Staying Safe at a Party - Tutorial Session - Thursday 11th December 2014

This post has been more than a little late in being entered, however having regained consciousness from a party I don't remember leaving yesterday, I now find myself with the perfect opportunity, having "at least" another 18 hours in which to "fill in" some time (including packing) and further exercise and rest!  Providing I make it for the Carol Service and Midnight Mass later tonight (Christmas Eve) I should be just fine! 

AA Automotive Christmas Party
(In the Beginning....)
Tuesday 23rd December 2014

Like many other people, I do enjoy a few drinks of the alcoholic variety - even more so whilst gathered in friendly company of like-minded folk at a party or other social union.  Some people don't feel the need to drink at all, which is highly admirable, whilst others (like myself) just cannot help but "let rip"!

On the serious side of the matter there are of course "serious issues" which need to be considered.  Bearing in mind that this time last year my arm was also in a plaster cast, which prevented my bi-annual migration - hmm, these would also include the absolute requirement of not driving whilst intoxicated (to include a suitable period of time thereafter), and maintaining a watchful eye on your beverage of choice (and its' container thereof) for the unscrupulous practice of "spiking".  There are also longer term health issues associated with prolonged exposure to high alcohol consumption levels - however the adoption of a sensible approach to the matter (such as "moderation" in all, and eating before drinking) would be generally sufficient I think.

#1 Uh-Oh - Avoid Following Instructions
Printed on a Tee-Shirt!

There are also a few other practices to avoid (wherever possible) in order to stay safer at a party.......  

Too Late!

#2 - Avoid mixing drink types!

#3 -Avoid challenges such
as Jaeger Bombs
(Incoming!!!!)

....... and also try to drink as much water as possible (which I am still doing now) to avoid dehydration.  

With all said and done - do remember to have fun though.... 

Happy Chjrishtmas!

.......and in the Ending )

"Bongo Down" - Coolant Leak - Tue/Wed 16th/17th December 2014

Top Radiator Hose
Leak

Have Tools
Have Knowledge
Have Confidence - Check!
(Good Hand)!

After a very enjoyable day at College on Monday, assisting Julian Jones with Workshop 3 pre-standown preparations, and undertaking tasks such as checking tool trolley's and providing pin-outs' on the resident Volvo S40, all was going swimmingly!  Off to work I went, did my shift and then headed off to Asda for a resupply of moo-juice.  I arrived in the car park accompanied by a big "hiss", and clouds of steam emanating from under the bonnet - not the best entrance I have ever made!  I was unable to determine the precise location of the problem at the time, due to poor light visibility, however my shopping list rapidly grew to include 5 litres of still water in order to get me home!  

With nothing brighter than a wind-up torch and a fading will to stay awake, I duly sent an e-mail to Carl Roberts to notify him that I would not be in College the following day.  My priority had to remain with finding an alternative means of getting to work the following day, and with further investigation in daylight, sourcing the replacement parts first and foremost.  I remained confident throughout, not only because I now had suitable tools again, but also the knowledge and confidence to be able to tackle the fault regardless!

Tuesday 16th December 2014

Hose sliced for ease
of removal

Draining Radiator from Bottom Hose
and Flushing with Fresh Water

In the clear light of "First Thing" Tuesday morning, and having removed the top air intake ducting, the fault became apparent after a few squeezes of the various likely hoses.  I was straight on the blower to my Bongo specialist in Surrey - "Top radiator hose please - fast as you can"! (Genuine replacement part, Next Day Before 1 pm - £32 incl postage), I was happy with that - especially considering I'm off to Norfolk for the bi-annual "Davey Migration" next week!  In the knowledge of the part not arriving until the following day, I then proceeded to make as much progress in advance as possible.  

COSHH Zone

I drained the radiator into a suitable container, by disconnecting the bottom hose, and then flushed the radiator through with fresh water to get as many deposits and residues out as possible. 


With the radiator drained and the bottom hose reconnected, I then set off on foot with a 5 litre container to AA Automotive Services in Pentre, in order to try and obtain some assistance in obtaining some antifreeze.  Andy Kirby is an absolute "diamond" of a fella! - not only did he "gift" me 5 litres of the Pink Stuff, but he also gave me a lift back home in a 2.7 litre Mercedes he was about to test drive - which didn't take long at all (thank you so "very" much again Andy)!  With as much done as possible it was then on the phone to the Deeside Shuttle to arrange transport into work later that evening - lift home also priorly sorted.


Wednesday 17th December 2014

Coolant System
Bleeder Hose
Mazda Bongo/Ford Freda

Ha Ha!
Call that a Funnel?!
Hot Hot Hot!

The replacement hose arrived at 1230 hrs and I was already prepared and kitted up for the job at hand. The Bongo Coolant System contains 13 Litres (which is a lot), and I made up a 10 Litre 50/50 mix in a bucket accordingly (which transpired to be "just enough").  The method of bleeding out the air in a Bongo Coolant system is "unique", and I attach a YouTube video below to more fully explain.  The Mazda Bongo/Ford Freda, is fitted with an additional coolant "bleeding hose" (usually sealed at the far end) and situated beneath the passenger seat, and is connected at the other end to the top of the engine block on the nearside.  The process is described (both on the video and also within the "Official" Workshop Manual), as "Sea-Sawing" (You will have to view to fully understand)!  Not an easy operation to undertake on your own, but thankfully I had my lodger on hand to assist with monitoring header tank levels, whilst I "Sea-Sawed" and operated the throttle to get the system up to operating temperature, and the thermostat to subsequently function accordingly!! (Incidentally - anyone who introduces themselves as "Master Bongo" (Video Part 1 Omitted for embarrassment reasons) needs to be treated with extreme caution)!  Clearly the funnel I had to hand to undertake the operation was "minute" by comparison - and yes - it was hot work, but as Steve Leonard aptly says - "approach Storeman and respectfully request a Can of Man-Up"!

Thank you to "all" who have provided me with the confidence and skills to undertake such operations, and to "all" who have provided me with the resources and kindred support of the above endeavors thereof!!  Merry Christmas One and All!!

The Garage - Friday 6th December 2014

Old Sensor - Job 1

New Sensor - Job 1

Another busy day was had at AA Automotive today.  Having completed the obligatory round of brews to lubricate everyone to operating temperature, I was assigned to Ramp 2 to undertake the R&R of a Post-Cat Lambda Sensor.  Access was straight forward and the replacement part was also to hand - Nice steady one to kick off with and completed confidently using the specialist sockets provided.  The car was subsequently connected to an Autel Diagnostics Scanner to verify fault cleared, and then taken for a test drive by the Master Tech to ensure performance under load.  Happy Days!

Autel Diagnostics
Scanner

Job No2 was also another Lambda Sensor but was Pre-Cat this time, and a little harder to access due to a protective shroud around the connector point.  After much fiddling and contortion I managed to finally disconnect the sensor and then remove as planned.  Upon comparing the old sensor to the replacement I noticed a significant difference in the probe size, although all the wiring colours were the same.  Having verified with the Master Tech that this was OK the refitting process was completed with relative ease.  Again the scanner was connected and the fault cleared and re-run - job done again.




My third Solo Task was an Oil and Filter Change on a Nissan Micra, accompanied by a few fluid level adjustments and a tyre pressure check.  This task went well and was only interrupted by the dinner bell.  With my tasks completed I then undertook a bit of housekeeping and generally assisted where needed.  My final task before heading off to work was to assist in the man-handling of a motor home into the workshop assisted by Dan and Dave, whilst the Master Tech took care of the steering.  By the time we had got into the workshop we were all huffing and puffing (less the Master Tech).  Myself and Dan disengaged from pushing, just moments before the Master Tech applied the brakes "very firmly", leaving Dave sliding down the back of the vehicle and into a crumpled heap on the floor!  Another very interesting, challenging and entertaining day and thank you all again!

Tutorial Session - Money Management - Thursday 4th December 2014

Managing Money is a big responsibility and an important life skill to be mastered from an early an age as possible.  I started managing my own money at the age of 16 and learnt the basics from my Mum, who is a "Black Belt" 5th Dan on the subject!  The key points to understand are "Income" and "Outgoings" and that the Income should always exceed the latter, if you are to ever have any "Disposable Income" to provide for lifes' pleasures, hobbies, past times or other habits that may be acquired along the path.  I would also personally recommend that you avoid having  a Joint Bank Account if at all possible.  Life is hard enough accounting for your own spending, let alone someone elses (especially if they are not contributing either)! 

The maintenance of a budgeting tool, such as a Ledger (which can be either manually written, or nowadays via a spreadsheet) is probably the best tool for anyone to have in their box, in order to maintain a close eye on income and expenditure.  I prepare mine for the following month during the last week of the preceding month, in order to calculate ahead and spot any shortfalls (or surpluses) well in advance.  Depending on the employment anyone has, the employer's salary payment schedule will also affect how you should budget and plan ahead.

I spent my entire working life, up until 2005 being paid on a monthly basis, so I always arranged with my bank to ensure that all of my Direct Debits were deducted on the first working day of the following month.  What was left I then divided up into even weekly amounts with which to provide for daily motoring and sustainment costs etc, and what was left after that was down to me to decide how to spend or invest accordingly.  After 2005 I moved to a weekly salary payment schedule which required me to re-arrange my Direct Debits with the Bank in order to spread the costs throughout the month according to the weekly pay day. Council Tax can now be arranged to be collected weekly for instance, which is something else that should be considered when planning a budget.  It is vitally important to keep in touch with your bank and all of your creditors, who are usually more than happy to accommodate for such changes of individual circumstances.

Another useful practice is the maintenance of a folder in which to keep all bills and statements in a logically indexed format.  This will aid in the retrieval of useful information when required to query a bill payment, or perhaps quote a unique account number when required to contact a creditor and confirm individual identity.  The keeping of receipts is also another useful practice, not only in terms of double checking the ledger for expenditure, but also as evidence of purchase in the event of discovering a faulty or defective product.

It is important to also realise that there are numerous organisations available to consult in the event of things going "Pear Shaped" regarding out of control debt.  I recently required the services of one such Debt Management company, after the collapse of my last relationship, which could have cost me my house had I chosen to ignore the warning signs. The most important advice I could give anyone who may encounter such problems in the future is: "Don't Panic but Don't Ignore it".  The sooner you speak to the bank and your creditors, the sooner the situation can be handled and managed accordingly.  In the event of the Creditors or Bank not appearing to be very interested, then you also have the option of speaking to the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), who do a fantastic job of finding you the right help - and free of charge.  They were able to refer me to a Licensed Debt Management Company who stepped in and contacted all parties concerned, negotiated realistic and affordable future re-payments, and became a sole point of payment contact regarding the outstanding debts.  Take heart - Not flight!

https://stepchange.org/
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
  

David Catling Does Blue Peter - Thursday 4th December 2014

Destruction Sheet

Today was a gem of a day!  It is always refreshing to do something "off of the cuff", and David Catling provided us all with a proper treat! After parking our manifested backsides in Room E211 and duly unpacking and preparing for a scheduled Theory Session, David then went on to produce a box of tricks containing numerous bits of wiring, magnets, an electric drill and various other assorted components that would have easily attracted the interests of any MI6 operative, had they been present!

Rather than undertake our normal theory session, we were instead all informed that we would be going into the Workshop downstairs in order to construct some improvised motors.  This proved an excellent exercise, which resulted in all of us later leaving with a much clearer understanding of the basic operating principals of electro-magnetism.  I also, for the first time in a long time, felt happily like a bit of a child again - experimenting and having fun, whilst not taking life too seriously?!

We were grouped into teams of 3's and a 2 (myself and Peter Bland being the duo).  Each team was given a destruction sheet, 3 corks, 2 magnets, 2 large split pins, a small "matchbox" sized block of wood and another larger plate of wood with which to form a base plate.  We each also had to cut to size a section of steel rod to use as a spindle, and 3 lengths of electrical wire (2m for a rotor winding and 2 shorter pieces for the rotor brushes).  We also had the obligatory "tin foil" and some "sticky" insulation tape (but we didn't have any toilet roll tubes, as if we had, I would have also known how to make a powerful set of binoculars)!

Not "quite" 

Windings attached

We had 2 hours in which to construct our motors, at the end of which each model would be hooked up to David's "life giving" device to see if any did in fact rotate, as was eagerly anticipated by all!  We were required to drill a horizontal 5 mm hole through the length of the matchbox block, through which our spindle could then be inserted.  Having utilised a workshop pillar drill for this purpose, I still found that my horizontal was bordering on the diagonal (but hey-ho: it was within operational tolerances)!  We then had to counter-sink two 5mm holes into either end of the base plate, into which would then sit the split pins in order to provide the support and bearings for either end of the spindle, and its' centralised rotor.

Only time it rotated!

With approximately 30 minutes left of the session, all of the teams had cobbled together their respective interpretations of the provided destructions ready to be tested.  David's "life giving device" was duly connected to model #1 and ........ nothing!  However it was keenly observed that the power device wasn't registering output voltage!  The fuse was duly checked and joyfully proved as "officially blown"!  With hopes restored and no spare fuse, it was time to bring out a 12v car battery - to hell with it all!  After a further non-positive test of #1, our model was second up - and subsequently provided a few "pretty sparks" at the brushes - but not much else I have to say!!

"Genesis MkI"
Richard Branson Watch Out!

Disappointed we were not!  Deffinately a design flaw with the brushes - that is all - and we all formally request further modification time and a re-run accordingly!  One model did in fact run (with the assistance of Isaac providing a "human electrical contact" of the brushes) - what more can be said?!

All models presented had the ability to run, and with further modification time, will do so fantastically.  Maybe before Christmas?  Fantastic day and thoroughly enjoyed - Thank you David!  Deeside Power Station beware - Let the Tree Lights flicker throughout Flintshire and beyond!!

Working With Others L3 - Team ATV Task Monday 1st December 2014

Under the Bonnet Checking Fluid Levels

Part of our course is dedicated to completing work towards an element entitled Working With Others (WWO).  Since November we have been split into 3 teams on a Monday morning, ours being called Team ATV.  The purpose is to prepare students in the art of communication and organisation, by undertaking meetings and taking minutes etc, in order to prepare for organising a complex event requiring multiple tasks and group coordination/cooperation.  Today was the Grand Finale in terms of all our preparations, as it was the undertaking of the event itself - a Winter Service with Oil and Filter Change, and a 4 Wheel Alignment on a Mazda Bongo 2.5TD (very much identical to my own as it happens)!  The task was split across 2 workshops with the service taking part in Workshop A/B and the alignment in Workshop 3.  Jamie and Isaac worked together well, in fact I think we "all" worked together well, achieving all the objectives we set ourselves, although elements of coordinating communications required a bit more polishing.

Draining the Oil

The service went well and a couple of minor issues regarding track rod end boots and suspension arm boots were validly raised and recorded on the Service Sheet sourced by Jamie Jackson.  Having nearly a year before my next MOT it was duly noted for 2015 to budget into schedule. 

Having heard of a delay in Workshop 3 regarding access to the wheel aligner, the pace of events were duly relaxed in order to aim off accordingly.  After returning from lunch it was into Workshop 3 and onto the Wheel Aligner.  Our first issue was trying to locate the Make and Model within the Aligner's memory bank.  As the vehicle is a Japanese Import, its' details do not appear on Autodata either, so Carl Black was on hand to manually select a suitable vehicle and alter the Toe and Camber settings, according to

Alignment Confirmed

a Workshop Manual I had brought in with me. With all systems go - all readings returned "green figures", so no adjustments were actually required.  This was due mostly to the fact that I had replaced the Steering Rack earlier in the year, under the watchful guidance of Andy Kirby at AA Automotive, who also assisted with his budget alignment equipment (which appears to be just as accurate).  A very enjoyable and satisfying day indeed.  All that remains to complete this task is the completion of all of our WWO Level 3 Workbooks, which are currently underway also. Thank you very much Isaac and Jamie - Good Job completed to standard and on time!  Thanks also to the understanding and pre-emptive Staff in terms of ensuring all the facilities and tools were available in time also!