Post by Brian M on Jan 31, 2009 22:23:54 GMT
From: Fleur (Original Message) Sent: 11/03/2005 18:55
We are getting married in May so are having to be careful with pennies. What could we do as a sensible diy service to our (78 or 79, can't remember which at moment)12/2 safari?. It is on axle stands, the wheels have been in the garage all winter, and it is wrapped up in its special cover.
We also need to buy new or second hand a full awning, as in spite of reproofing a leak (twice, properly)on the roof, it still drips badly in rain. Any ideas who to go to, or where there is a good second hand one?.
Thanks, Caroline, Steve and Fleur the greyhound.
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From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 11/03/2005 23:48
Caroline & Steve,
Happy to help so far as I can.
First, though, I like your choice of nickname and the apparent reason for it. As a fellow dog owner, and of a dog who had his behavioural problems in his adolescence (when owned by my then very elderly parents, who were past coping with what turned out to be a very wilful animal, and before I took him on) you remind me of the legend on a doormat that I greatly enjoyed at the time: "The Dog and his household management team live here".
Returning to Safaris, if you need it I have the Owner’s Maintenance Manual for the later Safaris, plus a copy of the corresponding instructions for the immediately previous models with the earlier braking system. I can get it if required, given a little notice, but it is in my "other" Safari which is in storage some little distance away.
Although I no longer do my own servicing, I am attaching an edited copy of the maintenance schedule that I used to use on my 1978 Safari. Much of it will be applicable to your ‘van.
In the case of brakes, because all these vans are now elderly - and you may well have wear in the linkage - I have made my own slight modifications to the manufacturer’s procedure, based on experience.
Since you say you have to count your pennies I am also outlining a division of the work into sections that reflect that priority.
Safety On The Road
This is essentially coupling, hubs & brakes, suspension, road wheels & tyres, vehicle lights and reflectors, body security.
When you see the attached file this looks a lot on paper, but it is probably less than a day’s work in total provided you don’t unearth any problems. More often than not, if the van is in anything like reasonable condition, you will not unearth any real nasties - although you will usually find things that need adjusting or cleaning or lubricating.
If you do unearth problems, well that is the reason for doing the inspections before the problems cause an accident ....
Safety On Site
Mains electrics (if fitted)
Gas safety. A simple leak test can be made by visual inspection, followed by using a cloth soaked in soapy water (or spray soapy water from an old plastic washing-up liquid bottle) and check for bubbles. A more sophisticated pressure test is possible if you have a Gas-Lo or similar system, or can borrow one for the test.
Be aware that there is a safety warning in respect of the steel gas pipe at the back of the fridge; it is in a prime position to develop rust once the original finish deteriorates with age and water drips onto it, and if it rusts through you have an uncontrolled gas leak in close proximity to a burning pilot jet !!! Well worth regular inspection, but unfortunately this does mean removing the fridge.
Smoke alarm needs to be working, and new battery for each season; fire extinguisher needs to be in date.
Hygiene of the fresh water system.
Long-Term Preventative Maintenance
This is primarily a matter of preventing damp getting in, and keeping the chassis free of rust, plus TLC to the paintwork and the interior. All of it is important, but since the processes are slow it can be done at your leisure, unless of course your inspection shows glaringly urgent problems.
Convenience and Reliability In Use
Just about anything else comes in here.
How much you do in pre-season servicing depends on how well you know your ‘van to be working, and how confident you feel to deal with system malfunctions while you are away.
Does it matter to you if the interior lights fail, or the oven doesn’t get properly hot, etc., etc., do you insist on making sure that these things are serviced before you set out, or are you reasonably sure that they are working properly and confident in your ability to sort them out if they do give trouble? That is very much a personal decision.
Hope this is helpful,
Oliver
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From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 11/03/2005 23:51
Caroline & Steve,
As a P.S., I can lend you an Isabella Combi awning for this season, complete with inner sleeping tent, if that is any help to you.
It is part way in size between a full awning and a porch awning, designed to be (just) large enough to sleep 2 adults in and with (just) room to get in and out of the 'van past the inner sleeping tent.
That might save you an outlay for this season.
Regards,
Oliver
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Recommend Delete Message 4 of 8 in Discussion
From: Brian Sent: 12/03/2005 07:22
This is me trying to "attach" Oliver's maintenance schedule.
Could someone let me know if they can download the pdf.
Thanks
Brian Miller
CaravanServicing1.pdf
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Recommend Delete Message 5 of 8 in Discussion
From: Fleur Sent: 12/03/2005 08:15
Wonderful stuff Oliver, thanks. Should be useful to a lot of people, methinks. I can open the attachment from Brians message, but don't seem able to save it. More later.
Caroline
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Recommend Delete Message 6 of 8 in Discussion
From: Fleur Sent: 12/03/2005 08:23
Brian, I have been able to save it as a shortcut to desktop, but not to my documents. Odd.
Caroline
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Recommend Delete Message 7 of 8 in Discussion
From: AlecGatherer Sent: 12/03/2005 09:33
Hi
Maintenance file downloaded, saved, printed AOK. Thanks to Oliver & Brian. Used Adobe Acrobat Reader.6. and saved as Word file.
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Recommend Delete Message 8 of 8 in Discussion
From: Scaniadriver72 Sent: 12/03/2005 18:09
Fluer (Woof) Caroline& Steve
We bought an awning on e-bay,but there are a few things to consider.
1 Distance from you, as you will probably have too collect.
2 Make sure of the size
3 Make sure the person selling has a good previous selling record
We bought one and went from Langholm to Grimsby to collect and it was still a bargain even with fuel used.Hope you get fixed up alright in time for the coming season
Regards Brian Mairi&David
We are getting married in May so are having to be careful with pennies. What could we do as a sensible diy service to our (78 or 79, can't remember which at moment)12/2 safari?. It is on axle stands, the wheels have been in the garage all winter, and it is wrapped up in its special cover.
We also need to buy new or second hand a full awning, as in spite of reproofing a leak (twice, properly)on the roof, it still drips badly in rain. Any ideas who to go to, or where there is a good second hand one?.
Thanks, Caroline, Steve and Fleur the greyhound.
First Previous 2-8 of 8 Next Last Delete Replies
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 2 of 8 in Discussion
From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 11/03/2005 23:48
Caroline & Steve,
Happy to help so far as I can.
First, though, I like your choice of nickname and the apparent reason for it. As a fellow dog owner, and of a dog who had his behavioural problems in his adolescence (when owned by my then very elderly parents, who were past coping with what turned out to be a very wilful animal, and before I took him on) you remind me of the legend on a doormat that I greatly enjoyed at the time: "The Dog and his household management team live here".
Returning to Safaris, if you need it I have the Owner’s Maintenance Manual for the later Safaris, plus a copy of the corresponding instructions for the immediately previous models with the earlier braking system. I can get it if required, given a little notice, but it is in my "other" Safari which is in storage some little distance away.
Although I no longer do my own servicing, I am attaching an edited copy of the maintenance schedule that I used to use on my 1978 Safari. Much of it will be applicable to your ‘van.
In the case of brakes, because all these vans are now elderly - and you may well have wear in the linkage - I have made my own slight modifications to the manufacturer’s procedure, based on experience.
Since you say you have to count your pennies I am also outlining a division of the work into sections that reflect that priority.
Safety On The Road
This is essentially coupling, hubs & brakes, suspension, road wheels & tyres, vehicle lights and reflectors, body security.
When you see the attached file this looks a lot on paper, but it is probably less than a day’s work in total provided you don’t unearth any problems. More often than not, if the van is in anything like reasonable condition, you will not unearth any real nasties - although you will usually find things that need adjusting or cleaning or lubricating.
If you do unearth problems, well that is the reason for doing the inspections before the problems cause an accident ....
Safety On Site
Mains electrics (if fitted)
Gas safety. A simple leak test can be made by visual inspection, followed by using a cloth soaked in soapy water (or spray soapy water from an old plastic washing-up liquid bottle) and check for bubbles. A more sophisticated pressure test is possible if you have a Gas-Lo or similar system, or can borrow one for the test.
Be aware that there is a safety warning in respect of the steel gas pipe at the back of the fridge; it is in a prime position to develop rust once the original finish deteriorates with age and water drips onto it, and if it rusts through you have an uncontrolled gas leak in close proximity to a burning pilot jet !!! Well worth regular inspection, but unfortunately this does mean removing the fridge.
Smoke alarm needs to be working, and new battery for each season; fire extinguisher needs to be in date.
Hygiene of the fresh water system.
Long-Term Preventative Maintenance
This is primarily a matter of preventing damp getting in, and keeping the chassis free of rust, plus TLC to the paintwork and the interior. All of it is important, but since the processes are slow it can be done at your leisure, unless of course your inspection shows glaringly urgent problems.
Convenience and Reliability In Use
Just about anything else comes in here.
How much you do in pre-season servicing depends on how well you know your ‘van to be working, and how confident you feel to deal with system malfunctions while you are away.
Does it matter to you if the interior lights fail, or the oven doesn’t get properly hot, etc., etc., do you insist on making sure that these things are serviced before you set out, or are you reasonably sure that they are working properly and confident in your ability to sort them out if they do give trouble? That is very much a personal decision.
Hope this is helpful,
Oliver
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 3 of 8 in Discussion
From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 11/03/2005 23:51
Caroline & Steve,
As a P.S., I can lend you an Isabella Combi awning for this season, complete with inner sleeping tent, if that is any help to you.
It is part way in size between a full awning and a porch awning, designed to be (just) large enough to sleep 2 adults in and with (just) room to get in and out of the 'van past the inner sleeping tent.
That might save you an outlay for this season.
Regards,
Oliver
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 4 of 8 in Discussion
From: Brian Sent: 12/03/2005 07:22
This is me trying to "attach" Oliver's maintenance schedule.
Could someone let me know if they can download the pdf.
Thanks
Brian Miller
CaravanServicing1.pdf
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 5 of 8 in Discussion
From: Fleur Sent: 12/03/2005 08:15
Wonderful stuff Oliver, thanks. Should be useful to a lot of people, methinks. I can open the attachment from Brians message, but don't seem able to save it. More later.
Caroline
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 6 of 8 in Discussion
From: Fleur Sent: 12/03/2005 08:23
Brian, I have been able to save it as a shortcut to desktop, but not to my documents. Odd.
Caroline
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 7 of 8 in Discussion
From: AlecGatherer Sent: 12/03/2005 09:33
Hi
Maintenance file downloaded, saved, printed AOK. Thanks to Oliver & Brian. Used Adobe Acrobat Reader.6. and saved as Word file.
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 8 of 8 in Discussion
From: Scaniadriver72 Sent: 12/03/2005 18:09
Fluer (Woof) Caroline& Steve
We bought an awning on e-bay,but there are a few things to consider.
1 Distance from you, as you will probably have too collect.
2 Make sure of the size
3 Make sure the person selling has a good previous selling record
We bought one and went from Langholm to Grimsby to collect and it was still a bargain even with fuel used.Hope you get fixed up alright in time for the coming season
Regards Brian Mairi&David