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artic-steel

Newbies Corner

Post by artic-steel »

How about a section or sticky for us newbies so all the questions you were too afraid too ask could be answered.

In my short time on here a few things have cropped up over & again, either in questions or answers most concerning hydraulics.

1- Should the back sink quicker than the front
2- How often should the hydraulics 'click'
3- What is the optimum time for a BX to rise from it's lowest setting

There must be many more so a FAQ's section would be ideal for us to find our feet
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Baldbazza
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Post by Baldbazza »

Great idea. A useful addition to an already well-structured forum.
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Post by tom »

It is pretty well already there. If you go to the main club website, you will find a number of technical answers in the main menu. Most of the FAQs are covered by the BX-DIY site, to which we link. This is the BXers bible and is generally advised to be the first port of call for all newcomers.
It is both comprehensive and accurate.
It may well be a good idea to duplicate the links in a "new to the BX?"
pointer on the home page, so thank you for your suggestion.
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Post by jeremy »

Artic - are these samples of the questions that could be answered or would you like answers to them?

Front/back falling first: the car stops at the normal height - with both height correctors shut. Height correctors (and other bits) leak slightly and so the suspension drops. As it drops a bit a HC will open and top up the suspension from the accumulator - and this procedure will repeat until the accumulator is exhausted.

The behaviour at each end will be affected by - the weight and its distribution in the car. If the front struts are very stiff (which is very common) the front won't sink and all the leakage and de-pressurisation will take place through the back - and in severe cases when you jog the car by opening a door or getting in it - the front will suddenly drop. Equally the rear trailing arm bearings may sieze causing the rear to stay up.

Dropping is fine - staying up is not!

Clicking frequency - no more than once every 30 seconds - generally with a sound system - considerably longer. This is influenced by the accumulator health, (test by sitting in the boot after turning the engine off - car should sink and eventually rise), the regulator non-return valve (can be reseated very simply) and general system leaks.

Rising time - no definitive answer and providing the rest is working - of not much significance and dependant on the idle speed of the engine, pulley ratios etc. Quicker with a flat accumulator! - even quicker with flat suspension spheres as well! basically should be quite soon after starting - several minutes or not at all means a problem.
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Ian_Fearn
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Post by Ian_Fearn »

I think its pretty important the FAQ answers dont have any acronyms as they can confuse newbies.

I.E, no PR, FDV, HC etc etc.
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Baldbazza
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Post by Baldbazza »

Ian_Fearn wrote:I think its pretty important the FAQ answers dont have any acronyms as they can confuse newbies.
Absolutely!!!! Speaking as a civil servant who works in IT I know how eyes glaze over and eyebrows furrow even after one acronym accidentally slips out :oops:

Let's keep it simple and friendly!!!
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Post by cavmad »

V.g.i, i.m.h.o t.b.h :lol:
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Post by jeremy »

Then will someone tell me what a 'FAQ' is?
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Post by cavmad »

That`s an FAQ in itself :lol: It stands for Frequently Asked Question(s), Jeremy.
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Post by jeremy »

But its aso an acronym in what someone is suggesting should be an acronym free zone.

I wonder what the full version of BX is?
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Baldbazza
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Post by Baldbazza »

jeremy wrote:I wonder what the full version of BX is?
Bloody Xcellent?
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Post by Adam »

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Post by cavmad »

Beats (a) Xantia :?: :lol:
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Post by Adam »

Very Good!!!!! :lol:
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Post by docchevron »

jeremy wrote:Then will someone tell me what a 'FAQ' is?
And I thought it was French and Quirky!?! ----^
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