My HPE....now a rolling recommission

[Nigel]

The HPE went for its final mandatory MOT early this morning.

It failed, he found the nearside rack boot had split, something
I probably wouldn't have spotted had I given it a going-over, which didn't happen
as I only checked my diary late last night!

I removed it to measure, and having exhausted local options I took a drive to Car Builders
and got their universal item. It's the type where you cut until the correct size of
flanges is reached. It's slightly too fat, but does the job.

Not easy, and dripping ATF gets everywhere. I think the other one is maybe do-able in situ,
but that would be even harder to get to.

Going forward, it makes sense to me to have an mot, perhaps biennial.

[peteracs]

Hi Nigel

Looks like we are working on the same thing, yours a little more successful than my progress. I have a spare boot should you feel the need to revisit it….

Peter

[Nigel]

Thanks Peter.
It'll last long enough for the retest on Tuesday afternoon, and it's only a dust
cover, no oil.
My only concern was the 2 concave washers on the oil fittings. They have a rubber lining
which seem to have survived the ordeal , no leaks so far.

It's fairly sure that the other one won't last long.

Nigel

[peteracs]

Interesting washer/seals those, they come flat washers and are pretty tough to bend by hand, so only way I found was to allow them the bend whilst tightening the bolts which is a bit hairy given the bolts are hollow and have a hole drilled through them. The spare rack I bought had a broken one in situ.

Peter

[Nigel]

Glad to read yours is good now Peter.

I forgot to say that I smothered those concave washers in Hylomar
which also held them in place, conveniently.

N

[WestonE]

They are called dowty washers if I understand what you mean and you can buy the easily in multi packs

[Nigel]

Thanks Eric, we learn new words all the time.

As they come flat, is it correct that the tightening action is used
to 'wrap' it around the rack surface?

N.

[Nigel]

During my numerous lengthy drives this year and last, I suffered
from cramp in my right leg. Not ideal on the M25 with no chance of stopping
for stretch relief.
I put this down to a short squab, not having any support for my knee.
I tried a Porsche seat which appeared to be suitable, but wasn't.

So, to the ideas section, and I came up with this.
I cut and shaped a piece of 4mm aluminium plate, sandwiched with dense foam
either side then carved to shape. I fitted a mounting bracket, a flat steel bar between
the front runner brackets for it to bolt to. I gave it a fairly long test run and the additional
support was very noticeable.

Then the obligatory matching cover made and fitted.

[peteracs]

Hi Nigel

Shame about the Porsche seats, but looks a neat solution to your problem. Nice one.

Peter