ZX corner

[bxzx16v]

That's not bad mileage on the original clutch , I've put one in a Bx16v at 79k before , the Zx16v is still on it's original clutch at 125k so it's not done bad .

Mark

[Philip Chidlow]

I'd say, Tim. Looked like the original or at least pretty old.

[Philip Chidlow]

Suppose I can't complain, Mark

[mds141]

That's not bad mileage on the original clutch , I've put one in a Bx16v at 79k before , the Zx16v is still on it's original clutch at 125k so it's not done bad .

Mark

My valver was on it's ( knackered ) original clutch when I bought it at 111k.

[MULLEY]

My txd's clutch was replaced at about 82k, it should have lasted a lot longer, but an old couple had it, so i guess it took a battering....

[Tim Leech]

We replaced our red 19RD at 150k which although had been towing a small caravan was on its original clutch, the red shed (RIP) was on its 3rd at 120k!

[Way2go]

but an old couple had it, so i guess it took a battering....

That's a rather ageist remark Mulley!

In reality they should be skilled at driving unless they took it up in latter years. Do you think your clutch operating skills will diminish as you get older?

[MULLEY]

If you'd met them, you'd have had no hesitation in saying that it took a battering, lovely people, but she could barely walk & he'd been in a wheelchair for 5 years which forced him to stop driving. An auto would have suited them lovely, i think he was 90 & she was a spritely 85 & that was 6 years ago.

No idea what'll happen when i get older, i suspect that my co-ordination will decline, i've yet to see a 90 year old bombing about on a mountain bike, i hope to try

[Philip Chidlow]

New clutch fitted and it's dandy. New Dextron II going in the PAS and an engine oil change with nice new Purflux filter...

And that's about it for now.

[citsncycles]

No idea what'll happen when i get older, i suspect that my co-ordination will decline, i've yet to see a 90 year old bombing about on a mountain bike, i hope to try

A friend I used to know rode the Cantebury trail on his Moulton at 85, before switching to recumbent trikes. He fitted progressively lower gears for hill climbing, but would make up for it on the descents (he once left me behind when I was in the van doing 60!). At 95 he finally decided to fit an electric motor to help with the hills, anwasstill using the trike up to his death, a month before his hundredth birthday!

[Stinkwheel]

No idea what'll happen when i get older, i suspect that my co-ordination will decline, i've yet to see a 90 year old bombing about on a mountain bike, i hope to try

A friend I used to know rode the Cantebury trail on his Moulton at 85, before switching to recumbent trikes. He fitted progressively lower gears for hill climbing, but would make up for it on the descents (he once left me behind when I was in the van doing 60!). At 95 he finally decided to fit an electric motor to help with the hills, anwasstill using the trike up to his death, a month before his hundredth birthday!

See now thats heartening.

Im hoping to be able to ride a motorcycle well into old age. Its just too much of an enjoyment to stop.
I expect the velocette might need an electric leg conversion though.

[Philip Chidlow]

Update on the ZX. After it's clutch change and gearbox oil change it drives sweetly. PAS was a bit 'sluggish', so drained as much of the dirty old DexII out and replaced with Castrol ATF Dll, and it's fixed the probelm; even though we couldn't extract more than a litre (capacity on paper is 1.7L) of the old stuff. Cold start (well, summer cold!) hiccup this morning, points at glow plugs so I have four new ones going in. It could be the ASDA fuel is crap too, so will bung some Millers EcoMax in there - IME it makes a difference. I had a similar problem with bad fuel and the Red Baron. If the ZX is like the similarly Lucas-pumped Baron, then it doesn't like rubbish diesel so much and it would rather not have a full tank of it... (?!).

Next on the list is a new Purflux fuel filter and a new flexible coupling (got the kit here) for the exhaust, where it joins the manifold. Looks a bugger to get to. Will do it at same time as glow plugs.

Cosmetically, I'm hoping to get the dull white paint machine polished and a good coat of wax applied. I'll try to get that done prior to the CXM. I have a sew-on leather steering wheel cover (same as I used many moons ago giving excellent results on my 'melted' GS wheel) which although will take a couple of hours of my life away and hurt my tender artistic fingertips in the process (;) ) it'll be worth it as the existing plastic item in well worn.

More updates later.

Oh, almost forgot; the newly-fitted (by the previous owner!) tow bar is off, and in my shed awaiting sale, so if anyone fancies a nice, well-made towbar for their BX (I can provide measurements) let me know. It's sans electrical connector due to the garage employing a monkey. I would have done it (only six bolts!) but it was in having the clutch done at the time... Anyway, there followed appropriate chastisement... although my guess is that once the wiring is cut the whole lot needs to be chucked like a sealed plug on an appliance? Shame he fubared the bracket, but there you go. The tow bar itself still looks new.

[Tim Leech]

but an old couple had it, so i guess it took a battering....

That's a rather ageist remark Mulley!

In reality they should be skilled at driving unless they took it up in latter years. Do you think your clutch operating skills will diminish as you get older?

Having sold a lot of cars to older people who have been driving It does seem that clutch control has a tendency to go off as does parking skills!

[Philip Chidlow]

Probable source of starting issue discovered: Leaking leak-off pipe. Will fix tomorrow and hopefully banish fuel leakage and air in the system. Won't touch anything for a while as every time work is done on it something else happens!

[Charlotte]

RE: Old people and clutches...

Make them drive autos. Seriously. We had one old gent in a C3 that would go through a clutch in 3000 miles, no kidding. He came in one day complaining of a light on the dashboard that was on all the time, he thought it was an engine management light. It was the handbrake light.