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[bedouin]

My round Smiths heater sprung a leak took it out this morning stripped it down in the shed but how can you get inside the coils ? is it possible or can it not be fixed

[Craig T]

The Smiths heater core is a sealed (soldered) unit and can't be taken apart any more than you have.
One of my future jobs is to remove the centre of the old core leaving the outside intact and see if I can make a new core from a coil of copper tubes. I haven't got around to trying yet though....

You can buy a new core from a company called Clayton but personally I don't like the look of them.

Craig.

[bedouin]

The Smiths heater core is a sealed (soldered) unit and can't be taken apart any more than you have.
One of my future jobs is to remove the centre of the old core leaving the outside intact and see if I can make a new core from a coil of copper tubes. I haven't got around to trying yet though....

You can buy a new core from a company called Clayton but personally I don't like the look of them.

Craig.

Thanks for that thought that might be the outcome i was thinking along the same lines as using copper tube. Looks like i will have to bypass it for the time being.

[Craig T]

That is exactly what I have done, took off the hoses and fitted a short loop between the copper pipe and the engine block tap until I find time to strip the heater out and see what I can do to repair it.

If I get anywhere making a new core I'll post a thread about it.

Craig.

[Peter Holden]

There is a magazine article from years ago of someone making their own core, it looked complicated and hard work getting the coils right and soldeing the fins on.

Peter

[TimV]

Spring 2004 had an article!

[Genem]

Diagnosed the steering shudder post pothole as a knackered Track Rod End.

Part on order...

[cswagon]

Hello Gene
Could I ask if it's just a quick shudder or an elongated one please?
I've had a similar experience on 3 occasions over the last month or so when
the left hand wheel goes over a substantial pot hole, except that mine starts as
a shudder and quickly escalates into a mad violent frenzy.
The only way I can stop it was to slow right down to an almost stop and then accelerate
away again.
I was thinking that the left hand swivel ball might need adjusting a little tighter as
I replaced both last year and didn't know if one may have settled to less that 12lb
pull, but I've never had that happen on any I've done in the past.
Maybe I'll check all the track rod ends first as that's a lot easier.
Anyway, just curious as to your symptom.
Thank you
Graham

[Genem]

Hello Gene
Could I ask if it's just a quick shudder or an elongated one please?

A fairly violent shudder requiring a very hard grip on the steering to stop it, whole event lasting several seconds.

[andrewR]

... also check your steering relay fit in the chassis ... if could have worked loose. A lot of modern relays are a very sloppy fit in replacement chassis, whereas original relays in original chassis were pretty much an interference fit. If the relay is a loose fit then all that holds it "solid" at the bottom is those 4 little 1/4" UNF bolts and the flange, and all that holds it "solid" at the top is those two long 1/4" bolts that fit through oversized holes in the relay casting. All in all it can wobble about quite a lot, and even eventually destroy the 1/4" bolts and/or the threads in the chassis if they get worked loose (this happened to me). I ended up packing my relay into the chassis with multiple shims made out of old Sainsbury's 2L olive oil tins, so that it is held rock solid in the chassis now. I also had to Helicoil all four bolts on the underside to make new secure fixings.

[cswagon]

Thank you Gene and Andrew, I'll check it all out at the weekend.

[Craig T]

There is a magazine article from years ago of someone making their own core, it looked complicated and hard work getting the coils right and soldeing the fins on.

Peter

I have seen that article and agree, it wasn't straight forward.
I'm hoping to simplify the process somewhat and retain the original core on the outside so you can't tell it's been done. I have a plan rolling around in my mind.... 

Craig.

[TimV]

Investigated the oil leaks (well someone's got to try!).

[Genem]

A phone call from the National Park... "There is a car broken down in the Forest, do you have any jump-leads..."   Happy Camper in a Volvo seems to have left his lights on overnight. Tonka to the rescue !

[bedouin]

I have seen that article and agree, it wasn't straight forward.
I'm hoping to simplify the process somewhat and retain the original core on the outside so you can't tell it's been done. I have a plan rolling around in my mind.... 

Craig.

like it can't wait to here the result