octopus -job done, no problems.

Post by **Defender110** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:33 pm

Yes but replace like for like and get another 15 years relability from the octopus!

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:35 pm

Isnt that whats been done here or am i missing something?

Andy

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:40 pm

Depending upon the placement of the home made systems, vibration might cause them to fail sooner than the original way citroen had them fitted? In which case we'll know in a few years & which part(s) sprung a leak & at least they should be easier to replace/fix. I'm with Kevan on this, its a pretty reliable piece of kit, mine went on my txd after 19 years, not bad for a few bits of rubber pipes. I decided to get both replaced rather than wait for the other one to fail as the other one had. It only cost me an extra 1 hours labour to get both done at the same time, so thought it was worth doing & should be problem free for another 15+ years

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:42 pm

Depending upon the placement of the home made systems, vibration might cause them to fail sooner than the original way Citroën had them fitted?

Or it might not, just conjecture bud.

Andy

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:45 pm

I agree, its pure conjecture at the moment, we'll see over the coming years if the homemade systems & where they are placed makes them more fragile. I'm not knocking any of the fine work done by anyone who wants to fit them in a different way, just a thought

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:53 pm

I see where you are coming from bud but i think if you just reposition original kit [well, as original as can be obtained] then there shouldnt be a problem.
Bodges, stuffing new bits of copper pipe into 19 year old bits of rubber and expecting a miracle cure, well, that aint going to happen. And anyway, will most peoples BXs last another 15 years? There's one for us all to ponder. Most ime sure will cost the earth to keep on the road by then if they are used as regular drives. Mind you its possible my TGS will be still with us.

Andy

Post by **Defender110** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:21 pm

Grenman wrote:And anyway, will most peoples BXs last another 15 years? There's one for us all to ponder.

Exactly my point, just replacing the octopus as it was should in theory (if done correctly) see out the life of the vehicle. I too am not knocking anyones pioneering work at octopus replacment i'm just questioning why does it need moving if being replaced with a new one. Obviously this can only apply if being replaced with genuine or OE quality replacement. The bulkhead fitment will be a godsend for cheaper aftermarket kit which may last a fraction of the time.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:21 pm

They said that cunifer would solve the problem of the hydraulic pipes needing replacing again, however, if not fitted correctly they fatigue & break due to vibration. So placement is pretty important, as heat, rubbing & vibration will take a toll on rubbery bits over time. But like you've said, will our bx's be on the road for another 15 years anyway

BX Meteor · Post by **BX Meteor** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:33 pm

Defender110 wrote: Obviously this can only apply if being replaced with genuine or OE quality replacement. The bulkhead fitment will be a godsend for cheaper aftermarket kit which may last a fraction of the time.

Are the Polish made ones rated as OE quality or aftermarket (just asking as I don't know) ?
where to buy OE ones from, dealer only ?
where to buy aftermarket ones from ?

tim · Post by **tim** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:08 pm

All interesting stuff - though I think you've missed the point. Defender. I'm not 'tampering' with anything - my 'concerns' about the octopus were that the old one was throroughly stuffed and pissing hydraulic fluid, and since it needed replacing, it seemed logical to put the new one somewhere which is obviously far better in every way. Home-made? No, ordinary off-the-shelf octopus. Why should vibration have a bearing - if anything, being mounted to the padded bulkhead liner REDUCES vibration. Putting it flat on the chassis member might have made sense for Citroen as it was obviously installed before the engine went in and everything was shiny and new; but it sure ain't shiny now. The extended pipes mean I was able to route them through the best possible run;
one leak this summer was due to the over-sharp angle of the run from the pod to the front height corrector. I make no pretensions to being an octo-expert as it's my first one, but I already know that if there is a bend in any flexi pipe where it meets the metal, that is where it will fail; it then doesn't matter how sound the octopus junction is. I cut it back enough to insert a new bit of flexi with a solid bridge but the advice on the forum was to change the lot - advice I fully agreed with (the bodge was about the soundest bit of the thing when I removed it!). It did me 2000 miles and six months, though.
I am not convinced about the 15 years..... replacement parts can be notoriously substandard. Someone posted that they got just one year out of theirs. So a rather simple question - how long did yours last, dear reader?? The wife's last one didn't even go ten years.

BX Meteor · Post by **BX Meteor** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 5:23 pm

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:23 pm

BX Meteor wrote:Are the Polish made ones rated as OE quality or aftermarket (just asking as I don't know) ?
where to buy OE ones from, dealer only ?
where to buy aftermarket ones from ?

I'm not aware of any aftermarket versions, but the ones bought from Citroen dealers are apparently made in Poland. Whether that was always the case I have no idea either, but it's not unknown for even genuine OE spares to not be quite up to the same standard as the ones fitted on the production line (although officially they should be...) This is from my time working at an OE automotive supplier!

Also, place of manufacture does not necessarily determine the quality. I've seen some things made in China which are extremely (and surprisingly to most people) well made, although when a company decides to outsource to an area of cheaper labour they're not usually thinking of quality foremost.