Self determination

                                                     September 2010

Weds.22.09.10. Since my return from France I have reviewed the list of ‘work to be done’. A visit to Derek, subsequent discussion has reinforced my determination to complete as much of the work myself as possible. The crankcase oil leak, at the moment is not a crippling fault and as such can wait; but there are other minor problems, mainly a thorough investigation of ‘all’ of the seals plus a re-tightening plus checking of the major nuts and bolts.

The vehicle still runs very well so tampering with the shims as well as the tracking could be counter-productive.

Derek has volunteered his ramp during his ‘slack’ periods; this kind offer will enable easy access to the underneath of the vehicle where many of these problems have been exposed. Also the imminent ‘1000 klms service’ should be trouble free. The rest of the tasks can be completed at the Marylebone lock up.

I hope that Chris would want to be involved but if he is unavailable when the ramp is ‘free’ so be it.  

Thurs.30.09.10. During the afternoon I was able to take advantage of Derek’s offer using his ramp to complete a simple ‘service’, principally ‘drop’ the oil and change the filter. There still remains the irritating oil leaks from the lower crankcase cover, differential and possibly the oil cooler, but unless these problems develop in a more sinister fashion they will remain untouched. The Burlington has now completed 1040 relatively trouble free kilometres.

I shall leave for France Monday 04.10.10 to return around the 5^th of November. I suspect that 001 will not be totally finished until the Spring of 2011, in an odd sort of way marking the 30^th anniversary of the Beaujolais run could prove to be more appropriate than the original over optimistic target of 25 years. C’est la vie.