Help request

Post by **docchevron** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 2:24 am

Should be ok to tow without damaging the rear bumper, I've got 16v P2 rear bumpers on, er, both cars, and have towed using draw bars and ropes, never damaged one yet.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:19 am

If in doubt, raise the suspension to intermediate height.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:51 pm

Right things are coming together now all I need is an o-ring for one of the front spheres - where can I find one? Tried Focus, Halfords and also an independent car shop today and couldn't find one. I was hoping it wouldn't be specialist.

Post by **Tim Leech** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:17 pm

You mean the seal, im sure I have one somewhere or RXBX does.

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:31 pm

Yes the seal, where can I find one asap? Can they be found in shops. Can't really wait until Monday, Tim.

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:00 pm

Citroen dealer.

RxBX · Post by **RxBX** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:42 pm

Roverman wrote:You mean the seal, im sure I have one somewhere or RXBX does.

Tourist indeed I should have a used spare square section sphere 'O' ring somewhere if you need one and so should Tim I'm sure he'd got two new ones with the two new spheres that he changed (All by Himself BTW) on his TRS this week

so he should have two used ones some where too !

But James the thing is that's a minor issue has the engine got the cam-belt back on timed and is the engine now running again ?

Because if not what is your planned method of getting the suspension up to a reasonable height for towing going to be ?

As if you going to use a drill with a pulley and a long belt to drive the HP pump, bearing in mind your mechanical skills etc. I sure nobody would like to see or hear that you've hurt your self whilst trying to do this ?

But if the planned route from 'A to B' does not involve roads which are littered with potholes and sleeping policemen you should be okay as I have in the past towed BX's on the suspension stops of distances of up approx. 23 miles with no problems as the road's I'd chosen were relatively smooth, however you have stated its currently stored on a Farm somewhere !
That could be a challenge in its self with zero suspension ?

Best of luck with it James (BTW if Tim did not get new 'O' rings with his spheres or lost the old ones let me know so that I can try and find one tomorrow for you).

Tourist · Post by **Tourist** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:26 pm

Thank you Richard but I don't see you until Monday and I want to move the car over the weekend [or before] so that will be too late.

What is the best way to get the suspension up? Can it be done by towing the car in-gear without the timing belt or must this be attached. Yes, I would imagine that's a VERY stupid question.

Remember I'm going to be in the car ... and I quite like my bones and want to keep them

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:42 pm

if the cambelt is off, I'm afraid you're going to have to just sit tight and tow it.
It's not nice being towed, it's a lot less nice being towed with no suspension, but it's better than losing the car altogether.

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:03 pm

Tourist wrote:Remember I'm going to be in the car ... and I quite like my bones and want to keep them

Oh, it's not that bad! I find the hardest thing is keeping a straight face when you're being jiggled to fuck by the tiniest of surface imperfection, as your mate towing you presses on regardless at dizzying speeds either oblivious, or enjoying watching you do the pogo in the rear view mirror! Bear in mind the steering will be a tad challenging at low speeds without power too, but it will be a formative experience I'm sure!

Aerodynamica · Post by **Aerodynamica** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:09 pm

Oh, it's not that bad! I find the hardest thing is keeping a straight face when you're being jiggled to fuck by the tiniest of surface imperfection, as your mate towing you presses on regardless at dizzying speeds either oblivious, or enjoying watching you do the pogo in the rear view mirror! Bear in mind the steering will be a tad challenging at low speeds without power too, but it will be a formative experience I'm sure!

Been there! I was towed 30 miles in my old GSA, initially of course there was suspension but it did deplete and 23 miles in it was all gone (as were the brakes) and it bounced like a bitch on heat. I'd have laughed all the way if it wasn't for the fact that the GSA's front towing eye ripped off, catapulted forward and left a hefty divit in the rear hatch of my Mum's new Xsara...

I think the GSA has a 'little' bit more give in its bump stops than the BX though at the front..

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:52 pm

Ugh, bad times! I remember having broken down in the knackered Dyane that was my first car, and a neighbour kindly stopping to offer to pull me back home. Alas, neither of us had a rope, however he thankfully had a length of strapping in the boot. Unfortunately however it was somewhat short, and the cars ended up so close together I couldn't even see his bumper, let alone the road between us. A further complication was that the towing eyes on the two cars were on opposite sides, which was less than ideal, particularly given the shortness of the improvised rope. We survived however, and it was a good introduction to towing.

One of my best towing experiences however, was returning from holiday with the parents, me in that same Dyane, they in a BX diesel estate, complete with trailer tent, lots of camping gear and 4 persons. Alas, the BX ground to a halt on the side of the A1 (having run out of diesel) a situation we extricated ourselves from by me pulling the heavily laden BX, trailer tent et al up the hard shoulder and off at the next exit with the Dyane's mighty twin pot power. I thought some people might have had to exit as we climbed the slip-road off the motorway, however we managed it nicely at a steady crawl in first gear.

RxBX · Post by **RxBX** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:04 am

Tourist wrote: Right things are coming together now all I need is an o-ring for one of the front spheres - where can I find one?

Could explain what is EXACTLY coming together because I can't see anything 'That's coming together' from your postings !
Apart from a photo you've taken and posted to show that cam-belt has been removed/missing !
Because if you read thro' the thread and took note of what members have posted to help you with options/choices its fairly obvious you've not a clue of what to do or what your doing by posting this :-

Tourist wrote:What is the best way to get the suspension up? Can it be done by towing the car in-gear without the timing belt or must this be attached. Yes, I would imagine that's a VERY stupid question.

You basically answered you own question there !

A little clue for you here James the the HP Pump is pulley driven by a rubber drive belt which runs from another pulley which is mounted on the end of the cam-shaft !
The cam-shaft is driven from the crank-shaft with another rubber belt, which is called a CAM-BELT !

That fact that the cam-belt is currently removed from the engine and more than likely won't be re-fitted before the move takes place (If for some reason it was fitted make sure its all timed up correctly, its on a sticky but just in case you can't locate it on the Forum try this LINKout) I would also like to ask you a few questions which also may make things more clear to other Forum members in trying to help you out :-

a) Why are you running around like a headless chicken for a sphere rubber 'O' ring which is not needed if the engine won't be running the way things are just to move/tow it ?

b) If the cylinder head has been off ? As its not 100% clear in your posting's if it actually has and if the head has been off, what for and was a cylinder compression test done prior to head removal ?

c) If the head was removed, who was it that actually took the head off i.e. was it you or by someone who is a S.Q.E.P. (Suitably Qualified Experienced Person). If it was removed, was a new head gasket fitted and a new set of cylinder head bolts fitted also?

d) If the head was not removed what was the purpose of removing the cam-belt etc. ?

e) Did you ever take note of me making ref. to having a read thro' even the Haynes manuals on the BX to get some basic mechanical knowledge some months ago

RxBX wrote:Hi, Tourist,
Without being rude to you I do think you need to do a bit more reading/research on some of the Technical matters before making posts !

I know some people slag off the Haynes Manual and even more so now with the 'Spanner rating' of how difficult a task might be !

But it's a good place to start for a new BX owner..........

it was in THIS post if you can remember ?

Also I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that if you use the search facility you'd probably find the answer to most of your 'Technical' problems 90% of the time without even having to make a post asking for help

BTW how often do you/have used the 'Search' facility

Having read thro' the thread postings again I think you best/safest option is this one IMHO, but it will cost money, unless someone can help you otherwise ?

MULLEY wrote:How much would it cost to actually get it towed properly?

rhv100 · Post by **rhv100** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:35 am

Morning all.

Thank you for your concerns about James"s safety,but theres no need
to worry on that score. Im going down to Oxford on Saturday to help
him remove his car so hopefully everything will go to plan.
The continuing story of this car is too long to get involved with here,but
when its up and running again Im sure he will be pleased to write it up.

Ricjhard

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:35 pm

Thats very decent of you Richard