix of beekeeping and allotment. Then just for beekeeping. I built a shelf between the wheel arches to create a wide platform. This gave me a space under the shelf for a jerry can, deck chairs and tools like shovels, spades and forks.

   Life has moved on and Degsy has been retired from day to day duties. I now keep honeybees on a professional basis (Here is a link to my website) so Degsy works as my "Promotion vehicle".  It carries my equipment and stock for outdoor events. Last year I started doing "Experience days" where folks come out to my hives to looking inside at the honeybees. It occurred to me that the logistics to get the customer from the car park to the apiary (the place where the bees live) was a trifle awkward. It requires a five minute walk whilst I drive ahead with all the gear. Its not ideal. I decided what I needed was some with four wheel drive that seat several people. It took quite a while for the penny to drop. Why not convert the back of Degsy? I knew that there were Land Rover after market suppliers of bench seats. I priced them up, I needed two sets. I was surprised to find they were super cheap for brand new equipment. I order two sets and went off to Craddock's to collect them the very next day.

   The seats lived in the garage for a few weeks until I got time to spend on the refit. It is surprising how much stuff fits in the back of am 88" (short wheelbase) Land Rover. For once I decided to read the instructions first. They where no help. Landys come with slots and square cut outs in the rail at the top of the tub. Whatever I did I could not get the right combination of bracket and slot. My knees where aching by the time I sussed it out. Then it kind of fell into place. A tip for you...arrange the brackets so the dog legs face inwards on both seat uprights. The back of the seat is retained by the horns of the brackets locating into the slots in the rail. The feet on the bottom of the back rest are bolted to the wheel arch. Just beware of any wires that might be on the underside the wheel arch. Next to fit the seat base. It is hinged so it can be folded up. It was a bit fiddly getting the washer in between the seat back and seat base other wise it was straight forward enough. The seat bolster is secured to the seat base with two braided cotton tape which are tied to the frame of the seat back. Not sophisticated but it works. The last thing was to rivet the braided nylon with the hook on that retains the seat when it is folded up. Luckily the rivet gun was in the tool chest. A couple of squeezes and the rivet was set.

The I just had to do it all over again on the other side of the cab. One thing I had not envisaged was that the hi-lift jack (orange) would have to find somewhere else to live. It usually was strapped to the side wall at the top of the tub just where the back of the new seat rests. As luck would have it there is a space at the forward edge of the bench in front of the tub bulkhead. I even gave the tub a sweep out. I think a wash is needed though.

   Since it is MOT time I would go mad a shell out on a gasket for the rocker cover. I forgot to ask for the gasket when I collected the seats. As I was just about walk out the door I remembered. I did the walk of shame back to the spares desk to ask for the item. The chap got the item from stores and sent me on my way without having to pay. Apparently they are cheap as chip and could not be bothered to ring it up...kudos Craddocks.

   Final job, install the bulbs in the number plate light mount. The work of seconds. I put the replacement exhaust section in the back of Degsy so the mechanic can fit it before the MOT. (see previous post Getting-ready-for-mot-2017 ,otherwise Degsy is ready for his annual date with destiny.

         

MOT 2017

   I have had an intermittent problem with the rear near-side indicators for some time. For the smarty pants readers I know the indicators are supposed to go on and off. However they are supposed to flash when I select that indicator set rather than simply remain unlit.

   First job was to start Degsy. He has not been started for a week or more and we have had some cold weather. No surprise that he battery did not have enough oomph to get Degsy going. Luckily Degsy has as starting handle. A couple of swings and Degsy burbled into life. With Degsy ticking over enough to turn out the charging lamp I set about removing the brush guards covering the lamps and then the indicator lens. I figured there might be a wiring issue so I took off the inner plate that hides and protects the wiring on the back of the light cluster. Plenty of cobwebs behind the plate which means at least it dry in there. I got the indicator bulb out. The filament looked intact. I selected the indicators, I could hear the front indicator double timing. I put the black probe of the electrical tester on the earth tag and the red probe on the centre of the light fitting. The needle of the meter started moving in time to the indicator beat. So the issue was in the fitting or the bulb. The bulb looked fine so had a good look at the fitting. The copper tag looked a bit green and corroded so I used a scrape of emery paper to clean it up. I put the bulb back in.....nothing. I had a spare bulb (12v x 21watt), as you do, popped it in and it immediately it started being an indicator. So all that was required was to clean off the green mold from the leans and refit it. Refit the brush guard and inner panel. Job done. Just for fun I dismantled the off side indicator and cleaned up the contacts as I had done on the the near side. It was not as corroded as the near side lamp but at least it is clean now.

   I checked all the lights, now all the indicators were working. I thought the number plate lamp seemed a bit dull. I unscrewed the lamp cover only to find it was so filthy that it was a wonder any light got though the lens. I went inside and washed the lens with detergent and a scrubbing brush. It came up like new. I thought I would change the bulbs whilst I was there. However I did not have any spare bulbs of that type. I reassembled the lamp. Even in the daylight there is a milky glow over the number plate.

   The exhaust is blowing like mad. The rear joint of the intermediate section is the culprit. I examined exhaust pipe of the intermediate section to find it was rotten. I guess it has been on Degsy since day one, that is thirty odd years. I was going to reseal the offending joint. I thought I would just check how much a new mid section would cost. I thought it would not be much. £9 plus VAT. For once that is less than I thought. No sense in not replacing the old section with a new one. Another few quid for a a new set of nuts and bolts and its done for just over £15. I collected it whilst I was out meeting one of my customers. I will have the mechanics fit it when they do the MOT. A bit of a tidy up and wipe down of the interior and we are ready to go. Now where's the number for MOT test station? 

Back again!

   I have not posted for an age partly because Degsy has not needed anything but oil and water top ups but mainly because life has taken a dramatic change of direction and I lost the log in credentials for the blog....again. As you can see I have recovered that situation. I how earn my living keeping honeybees. You can find out about that by following the link to my website HERE. Never mind me...what of Degsy?

   Degsy has been reassigned duties. He is now my promotional vehicle. He makes guest appearances at the shows we attend throughout the year. I swear he gets more attention than my honey does. As for his health; well the last MOT was no trouble just a flaky earth to the rear nearside indicator. An easy fix. I replaced the rear leaf spring as the near side one was wearing out and causing Degsy to sag to one side in a most undignified way. Degsy got a wash too!

 Now I have got into my stride with the bee farming I hope to blog on a more regular basis.

Account and trailer

   I have not posted for age partly because Degsy has not needed anything but oil and water top ups but mainly because I lost the log in credentials for the blog. As you can see I recovered that situation.

   The major thing that happen on the blog holiday was that I had to sell the trailer. I had to give up the allotment and with that went the need to a trailer to move manure about. It was a sad day. The trailer and Degsy made a good team. I got what I paid for it so that was good.

MOT time again

   MOT time is coming round again so time to do those little jobs. The first and most obvious is the passenger side window wiper. The wiper arm is not holding onto the wiper spindle so it does not wipe. After a good deal of WD40 and pulling and shoving in managed to get the wiper arm off the spindle. Once I got the wiper arm in my hands I found out how it worked. There is a ferrule that slips over the wiper spindle. It has a belt that is supposed to secure the ferrule to the spindle. That was not happen in my case hence the lack of wiping action. I also find that the wiper arm just slipped onto the outside facets of the ferrule and had a spring clip to keep it in place. The job was simple enough to put the ferrule back on the spindle however this time taking care to put the securing bolt in a place it can be got at. Whomever had changed the wiper blades in the past put the bolt in a daft place so it could not be tightened up properly. After that the wiper arm was just slipped on the ferrule in the right position. A quick test to make sure the wiper swept the windscreen properly and it was done.

   The next job was very minor. When Degsy is ticking over very slowly the fan belt slips a little and make a low level screech. I figured the belt needs a extra bit of tension. That is not too surprising as I never adjusted it since the chassis was replaced and that was two or more years ago. I gave the three nut and bolts, that secure the alternator, a squirt of WF40. Whilst the WD was doing its job I found the correct size spanner, 1/2" and had a slurp of my brew. It was a bit of a job to loosen each of the bolts. They gave in after a short while. With the bolts loosened I use my long crow bar to create tension in the fan belt. With the tension on I pinched up the bolt holding the slide adjuster then pinched up the other two bolts. I started Degsy.....not a squeak from the pulleys.

   Last job was to check the oil. No surprise that the oil was short of the "high" mark. I measure out a pint from the gallon oil can and poured it into the oil top up pipe. Whilst the oil was draining from the oil jug I topped up the washer bottle. Another drop of tea for me, a tidy up of the tools and oil top up was complete. I put the cap back on the oil tube and all the jobs were down.

  Since it was the first dry day we had for ages I emptied out the back and gave it a sweep. It is all tidy again. Time to book in for the dreaded MOT. It should pass but you can never be complacent.

MOT passed

   The exhaust on Degsy has always needed attention. The mechanic chap decided enough was enough and suggested I get a new exhaust manifold since the studs could no longer be expected to keep the exhaust pipe from parting and blowing. Since a blowing exhaust affects the performance and efficiency of the engine and Degsy and my pocket needs all the help they can get in those areas I let the mechanic fit a new exhaust manifold.

   Degsy sounds quite different now, quite mainly. The nearside front wheel had a bit too much play in it. The mechanic shimmed it as a matter of course and sent Degsy off for the MOT. It passed first time with the usual notes on the side walls of the tyres. I shall have to have a hunt of ebay for a new set. Brand new ones are £100+ per corner.

   That makes me all legal for another year. So on the way home from picking Degsy up it starts to rain, I put on the wipers and within a few minutes the passenger side wiper stops working. Another job to do!

Ready for MOT?

   The last little jobs has been completed. It only took two minute to replace the broken windscreen washer pump with a new one. Predictably I put the wires on back to front so it sucked air and not pumped water. I simple swap of the wires on the terminals fixed the issue. There was lots of smeg pumped onto the windscreen as I ran the pump for the first time in an age. I don't usually have any outside jobs to do when it is raining so Degsy does not go anywhere that needs wipers.

   In had to take the dashboard off again to fit the indicator signal light back into its holders. The light flashed when the indicators flash but one could not see it.

  Now it just remains to book the MOT....gulp. It is always a worry as to whether it will pass. But now the oil leak has been fixed from the last MOT there should be fewer things to go wrong. I will have my fairly tame Land Rover mechanic give it a service before it goes in so it will in tip top condition for the emissions test.