Dangers of the carwash

Now, I'm not much of a washer and polisher - my bike hasn't been washed in about 2 years (and I commute most days on it in all weathers) and our family car still sports the mud splatters from our October camping trip.

But after changing the banner photo of this blog, I realised Zedster was looking a bit of a state. So out with bucket and sponge and he was soon looking sparkling again (there's not actually much to clean). Now, this is where I went wrong - years ago, in a fit of madness, I washed my bike and it refused to start. I must have got water in a connector somewhere and, fortunately, it dried out by the next day and started OK. However, since then, I've got into the habit of going for a drive after a wash, to ensure everything's still OK and to speed up any drying out needed. Today was no different and so after the wash, I popped out for a refreshing blast.

But, disaster, despite the roads being dry and clear, my route down some back roads went past a farm and the tractor had obviously been out - I got splattered:

So, after no wash for 3 months, Zedster got 2 in a day (even I couldn't leave it like that). Next time, I'll stick to main roads only for my post-wash drive.

Softbits have finally admitted they made a mistake with my roof, so the correct one is under construction.

A couple of cold commutes to work made me re-think my outfit. I've got a new, down-filled jacket which is amazingly light and warm but my head is frozen. However, while following my daughter round Primark, I spotted a deerstalker and it felt amazingly warm, although it looks a bit stupid, to be honest. But for £5, it's amazing and my first trip out in it today was a revelation - toasty and warm - genius!

Despite the mud splatter, my short drive out was great fun and I'm not sure why, but Zedster is sounding great at the moment. I don't know if something has actually changed (and I might do a check for exhaust leaks) or if I've just not noticed before but there's a lovely bass note to the exhaust which sounds great at anything above idle.

Hoping this isn't the kiss of death but kit car life is good right now...

Exhausted

The correct bolts arrived so I was able to tighten up the manifold - next the silencer.

I cut two 10mm slots in the silencer end, opposite each other,  to get it to fit over the manifold end. Judicial use of a rubber mallet and my 42mm socket (don't ask) helped spread that end of the silencer to allow it to slip over the manifold end.

Then,  a minor panic - the exhaust end didn't get anywhere near the support bracket - about an inch to the right and too high as well. I could pull the can out the required inch but there was no way to push the end down more than a mm or so.

A thread on the GBS forum panicked me more when Simon started suggesting I might have fitted the engine too high!! Visions of having to take the engine out spurred me on to look at it again and,  thankfully,  I discovered  the problem.

I had angled the silencer pipe down 45deg, thinking to direct fumes away from my passengers. However,  simply rotating the silencer so that the exit pipe was horizontal lowered the end of the can perfectly. I had to still pull the whole thing out an inch but I think that will be OK.

So, with today being one of the hottest of the year (about 30degC in my garage) and me dripping with sweat,  I am both literally and metaphorically exhausted:
 

Also,  a bit of bling:

 

Exhausting

The exhaust arrived mid-week but I had forgotten about the gasket so that only arrived today:

(I do have the can as well :-) ) 

All excited,  I tried to fit the manifold but came across the usual problem - bolts! I planned to use the original manifold bolts that came off the engine but they seem to be mm too long - I have to order some:

Minor job was to tidy up the headlamp wiring,  covering with loom tape and then rubber conduit.

I also made the hole in the top tunnel panel for the gear lever and decided to experiment with using the vinyl covering. I started with the small,  rear tunnel piece as it is much less visible. Lucky I did because,  suffice to say,  I'm never going to have a career as an upholsterer:

Looks OK from a distance but will have to do better with the main piece. By the way,  the vinyl is supposed to look mottled - fake alacantra/leather look.