I worked for much of the day and finished commissioning the Reliant and then and erected the short-wave aerial on the southern gable of the house to be ready to try out the Weather Fax system on the personal computer. After this, I was absolutely shattered and so sank into a hot bath to soothe my aching limbs.
I had stayed up fairly late last night and went straight out this morning to get some more back-axle oil and petrol for the Reliant. Then, without washing or shaving or changing clothes from yesterday, I went back to work on the old van, intending to finish the dirty jobs this morning and then have a bath. In the end, it took most of the day to top up the tank and oils, complete the greasing and then adjust the brakes. The old rod brakes had worn transfer points and linkages and so I had to free off as many as possible and tighten them up before stripping down and loosening the Girling brake hub of the nearside wheel. Even then, I could not get this wheel to brake well without binding but did the best I could.
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I ran the van engine up several times and then fitted the engine cowlings with new brackets to stop them getting in the way of the driver and passenger. In all, this represents the most I have done to the old van since the major overhaul on arrival and it is in as good condition as it could be without major work being undertaken. I washed and leathered it and then buffed up the brass plates and hubs with metal polish before sweeping out and clearing up the garage ready for it to be put back. Later this evening, I got out the long ladders and erected the short-wave aerial on the southern gable of the house to be ready to try out the Weather Fax system on the personal computer. After all this, I was absolutely shattered and so sank into a hot bath to soothe my aching limbs.