If you recall from my previous posting about the trials and tribulations of the spiked post decimating the spare tyre we survived the journey home,well if you don't include the caravan TPMS alarming on the outskirts of Castleford indicating too high tyre temperature which I put down the descending a lot of steep hills resulting in hot brakes,anyway it stopped alarming eventually and we made the two miles to our storage safely,checked the tyre pressures since and all seems OK and it motor movered into storage OK.
Whilst we were away Mr.Roscoe had miraculously sourced an exact replacement tyre which was £70.34 fitted,an expensive post.
As mentioned previously there were spots of rust on the rim so I lathered copious amounts of Finngans Waxoyl onto both sides which should protect it for a while.
Now all that we needed to do was attach the spare to the securing cable wind it up and all would be OK. right ?
Sadly that is not what happened.
Somewhere in the winding/unwinding process the cable had become stuck and despite tugging and pulling wouldn't shift..
My next bright idea was to consult the Bailey manual and there tucked away on Page 23 is the advice to keep some tension on the cable when winding/unwinding to avoid it chavling up on the drum which is what appeared to have happened.
The gubbins is bolted to the underside of the floor with just the winding hoop protruding into the van through the locker floor and the cable passing down a funnel to the exterior.
My next bright idea was to contact Prima Leisure ( Bailey Parts ) to see if a new unit was available.
I spoke to a very pleasant lady called Gemma who said she would have a look and get back to me which she duly did within the hour to say one was available but it was a dealer part at the princely cost of £116 plus presumably a dealer add-on..
Oh dear.
Mr.Roscoe then had the idea of unbolting the unit from the floor for a closer inspection which we ( he ) did and we came to the conclusion that it was indeed knackered.
Sadly I do not have the best back in the world so crawling under the van is no-go at the minute.
Part placed in car for trip home during which journey Mr.Roscoe said he would see if it could be fixed..
Now Mr.Roscoe has a garage better equipped than most main car dealers and he set to work on it,involving grinding the rivets off to eventually open up the unit and yes indeed the cable was firmly jammed fast never to move again under its own steam.
It does seem a complicated system for such a simple manouvre.
He released the cable and rebuilt the unit which involved drilling,tapping and bolting where the rivets had been.
Not bad for an ex food technician.
I could have done this myself of course given the tools [ sic].
Then it was back to the van to rebolt it to the floor,attach spare wheel,wind it up and Bob's your uncle it all worked.
I would just like to thank Mr.Roscoe who saved me £116 for a new unit.
I can see why Bailey used an under floor fixing as it doesn't take up room in the locker but I think a simple "fishng reel" type of device would have been simpler and easier to untangle if necessary perhaps hidden by a cover.
Also a sticker on the locker floor next to the black plug warning to keep some tension on the cable wouldn't go amiss instead of tucking it away in the handbook.
So,the spare won't be seeing the light of day for a good while unless in anger.
One last word or words:-
"IF WINDING UNWINDING THE SPARE TYRE,KEEP SOME TENSION ON THE F*****G CABLE OR YOU WILL BE UP SHIT STREET..
( Thank you to Mr.Roscoe for flasks of tea )
"Go caravanning,it is so relaxing"
Ian
No comments:
Post a Comment