the wheel reinvented
- Thread starter daveyw
- Start date
rotrax
Well-known member
In that case I suspect the speedometer added quite a bit to the enjoyment of the car!
Talking of passenger carrying capability-legal or not-one of the best cars I ever had was a Peugeot 403 Estate.
Coming back from playing Rugby at Cheltenham North RFC I had nine in. Three in the front-it had a bench seat-three in the rear and three in the back behind the dog guard, plus nine bags of kit!
That old warrior could take two race bikes in the luggage compartment if you took the panel out over the spare wheel and removed the front wheels of the race bikes. Magic!
Scillyboy
Member
I drove a 1500 Allaggro briefly - it consumed so much oil that I carried a 5-litre can of Duckhams in the boot, and had to fill up at Exeter on a run from London. Funny thing - it didn't leak oil, and didn't make any smoke - never did find out where it went....and the speedo worm drive fell off the shaft in the gearbox - the circlip on the end of the shaft had never been fitted, as it had been held on just by the interference fit and the key.
rotrax
Well-known member
I drove a 1500 Allaggro briefly - it consumed so much oil that I carried a 5-litre can of Duckhams in the boot, and had to fill up at Exeter on a run from London. Funny thing - it didn't leak oil, and didn't make any smoke - never did find out where it went....and the speedo worm drive fell off the shaft in the gearbox - the circlip on the end of the shaft had never been fitted, as it had been held on just by the interference fit and the key.
Sounds like your one missed the modification to the oil pressure switch-the oil probably went up No.3 cylinder and out of the exhaust pipe.
IIRC the mod. was to space the valve so the exit hole was to one side or to the rear, not to the front.
I told you the Burman gearboxes were $H1te! Poor Quality Control of your speedo drive!
lpdsn
New member
Is there a thread-drift-of-the-week award? Carbon-fibre wheel on new racing yacht to Austin Allegro excessive oil consumption must be a nomination for it.
Scillyboy
Member
I remember thinking that at the time! I recall how I diagnosed the problem - the speedo stopped working, and I disconnected the cable at the gearbox, and when I stuck my finger into the hole, I couldn't feel anything. Also, every time I braked, there was a grinding noise. I guessed, correctly as it turned out, that the worm gear might have fallen off, and, resting on the bottom of the casing, was moving forward on braking to touch the crown wheel on the final drive. I made the tool to split out the drive shafts, and on lifting the engine, I removed the bolts securing the gearbox, but couldn't separate it from the block. I was about to use force with a hammer and wedge to break the seal, but decided it was bedtime. Refreshed the next morning, I found that I'd left one of the bolts in...
Happy days - it's boats for me now!
Scillyboy
Member
No - square wheels - it's within the rules!
lpdsn
New member
I was not objecting. I always consider threads on these forums as the virtual equivalent of groups of sailors rambling on about vaguely boaty topics in a pub. I just think there should be awards for the most surreal drifts.
Any back to the subject (Austin Allegros) with a hint of thread drift. They also had a problem with keys. I had a friend in the sixth form whose father also taught at the school and owned an Austin Allegro. Anyway, one day she wanted to go home early and borrowed the keys from her father. Unfortunately, she went home in somebody else's Austin Allegro - the keys worked fine.
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
BL only used something like six different keys on cars at that time. As an added bonus, any locking petrol filler cap key would substitute for any of them, in the doors at least. My pal with the Allegro estate locked us out of it on a day trip to Cheltenham and was a little disappointed in its security when I borrowed a filler cap key (from the vicar of the church beside which we were parked) and opened it without problems.
Other useful security tip: If you look beside the rear number plate lamp on a Citroen BX you'll see a rubber blanking plug. Take that out, reach in with a finger and you'll find a microswitch. Press it. It's the central locking override switch, and the doors are now unlocked. Liberté, fraternité, securité, as they don't say in France.
pelicanpete
Member
Quartic Steering Device
The chief guru of all motoring writers, the late Bill Body of Motor Sport, argued convincingly that the Allegro steering "wheel" was no such thing and it was to be forever known as a "quartic steering device." His point was that it could/should/must not be described as a "wheel" as wheels, by definition are round.
The chief guru of all motoring writers, the late Bill Body of Motor Sport, argued convincingly that the Allegro steering "wheel" was no such thing and it was to be forever known as a "quartic steering device." His point was that it could/should/must not be described as a "wheel" as wheels, by definition are round.
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
rotrax
Well-known member
Thank you-I accept with great pleasure..........................................
mattlad
New member
Hey! Don't knock the "All-aggro!" Dad made his money fixing them. I worked on quite a few before moving on to Metros, Maestros, and Montegos.
Sandy
Well-known member
I want to know where you get this special "bugger-all" wind that gives 9 knots!
Those wheels will never catch on - they look hideous.
At 9 knots they are going far too fast to catch anything.
For gawd sake don't show this to the RNLI as they will get a long lecture about life jackets.
Those wheels will never catch on - they look hideous.
At 9 knots they are going far too fast to catch anything.
For gawd sake don't show this to the RNLI as they will get a long lecture about life jackets.
