HPG128K - Dutton Sierra Series 2 - rescued from an early grave?

[Adrian Southgate]

So the saga of the gearbox rear seal continues. When it had the rear crank seal done the garage also fitted a prop/tailshaft seal which promptly leaked just as badly as the one they took out.

When I had the horrible vibration issue it was coming from the prop not fitting into the gearbox. Thinking this might have damaged the bush inside the tailshaft and caused the leak I ordered a new one and another seal. Now if anyone tells you this is a DIY job DON'T believe a word of it. Getting the seal out is an easy one with a modified puller, getting down the side of the tailshaft past the bush is bloody impossible without the right tool. According to the haynes manual for the Ford Sierra its a ford dealer job...I now agree. As it was needed for work tomorrow the new seal went in without changing the bush, a right pain in the arse.

[Adrian Southgate]

@ Steve - cheers mate. :) 

@ Daryl - Sods law that. 

I was looking at a set of these - £229 for four, same size as the Camac's I had on before.

[Steve Kerswell]

well done Ade, hope it snows for you :-)

[Adrian Southgate]

So, another MOT passed, despite being offered MOT exemption when I went to retax it I decided to get it tested. 

Nothing major to report, still drives like an old goat. Loud pipes save lives so they say, you can sure hear this one coming. Might have a chance to get it lifted up on a ramp tomorrow, fit a new gearbox seal which has started weeping again, maybe even get that ratty old exhaust replaced because it is piggin loud. 

Might treat it to some new knobblies for this winter. shame as the old ones are really good in mud but the compound goes rock hard in winter which gives naff all grip on snow.

Don't know if I've linked this before but this is from winter 2015/16. 

[Adrian Southgate]

The Beast of Blackrod is now legal again. Trips to the tip are now in order...

Would have helped if I had taken the reference number off the V5 so I could tax it instead of driving all the way home first :( 

Couldn't help but notice just how loud it it compared to the Legerra, must get the exhaust re-plumbed at some point. Water has got behind the paint on the side of the Sierra and it's now flaking off badly. That has been painted quite a few times in it's life as the paint is really thick.

[Adrian Southgate]

One year later... MOT tomorrow as we have been turned away from the tip in both the shop vans and there is some rubbish to dispose of...

Apart from the usual surface corrosion on discs not much has changed since last year, Sierra hasn't been used much at all but I have gone back to 14 inch alloys after the suspension leg broke. They have exceptional tyres on and should be fine for the MOT. Lights, horn, washers and wipers are all working, bushes are all poly so not much to check... (he says hopefully)

[Adrian Southgate]

Ive not been any great distance in the Sierra since the epic trip to Stoneleigh, mainly due to my shoulder and the heavy steering. Had to go to a VOSA weighbridge toady so thought why not...

So, with my lardy arse still inside I got 550Kg on the front axle and 520Kg on the rear making 1070Kg. I weigh 75Kg so the Sierra must weigh in at 995Kg... Damn thats a heavy kit..

What impressed me the most was the equal weight distribution, as despite having a boat anchor under the bonnet it's pretty close to balanced. I'll have to try it again when I have the alloys back on just to work out how much un sprung weight I'm hurling about with those 27" tyres. One thing I did notice was my sump guard tapping on the cross member  so that will need sorting.

Despite the housebrick styling it still hit lane 3 with a passion and scared a few old dears as it thundered past. Made me realise how much more power it would need to hit three figures on the GPS though :(

[Steve Kerswell]

I've got no idea why, but this phone (Samsung) will only upload through some foreign language. Me and mobiles seem to hate one another. So I'll keep my old Kodak handy, and hope I don't drop it in the ocean, 2 mobiles, drive over it or away from it, another 2, weld with it in my pocket or on the bench, they really don't like that, or buy a dodgy bargain, can't say much on that, under investigation !

[Adrian Southgate]

No, you have to share selected photo's onto flickr which is cloud based then they become part of your 'account' you can then access them from anywhere theres a web browser.

The dropbox idea sounds like a plan, James and I use a dropbox account for some club stuff.

[Paul Sheridan]

I use Dropbox, every picture I take with my phone, is automatically uploaded to my home and work computers. Does Flickr work the same way Ade? 

[James Doulton]

I have a USB cable to charge my phone. If I use it to connect the phone to my computer then I can browse the folders on the phone and move pictures either way using Windows Explorer. Windows normally offers a number of things it can do when I connect the phone, one of which is to download pictures. I don't normally use that option because I like to do things manually, but I'm probably just making work for myself.