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Heading home now after our latest Scotland/North East trip over the past 5 days…

* Thursday – Gosforth
Cambelt service carried out on Jane’s TF 160. Lovely to Jane and Graham as always, now they’re all set for their next adventure over to Italy this summer.

From there we headed over to Lockerbie for the evening.

* Friday – Clydebank
Full clutch replacement carried out on Aldo’s TF 115. Good to see him again, and thanks for the Tunnock’s and teas!

From there we headed up to Aviemore for the evening.

* Saturday – Aberlour
Both wishbones replaced, underfloor coolant pipes replaced and full cambelt service carried out along with replacement of the front pads as the ones on the car just fell to pieces when removing the front hubs!

It was lovely to meet Ronnie and Lesley and have a chat while we worked. From there we headed down to Scone for the evening.

* Sunday – Kilsyth
Slave cylinder replacement and free off of the clutch release-arm on Colin’s TF 135 Sprint, plus replacement of the drivers door handle. He had started to replace all of the suspension bolts, with one shearing off so asked if we’d replace the rest, but after a chat advised he’s probably wise to leave them unless he’s planning on fitting a soft-ride-kit.

Great to see Colin as always and meet his beautiful woofer Luna, with big thanks to him for bacon butties and a bag full of Tunnock’s!

We then headed down to North Broomhill, near Morpeth. As our hosts were not going to be in until later in the day we made a call in to Dunbar for a cuppa and an ice cream. What a lovely little harbour town.

* Monday – North Broomhill
All four spheres replaced, with a refurbed set, on Kevin’s Trophy, along with a minor service. So that’s them all set for many of their forthcoming adventures planned this year.

Really great to see Kevin and Amanda again, with big thanks to them for putting us up, and always nice to have fusses with their fab woofer Monty, what a character.

A busy, but productive time away, with many warm welcomes and fab hospitality, and some very nice weather too, which does help. – https://ift.tt/NfPpJ3E

A very wet morning yesterday as we headed over to Wigan, to fit a soft-ride-kit to Peter’s TF 160 that we had sold to him a few years ago. Good to see him and the car again, which is still looking fab and giving Peter a lot of enjoyment.

All was going well until one of the front shocker bolts decided it wanted to shear off. Every so often this can happen, and is an absolute pain in the backside. So bumper off and top arm removed. Fast forward to 3 hours later and Jon has drilled out the old bolt and retapped it. Note to self, pack a spare top front arm next time we fit a soft-ride-kit. But then it’s all down to that law of sod again isn’t it.

Everything put back together again and we headed back home, bit of a later finish than expected. It was lovely to see Peter though and chat to him, who does make a very good and plentiful supply of tea!

Over to the workshop today after picking up parts this morning, van unloaded of the detritus from the last few days and then restocked with everything required for our next trip away, for which we head off bright and early in the morning for the next five days. – https://ift.tt/njL1A5I

Saturday morning found us back at the workshop to replace the underfloor coolant pipes on Joe’s TF 135 that he’d left with us over the weekend, while he was visiting his parents near York. Once we’d done these and given the car a check over, including turning off the EML we took it round for the MOT.

Our other visitors were Jane and Lee who came over from Rossington in their MGF for the alternator belt to be replaced whilst they were en route to Bridlington for the weekend. Great to see them both again.

Sunday morning we were up early to head back up to Cramlington to get the work done on Susan’s TF 160, unfortunately as is the way, sometimes, we had some issues with it, so Jon had to make a trip back to the workshop to collect some bits for it later that evening.

Paul came over to Susan’s in the afternoon, as the original plan on Wednesday didn’t happen. He’d noticed the EML come on on his LE 500 (number 488) whilst out on the Drive it Day run. We had gone armed with Lambda sensor, coil-packs, ignition leads etc, on code reading found it to be down to a heat damaged coil-pack. Both coil-packs and HT leads replaced as Paul felt we may as well do the lot while we were there. Minor service all carried out for him. Great to see Paul again and get the car all set for his trip, with some of the MG Northumbria group members, to Scotland this week.

We stayed over again in Gateshead and headed off first thing this morning over to Bishop Auckland, where it was lovely to see Paul (another Paul) again and his TF 115 that was needing a wheel-bearing replacing, so we had taken up the bearing press with us. All done in no time, thanks to Paul for prepping the car ahead of our visit. Amazing location and lovely old pony in the adjacent field called Sandy who came over to see what we were doing.

After leaving Paul’s we went back over to Cramlington to get ‘Racey Tracey’ finished off and back up and running lovely again ready for Susan to enjoy many runs out over the summer months.

Whilst I was on my own yesterday evening, and making the most of the fab weather, I found another beautiful spot that I’d not been to before and spent a few hours walking through Derwenthaugh Riverside Country Park, definitely worth a visit.

On our way back home now this evening, next stop Wigan in the morning… – https://ift.tt/CwsONaF

Day 3 & 4 – North East – 9th & 10th May…

So we had an even shorter commute this morning, down the lift and into the car park of the hotel!

Our first visitor was Steve who came over from Wallsend in his 2005 TF 135 for the cambelt service, shortly followed by Michael in his 2005 TF 135, for the cambelt service too. Both cars behaved very well and we got them all sorted in no time at all, great to have a catch-up and a chat to them while we worked. Thanks to them for the Maccy Ds cuppas!

Our next visitor in the afternoon was Alan who came over from Cramlington for the cambelt service on his LE 500. Great to see him again too and have a chat while worked and thanks to him for the Maccy Ds cuppas.

Thanks to the Marriott hotel for understanding and letting make use of their car park.

Fab weather all day too. I had time later in the afternoon for a walk along the Tyne and visit old haunts.

The recovery company had us booked for a pickup between 8:00 and 12:00, and the lovely lad who came was there at 8 o’clock on the dot. He dropped us off at the workshop around lunchtime. Unfortunately, the power steering pipe on the donor van was broken too, so the plan to replace it this afternoon didn’t happen, a new one is now on its way from China.

So contents will be transferred over to the other van tomorrow, while we’re working at the workshop, ready for us to head back up north on Sunday morning and get things finished off on Susan’s car etcetera and then over to Bishop Auckland on Monday morning. Phew! 😵‍💫 – https://ift.tt/nWpiyVT

North East – Day 2 – Wednesday 8th May

Cramlington was our destination this morning for work on Susan’s fab TF 160 known affectionately as Racey Tracey!

Well it’s not the day we had planned, we left our digs this morning leaving a trail of power steering fluid on the way out of the car park, so thought no bother we’ll buy some fluid en route and get it sorted when we get to the job that morning, we arrived ahead of schedule and I got cracking unloading the van ready for the cambelt service on Susan’s car, while Jon set about seeing what the problem was with the power steering. Not to mention that we got the wrong row of garages too! Unfortunately, the power steering issue proved way worse than what we thought only for the pipe to blow off when we tested it after topping it up. Not good. After several attempts by Jon on the repair the decision was made to call the RAC to at least get back to the workshop where we knew there was another pipe on the donor van and then return for the rest of our jobs over the next couple of days. Nope not the case, long story short, they couldn’t get to us until ‘possibly’ 8 o’clock tonight.

So a contingency plan has been put in place and we will stay here and get recovered home on Friday morning, and having okayed it with the hotel people will come over to us instead. With only a couple that we will have to come back to another day. Thanks everyone for your understanding, it means a lot.

More importantly though, whilst we were over at Susan’s she told us about the terribly sad news she had just seen on a Facebook post from Terry Watson, that his lovely boy Craig had tragically passed away this morning. We’re so very saddened to hear of this and send our deepest condolences to Terry and the family. Craig was a beautiful sole and fabulous character, he was well known and loved throughout the MG community, who will be sorely missed by many, our visits to them will never be the same. Rest in peace Craig. They’ll know who you are. – https://ift.tt/BnLhmaP

North East – Day 1 – Tuesday 7th May

An early start this morning to head up to North Shields, where it was lovely to meet Dave properly, we’d briefly met him on one of our previous trips when he was then in search for a TF.

He found himself this one from near Hexham, a 2003 TF 135, in paint code JFV, with a very low mileage but no service history.

Today we carried out head gasket replacement along with cambelt, water pump, tensioner, alternator belt, spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter, oil and oil filter so all good to go for Dave to enjoy throughout the summer months. On our next visit we’ll replace the underfloor coolant pipes. Big thanks to Dave for his supply of cuppas, bacon butties and biscuits.

The car was a real pleasure to work on with only one casing bolt needing replacing, great to chat with Dave while we worked, he should have a cracking time enjoying runs out with the MG Northumbria Club.

From there we headed over to Gateshead, where it was lovely as always to see Rachael and Tony. Their 2004 TF 160 ‘Katy’ in Nightfire Red was newly back from having a bit of a pampering in the form of a new soft-top and ceramic coating.

Today we replaced one of the boot hinges, the reverse light switch, Piper Cross panel air filter and some new Lexus rear lights, so she really is looking proper posh and all ready for her outings this summer, the first one of which is to Scotland next week with some of the MG Northumbria Club’s members.

Big thanks to Rachael for the bulging bag of wonderful treats, how lovely! We shall enjoy some of those in our digs this evening. Thanks too for butties and cuppas.

Great first day of our trip, complete with welcome clement weather too. – https://ift.tt/BnLhmaP

Sports Cars in the Park – Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Last minute decision to head over for the show today, and glad we did, what a huge turnout! The last time we were there was in 2018. Only saw two TFs though and one of those was in the staff car park. It was nice to have a bit of time out and the weather was fab too.

We returned to Cleethorpes yesterday morning and thankfully the rain had cleared to get Nigel’s Rover 45 sorted.

Head gasket replaced, a heck of a lot of mayo drained off. Nigel had asked ahead of the visit if we could replace the plastic inlet-manifold with aluminum. So we swapped everything over from the old one and replaced with aluminum manifold and plenum. Car back up and running again much to Nigel’s delight! – https://ift.tt/Hn4DYFk

Back out on the road…

Wednesday found us on a couple of local ones in Hull. The first call of the day was for work on Ray and Tina’s ‘03 TF 135 in paint code JFV. Cambelt service carried out for them this time. Really good to see them again and have a chat while we worked. Thanks to Tina for the bacon butty and a cracking brew!

A few miles along the road to the next call, which was for the minor service on Mike’s ‘03 TF 135, also in paint code JFV. Good to see Mike again briefly as he was busy working, couple of things noted to be done on our next visit when the cambelt service is due.

Thursday morning found us in Skelmanthorpe for the first call of the day, for work on Paul’s ‘01 MGF 1.8i in paint code CMU.

Full cambelt service carried out. While we were in there we noticed that there was quite a significant oil leak down the side of the block and going down to the sump and surrounding area. This was found to be the camshaft oil-seals, so both of these we replaced. The fuel rail was just dangling under the manifold and held on by a tie-wrap, not ideal! So this was fitted back to the manifold with the correct bolts. The water pump bolts and timing cover bolts were either missing or incorrect so we replaced all these. So the car is now all good to go. We didn’t see Paul, the owner, as he was at work.

From there we returned to Slaithwaite to get Jill’s TF back up and running again. On our last visit the garage she had had it recovered to advised her that she required a new ECU set, so we went armed with a replacement one, only to find that it was actually in working order and that it was the fuel pump at fault.

New fuel pump duly installed on our visit yesterday, only to find after a bit of a search that there was also a break in one of the wires that feeds to the fuel pump. This we repaired and car eventually sprang back into life.

While Jill had us there she asked if we could carry out a minor service too, so now the car is all sorted for her to enjoy and use again.

Cracking views today, not least the site of a day old foal with its mum in the adjacent field, good job I didn’t notice when we first pulled up!

Weather was amazing yesterday, which was so welcome, but a distinct lack of tea, not a good thing, it’s how we function.

This morning found us in Hilbaldstow for work on Andrew’s ‘05 TF 135 ‘Spark’ in paint code CEV and investigation into a slight coolant loss on Catherine’s ‘03 TF 135 1.8 in paint code JFM.

Cambelt service carried out on Andrew’s TF, along with brake-fluid flush through and coolant flush through.

The coolant loss on Catherine’s TF was found to be a slight weep from the heater-control-valve, so this will be sorted for them when we’re next in the area. Thanks so much to Catherine for the teas and biscuits. Plus it was lovely to have fusses with one of their woofers Willow, who is just so sweet.

The rain started just as we were leaving there and heading over to the next call in Cleethorpes, it really bucketed it down, so much so we had to take a rain-check on the job in hand, which was for head gasket replacement on a Rover 45, that had approx 12 litres of ‘cake mix’ in it! The owner Nigel completely understood and we will return tomorrow morning to get it sorted, who needs a day off anyway! It’s rare that we let the weather prevent us from doing our work, but this wouldn’t have been ideal, at all, given the circumstances.

Have a great weekend everyone, I see quite a few runs and events are on and planned, so have fun wherever you may be if you’re fortunate to get along to one of them in your fab MGs! – https://ift.tt/HjInEly