As I reported elsewhere I had finished installing the new stainless cooling and heating pipes. the engine had been run until warm and all the air was out of the system. But the weather had been bad, so after just a few short trips the car sat for a few weeks.
Then just before Chistmas I decided to take advantage of a sunny day and go for a ride. Turned the egnition key and it cranked a few times, sputtered but had too much choker. Second attempt didn't quite catch either. Third attempt...... nothing. The electric fuel pump buzzed, the lights worked, battery was ok, but not a sound from the starter or selenoid.
So I had to go to work in a dinky, tiny Suzuki.
After Christmas I checked the starter switch, which was OK, so I jacked up the car and checked the wireing to the selenoid. It turned out to be a loose wire and a simple fix.
So I took the car out for a ride only to discover that it fogged up because the blower now didn't work. (It had been fine the previous time I drove the car)
Diagnostics of the circuit to the blower proved that power was Ok up to the compartment with the blower. So the blower had to come out. This happened this past weekend and it turned out that one of the brushes was stuck in grime and the commutator was burnt.
So I threw the motor end with the brushes into my ultrasound bath and cleaned it out good, then soaked the bearing in oil. While it was cleaning I clamped the motor shaft into drill stand and touched up the commutator with a fine file, followed by some polishing cloth. cleaned the groves between the contacts and assembled the motor. It now worked like a charm.
Took the opportunity to make a template of the cover plate for the blower compartment for a future stainless steel replacement
but also painted the original with Hammerite.
Now assembled you would think I was ready to roll. Alas. as I refilled the sprinkler container, fluid leaked out the bottom around the rubber grommet holding the motor to the tank.
So, while I try to figure out how to fix this without destroying tank or motor by prying it free (the rubber is not very pliable anymore) the car sits, nearly ready to roll.
Oh well. It is snowing outside anyway and the roads are covered and slick. I would not drive it anyway until it is gone, so where did I put my sleigh. and did I feed the reindeer?? Gotta go check.
Happy New year everyone. I hope you enjoy your cars too.