RE: UNauthorized Hyd. Pump Rebuild

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <BBF46448A508D2118CCA00805F156E93538467@xch-cpc-01> "Lewis, Gary M" writes:

> Like the Unauthorized Headliner "repair", an instant classic.

Indeed.  I wish I had the wit and control of language to describe
Roger Galvin's face last Saturday evening.

The lad had had a bad week.  The white (1984) ur-quattro continues to
rattle and blow from the exhaust like a good 'un, and attracts attention
whenever it's driven down a street.  The Coupe quattro (Lesley's car)
was damaged when Roger drove it too quickly for its brake pads and was
forced to take a detour into the scenery to avoid another car.
Shattered the side of the main radiator.  A moment's inattention put the
200TQ into the back of a Golf in Stevenage, and the pearl white (1988)
ur-quattro had a screaming wheel bearing.  So far, so good.

So he fixed the front of the 200TQ, and drove a bunch of Koreans around
the UK, covering 750 miles.  When he got back, the 200 thoughtfully
dumped its coolant outside the house.

The phone call I received was pitiful in the extreme.  The more so,
because I was unable to help for a few hours because of complex family
commitments.  I made it to Lutterworth at around 17:00.

The 200TQ was drawn up diagonally, half inside and half outside the
garage.  The front was largely missing, and the rebuild phase (new
water pump and belt, etc.) was about to begin.  So I joined in.

Uneventful, apart from my comment about assuring TDC on major
components.  This was waved away with: "I haven't disturbed anything."
Fine.  Two hours later, we're ready to turn the key.

The noise that resulted was what might be heard in the anchor chain
locker of a large battleship.  It bounced off the walls, deafening us,
frightening the cat, waking the kids and bringing Lesley out to wonder
(above the noise - frighteningly) just _exactly_ what was going on.

Roger's face at that moment (having ducked out from the TDC check) was
indescribable.

Turned out to be the cambelt cover backing plate not being secured
properly.  That'll teach the bugger - he'll check TDC _next_ time!!

--
 Phil Payne
 Phone: 0385 302803   Fax: 01536 723021
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