Timex and friends

[merlyn]

Great result, well done Mike.

[citsncycles]

Thanks for the congratulations and support folks

managed about 30 miles local running round - still leaking a little water out, but not too badly, and not as badly as it leaks in .
filled up with fuel - getting just over 45mpg, which while not brilliant for one of these considering the time spent idling on various ramps, plus the mainly urban nature of the (short) runs lately, it's not too bad.

Now off to see if the CB gear from the GS will fit

[Birotor]

As a Ministry of Defence Approved welding inspector and subsequently Welder Qualification Examiner for Det Norske Veritas for Grade A welders I shall miss your daily updates.... I hope it all holds together!

[citsncycles]

Oh god, someone who knows what they're looking at has been reading this

[citsncycles]

Well Timex managed to live up to it's name and completed a 750 mile round trip in 24 hours!

Mixed travel experience - you can wind up to quite a fast pace (80 plus according to Hilary, who followed me for part of the journey) on the flat, but getting there takes a long, long, long time, and you lose speed at the slightest climb. You're also running at almost full throttle most of the time, so fuel consumption was a disappointing 40mpg

On the other hand, while not up to GS standards, it's the most comfortable BX I've owned, it handles well with no clonks at last and nothing of significance fell off

It seemed to draw a lot of interest, although whether that was due to the rarity or condition I'm not sure - if there had been a shed of the show prize it would have won, but there were a couple of others there that would have fought over 2nd!

After discussion with various people both on Facebook and at the tunnel terminal last night, I'm going to have a look at the pump timing, as I've had more than 1 person suggest it's retarded.

[Paul296]

nothing of significance fell off

By that we can infer that the road between Aulnay and Dursley is now littered with insignificant things that fell off your car!?

[citsncycles]

Well I did manage to lose the gaffer tape keeping the water out above the windscreen - I now have some super-duper waterproof stuff that can even be put on in the wet, which may last a little longer, if it can cope with the wind rushing past!

Just treated Timex to this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120881942831? ... 1497.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've also sourced a better bonnet (no cracks!) so I'm almost ready to replace all the outer panels in front of the A posts!

[Tim Leech]

Excellent! the colour code for the bumper should be FYG (matt finish), it is easy to chip so might be worth trying to get them lacquered.

[Dollywobbler]

Nice one - though I shall miss those fantastic front wings. You can't fake patina like that!

[Defender110]

On the other hand, while not up to GS standards, it's the most comfortable BX I've owned,

So does a GS ride better than a BX then?

[Dollywobbler]

The GS is much more akin to the DS and CX, with a much more floaty ride. Having owned a CX and a BX concurrently, the difference is marked. A BX doesn't float and waft in the same way. It's comfortable, but also a lot firmer. A BX also crashes horribly over some bumps that the wishbone-equipped Citroens just don't.

[Defender110]

I knew the CX was but didn't know the GS was, I thought the GS was a budget ride too?

[Philip Chidlow]

I too can confirm that - subjectively of course - a GS rides very much better than any BX.

[citsncycles]

I thought the GS was a budget ride too?

It is, but not at the expense of ride quality. They aren't as adjustable on height (lowest setting is normal ride height) and it's a single piston linear pump, that's slower to pressurise the system than the multi piston pumps most DS's and CX's have. The main simplification is the lack of power steering, which many drivers don't like about them.

As well as the softer suspension, the seats are also well sprung on a GS, giving a truly comfortable ride.

[citsncycles]

Played with the fast idle settings on the pump today, after Mat suggested this as a way of checking the pump timing. While the idle speed is now the wrong side of 1000rpm, there's now enough power to cruise at an indicated 70-80mph with enough spare power to keep that speed up on the hills on the M5 between here and Birmingham. fuel economy has also increased to 48.5mpg

Now just have to source some dial indicators for setting it up properly.