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Showing content with the highest reputation on 02/21/2018 in all areas

  1. Hi Geoff, Firstly in response to your questions re the XF, (as I certainly do not want to appear to be using this invaluable forum as another 'social media' channel)!! 1/. Spare Wheel v Repair Kit? I have been fortunate to have a number of lease/company vehicles, previously, and the last one was supplied without a spare wheel and just the 'repair' kit! I will always remember picking up a puncture on the A1, (just outside Grantham), on a dark, cold and very wet winters evening and I managed to limp onto a side road and pull up in order to see what could be done. I had no spare - just the repair kit and the mini electrical compressor and a set of instructions, (which I had never read of course)! I followed the instructions but, despite being careful, managed to get some of the liquid rubber sealant onto my hands, the alloy wheel and the bodywork! I then connected the compressor to a 12v socket in the car and inflated the tyre and I was lucky that the puncture was sufficiently small to allow the sealant to do its job and I had to move off smartly in order to spin the fluid around the tyre before it fully set. I was very impressed with the mini compressor as it didn't take long to inflate the tyre! Therefore, (if the puncture is only slight), the repair option will suffice to get you home and negates the need for too much physical effort, (removing and replacing wheels by the roadside - and OUR wheels are rather large and heavy - despite being alloys)!!!! At the risk of turning this missive into a short story you would not believe the problems that I had with my X Type wheels when I started getting the, (previously mentioned), punctures on these fine Lincolnshire roads. I found myself stricken at the side of the road with a flat tyre, (and I had a wheel brace, jack and wheel brace), but I couldn't get the wheel off as two of the wheel nuts were seized and the, (brand new), official Jaguar wheel brace just twisted before my very eyes as I applied more and more pressure in an attempt to undo the nuts! Cutting a very long story short I had to drill and chisel at least 1/2 seized wheel nuts from each of the 4 wheels and that was a nightmare of a job - trying not to damage the wheels as there was only about 3mm clearance between the nuts and the wheel casting itself!!! 2/. Cam Chain Replacement? Although I have never neglected, (and suffered from consequences of), a cambelt failure I did have a 'mishap' with my Granada Cosworth Scorpio when the cam chain tensioner snapped! The result was 24 bent valves, (3 Litre V6 with a 24 Valve Cosworth Head), and that cost me a fortune to have the top end rebuilt! I would be more than happy to undertake the XF cam belt replacement myself but I would like to see the procedure first before I make the commitment, (I suspect that, like most modern cars, the task is further compounded by the need to remove numerous ancillary devices just to gain access to the belt)! The most important issues are that of locking the cams, (prior to removing the belt), and then ensuring that the cams do not move once the belt has been removed, (the slip of just one tooth will be enough to turn the Cat's purr into a stifled rasp - and reduce your bank balance considerably)! I would suspect that there are specific tools available that will lock the cams, (whilst the belt is removed), but that will, ultimately, add to the cost! I have also read, (elsewhere on this great site - many thanks to ALL of the other forum members), that it is good practice to also have other components replaced, (such as the water pump and the Serpentine Belt), replaced at the same time as this will save further expense, (and heartache), at a later date! I have heard figures of anything between £400 - £800 for the belt to be replaced, (by an 'independent' Jaguar specialist), so I would presume that we would need to ask our fellow Forum members as to who they can recommend in our respective locations. I will undertake a more 'in depth' search of the site regarding this very subject once I have a 'spare' 5 minutes!! With regards to the Lancasters - I had the privilege of being at East Kirkby for the '3 Lancs' event and was able to watch the UK and Canadian Lancasters perform a number of circuits overhead whilst 'Just Jane' was taxiing along the airfield so we were all treated to the aural melody of 12 Merlins roaring in the summer sunshine! It was shortly after this event that the Canadian Lancaster suffered an engine problem and was grounded for a while! It is whilst walking around the Heritage Centre, (home of two Bomber Command Squadrons), that you really do get a feel for the bravery of the crews that flew these aircraft, (in most weathers), across to hostile skies and many, of course, never returned - serious respect and gratitude to them all. Take care. Martin.
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