I use Machine Mart for most of my tools.
If your pros struggled that much to get the engine in there is affair chances the problem is in the bell housing - clutch release mech as Snoopy said?
Good luck
Dave

Quote from: Matthew on November 26, 2015, 09:32:56 PM
  I think I am a bit out of the way though in MK. 

I'm only a few miles away too, just the other side of the M1.  There's a few other buggies in the area, at least two that aren't on here (and one in the back of a garage that I'm fishing for )

Trolley jack - Costco have some good'uns at a nice price, and Aldis occasionally have dirt cheap ones in.  Worth a try.

Hi Chris Barker, thank you for the welcome and commiseration on my challenges. I have two challenges. The (relatively) easy challenge is to get my buggy unSORN'ed eventually, given a couple of months time that should be surmountable. The other challenge is disappointing my nieces come 2nd week December having bragged about the beach buggy when its off the road.  The challenge is further complicated by the fact that by Thursday next I have to go abroad only to get back here with them second week December.  So really I have barely one week to play with now. 

Hugh I think you got the right idea if all else fails. I'd then hope for a rain-free day between Dec 19th and the new year, then ask whoever is free and nearby to to drop round my house in MK in buggies to take us all for pub lunch and drinks on me. The girls might enjoy something like that in any event. 

Andy, they are coming from warmer shores but its always sunny and hot there.  So they won't mind the weather here for a change.

Hi Luddite, good to hear that you are quite close too on the other side of the M1.  I had looked at the goggle map and thought I was alone in MK then realised Andy is in Leighton Buzzard.  Thanks for the tip regarding cheap and cheerful trolley jacks at Costco or Aldi. I might try and get one for this weekend (subject to more homework) and then perhaps establish what has gone wrong with my hand brake, which seems to have become overtight since summer due to the cold perhaps.

Chad, I think you are right.  Ideal would be a diagnosis of the problem by local buggy guys.  I was thinking of sending the buggy on a rented transporter to Bears of Birmingham with an open cheque book or to cogboxtransmissions (thanks again Roadrunner for that contact also).  I will be abroad next week and could hope its done by the time I get back but there is still the MOT to get through with possible rust advised two years ago.  I must agree it would be best to see what the problem is before forking out on a new gearbox if it is not absolutely needed.  I looked at your website link www.doon.co.uk and got real excited about the kits offered there.  They look awesome.

Snoopy, it would be great if the rain problem could be solved definitively for running my buggy as my main and only vehicle.   

What?! Someone went from Sweden to Capetown with their buggy is this for real?  I have dreamt about finding a route through Africa (safely) and was just google-mapping this the other day.   That would be real fun to arrive down there in  beach buggy from London or MK.  I am going to do a web search about that buggy Sweden to Cape Town trip.  Thank you for pointing that out, I would not have imagined this.

   I have looked at heat exchanger possibilities.  On my current exhaust, which is quite flash, I see no such possibility, unless I go back to the old beetle exhaust setup which would destroy the rear look of the buggy. I got electric seat heat mats and am monitoring the current draw for what that is worth.   It would be interesting to see your buggy roof and doors if you have photos online.

Chris, excellent point regarding your signature.  "the arc built by Amateurs, the titanic built by professionals nuff said" I second that.

Hi Dave (Doon L001), thanks for the tip about machine mart tools. I have just looked that up. My nearest one is Luton or Coventry. I see they have some pretty nice gear.  I am looking at trolley jacks and axel stands right now. 

So Dave, if like you say, hopefully there is a fair chance the problem is in the bell housing or clutch release mechanism as Snoopy said, then that would mean the gear box might actually be fine, just the gearbox and engine have to be taken out and refitted, now that is worth investigating further before I send my buggy off to Birmingham or down south.

Chad, the cheapy jacks on ebay for twenty quid I saw a review saying the leverage is slow and hard work.  So I am planning to do more homework on that. 

Snoopy, you said the noise may be from a brake that has gone wrong. Could it be that a break might have seized.  I forced the engine to turn over for 5 minutes until she eventually fired.  How would a break then fail while I had the clutch depressed.  The buggy had not started since I got the gearbox fitted by the local pro's. The brake cable might have contracted due to the colder weather, then a brake seized.  I am thinking I just need to un-seize the thing so I'll need to get a jack for that.  I would like to take the engine and gearbox out myself and decide further from there.  So plan A is to get a jack and whatever I need to do this safely.   

Snoopy, I have now downloaded the movie of the Sweden beach buggy for a little donation, this is a great story, very inspiring.  You can all watch it free at this link here, donations not necessary. Click "Download Now" at the top, 85 minutes.

http://redbuggy.com

Matt Peter runs his soft top Manx as a daily not sure how he defrosts/mists the screen but he uses a motorbike heated jacket plugged into a cigarette lighter to keep warm.

a seized brake after parking is not uncommon but a bit of forceful forwards and reverse rocking normally snaps the bond and allows you to drive freely.

Red buggy with 2 disabled people in it did the trip of a life time although the top of africa is possibly less safe these days but folks seem to chill when a buggy is involved.

Hi

Yes, I have a couple of Girbing bomber jackets that I use, they both
plug into their own 5 setting heat controllers which are permanently
wired to the battery via a fused link.

They are a game changer in a buggy when it comes to winter driving, I use
the sleeveless version too in summer, as on chillier days its nice to be
comfy all the time.

I have always liked that red Hustler and hope you enjoy the times to come out and about
when its all sorted out.

Peter

http://www.manxmaniac.co.uk/Snow.php?album=HeatedJacket

http://www.manxmaniac.co.uk/yourBuggys-ByDesign-Hustler.php

Hi Peter, thanks for the info regarding the heated bomber jackets and thanks Snoopy for that tip. I appreciate the good wishes for sorting out my red Hustler.  Andy came round this morning to help diagnose, thanks again Andy.

I shall let you all know when I've got some good news.

might be worth checking the bolts that fit to the mountings on the cradle and the bellhousing if they are the wrong way they can catch on the ring gear

Hi Matt, welcome aboard. Your dreams of travelling across Europe are not too far away. Check out the GB Buggies thread re the last two 'International Buggy Weekends' then get planning. It's Germany next May and these road trips are unbelievable!! Good luck with the repairs you're in good hands on here. 

Thanks Lee for the inspiration.  I hope to be on that trip in May.  I'll probably want to have the engine reconditioned by then and that would help my confidence in the buggy as well.

Right now I am off hunting for a trolley jack and a safe way to lift the buggy so I can work under it, and also to work out exactly what model gearbox I need.   

Thanks Chad for the reference to the gearbox seller.  I shall decide or contact the seller as soon as I know my current gearbox model number.  That is also what I need the jack for.  I can't see under it without one at the moment.

Thanks Chris, bolts being the wrong way round, that looks like the kind of thing my pro's might have done here.  Since having it back I see some bits there that I did not recognise.   My mission is to take the engine and gearbox out to see what is what exactly. 

My mood swings between great hope and despair so I was thinking of buying a second buggy last night.  Turns out seller has it listed as vw beetle on V5 and 2nd gear syncro, shame because it is a nice looking one, classified on Ebay for 6K.

Hi Matthew,

Sorry for not saying Hi earlier. Hope you've sorted out your troubles.

I'm MK based and am happy to give a hand if you are still having problems getting engines in and out etc as long as the kettles on and the biscuit barrel is full. As others have said most tasks are pretty straightforward.

Hope to catch you soon.

Cheers

Fran
Fran

Hi Fran

Thanks for the message.  I have been offline for a while, like almost a year.  My neighbour´s cat finds my buggy's bonnet a convenient place to sleep but sadly Bella is still not going.  I am now looking for a mechanic to help sort her out and put her back on the road.  I am also having a tow bar fitted next week so I can start looking for a trailer to move her about.  She is a fine specifimen so I really need to get her back to life.  The guys who fixed the gearbox didn't know how to put the engine back in and broke the clip Andy thought at the time, then I've been away a lot, but now want to give it my attention again.
Hey awesome that you are in Milton Keynes.
Regards -  Matthew

A few photos of the current state will help and being able to move it around on a trailer will e a great help as woulda list of work required. Plans can then be formulated to help you out.

Hi Matthew, good to hear from you again. As Snoopy says a few photos always help and / or if there's a biscuit and a cuppa on offer I'm always happy to pop round and take a squint. Whereabouts in MK are you 'coz round here nowhere is more than 10 minutes away.     

Cheers

Fran     

Hi Matthew, glad you are back, was wondering what had happened to you.

Got your pm too.  I'm a bit busy right now but will reply a little later on.