Help request

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:48 pm

Is there anyone in the Oxford area with an a-frame, truck etc who would be willing to help move my TXD which is about to be kicked off the farm where its been for several months. I'm in a bit of a tricky situation as I have no money, and no car insurance so I can't use my car.

There are several people who might be able to help me but they can't do it for 1-2 weeks and the car was supposed to be gone a few days ago!

I can offer beer money for anyone who might be interested ... or beer[s] themselves. Or a tenner.

I think the land owner might "forcefully remove" the car if it's not gone soon and I have limited options.

Post by **Tim Leech** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 2:43 pm

I take it James the car doesnt run?

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:18 pm

No it doesn't run, the top of the engine is off and also there are no spheres in the front. I should have made that more clear in the first post.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:31 pm

That's going to make life very difficult to move it, is the cylinder head off or just the intercooler?

Post by **Tim Leech** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:41 pm

I fear the only way to move it in its current state James is to get it towed away for scrap, which considering how much you paid and that its moted it would be a shame.

Wheres the head gone and spheres gone, if you can get it running then you have a good chance of selling it on, as it is now you dont.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:11 pm

Tim although it's been taken apart slightly none of the problems have been resolved so I'm hoping to move it somewhere else so it can be worked on there.

Ken I believe the cylinder head is off ...

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:16 pm

Any chance of a picture showing the engine in it's current state. If the head is off, what's holding the engine in place

Spheres couldbe easily put back on, but moving it with the engine dangling about aint a good idea.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:15 pm

Yes here's one I made earlier:

I remember the top being off but it's been so long since I looked. I think it was put back on roughly but not all done back up.

I have some front spheres which I could put on but the engine obviously doesn't work so ...

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:38 pm

If you're brave you could buy a tow pole for about 20 quid, and get a mate to tow you, but it will be pretty bumpy with no suspension, and if the Police spot you they might not be terribly impressed. (Completely illegal, a tow pole should be used for only recovering a car with tax, test and insurance, and the brakes should be functioning too, which in your BX they won't be.)

If you do go down this route, try and find someone with a reasonably sized car to pull you (eg. not a AX) as aside from not wanting them to burn their clutch out, they will be doing all your braking for you.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:02 pm

Looks like its just the intercooler & associated pipes thats missing off the engine, can't you re-fit them?

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:04 pm

And the timing belt... If the heads been off and roughly put back on, trying to get it to run as is is, IMHO a waste of time.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:14 pm

Didnt spot that

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:54 pm

Tow pole might have to be a plan b.

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:21 pm

Tourist wrote:Tow pole might have to be a plan b.

I don't know how many miles you intend to go with it in this condition but with ZERO suspension front and back, you may well find yourself ploughing a trench in the road with the exhaust system. I know mine contacts the ground under the car when depressurised.

I have driven mine with loss of front suspension (due strut fail) for 3 miles and even though I still had pressure in the rear, the bumpiness on what was a fair road was horrendous and every imperfection in the road may as well have been a bomb crater.

I gave up trying to get the rest of the way home and had to park/shop, revisit & repair it at the roadside even though another 18 miles it could have been home!

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:07 pm

I think being towed with no brakes or suspension is an important rite of passage for any hydropneumatic Citroen owner